S9: Genetic Engineering

Question 1

What does genetic engineering involve?

Answer 1

Changing an organism’s sequence of DNA, by removing and inserting genes.

Question 2

What two enzymes are needed for genetic engineering?

Answer 2

Restriction enzymes

Ligase

Question 3

what does ligase do?

Answer 3

Joins the cut pieces of DNA into a gap in the DNA of another organism

Question 4

What do restriction enzymes do?

Answer 4

Cut out specific pieces of DNA from one organism

Question 5

What does transgenic mean?

Answer 5

An organism which contains DNA from another species within its genome.

Question 6

What organisms usually are genetically engineered to produce useful chemicals?

And why?

Answer 6

Bacteria -

because their DNA is loose in the cytoplasm in loops or plasmids, making it easy to modify. They also grow and replicate quickly.

Question 7

What is a recombinant plasmid?

Answer 7

The plasmid which has had the new gene inserted within it.

Question 8

What does a plasmid act as in GM?

Answer 8

acts as a vector - a vehicle used to carry foreign DNA into an organism

Question 9

Describe the process of genetic engineering.

Answer 9

• The desired human gene is identified in the strand of DNA
• Using a restriction enzyme, this gene is removed
• A plasmid form the bacteria is removed, which will act as a vector for the gene
• Using the same restriction enzyme, the plasmid is cut open
• Ligase enzymes are then used to insert the desired gene into the plasmid
• This creates a recombinant plasmid, which is re-inserted into the bacteria
• The bacteria is grown at large scale in an industrial fermenter and the product is filtered off.