SCIENCE Flashcards
What is genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering is when scientists directly change an organism’s DNA using biotechnology by adding, removing, or editing genes.
What are the pros of genetic engineering?
- Faster than selective breeding
- Cures for genetic diseases
- Production of medicines
- Improved crops
- Increased yield and food supply
- Helps save endangered species
What are the cons of genetic engineering?
- Ethical issues
- Unknown long-term effects
- Expensive and complex
- May reduce genetic diversity
- Could be misused
What is a GMO?
A GMO is any organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering, including plants, animals, and bacteria.
What are the pros of GMOs?
- Higher crop yields
- Pest & disease resistance
- Can grow in harsh conditions
- Longer shelf life for food
- Better nutrition
- Lower costs for farmers and consumers
What are the cons of GMOs?
- Environmental impact
- Crossbreeding with wild species
- Corporate control
- Allergy concerns
- Not accepted everywhere
What are herbicides?
Herbicides are chemicals used to kill unwanted plants (weeds) that compete with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight.
Why are herbicide-resistant crops useful?
They let farmers use herbicides to kill weeds without harming the crop, saving time and increasing yield.
What is CRISPR?
CRISPR is a natural immune system found in bacteria that can be used as a gene-editing tool.
What is the Cas9 protein?
Cas9 Protein is an enzyme that acts like molecular scissors.
What is CRISPR-Cas9?
CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that cuts and replaces DNA precisely.
What are plasmids?
Plasmids are small circular DNA used in bacteria to transfer genes.
What are the steps in the genetic engineering process?
- Identify the gene
- Cut the DNA
- Insert the gene
- Grow the modified organism
What are some applications of genetic engineering?
- Medicine: Making bacteria produce insulin
- Agriculture: Creating pest-resistant crops
- Animal Science: Producing fast-growing salmon
- Human Gene Therapy: Fixing genetic disorders
How is insulin produced using genetic engineering?
- Find the insulin gene in human DNA
- Insert the gene into a bacterium
- Grow the bacteria to produce insulin
- Harvest and purify the insulin
What is crude oil?
Unprocessed oil formed from dead organisms over millions of years often found the under the sea
What is fractional distillation?
The process of separating the oil into different useful fuels by heating crude oil.
Flammability , viscosity go up and down depending on?
Down the column flammability decreases
Down the column viscosity increases
*boiling point also decreases as you go down the column
complete combustion eq
Fuel + oxygen -> Carbon dioxide + water
