using recombinant DNA technology

Question 1

genetic engineering

Answer 1

transforming microorganisms, plans or animals using recombinant DNA technology

Question 2

insert gene into early embryo

Answer 2

all body cells end up containing gene

Question 3

what can control which of an animals body cells produces the protein

Answer 3

promoter regions that are only activated in specific cell types
(harvested more easily / protein in wrong cells could damage organism)

Question 4

recombinant DNA tech benefiting humans

agriculture

Answer 4

1. agricultural crops can be transformed so they give higher yield or are more nutritious
2. can reduce risk of famine and malnutrition
3. transformed for pest resistance - fewer pesticides needed = reduced costs/reduces environmental problems associated with pesticides

Question 5

recombinant DNA tech benefiting humans

Industry

Answer 5

1. often use biological catalysts (enzymes)
2. can be produced by transformed organisms
3. in large quantities for less money (reducing costs)

Question 6

recombinant DNA tech benefiting humans

Medicine

Answer 6

1. drugs and vaccines are produced by transformed organisms

2. quick, cheap, large quantities

Question 7

concerns about use of recombinant DNA tech

agriculture

Answer 7

1. farmers might plant 1 type of transformed crop (monoculture) = whole crop vulnerable to same disease as genetically identical. also reducing biodiversity
2. super weeds - weeds resistant to herbicides if transformed crops interbreed with wild prants. uncontrolled spread of recombinant DNA with unknown consequences
3. organic farmers can have crops contaminated by wind-blown seeds from nearby genetically modified crops. cant sell crop as organic as may loose income

Question 8

concerns about use of recombinant DNA tech

industry

Answer 8

1. globalisation (growth of large multinational companies at expense of smaller ones)
   few large biotechnology companies control some forms of genetic engineering.
   use of technology increases companies get bigger and more powerful -> force small companies out of business
2. without proper labelling people will think they dont have a choice about wether to consume food made using genetically engineered organisms
3. consumer markets wont import GM foods and products - economic loss to producers who traditionally sold to those markets

Question 9

concerns about use of recombinant DNA tech

medicine

Answer 9

1. companies who own genertic engineering technologies may limit use of technologis that could be saving lives
2. worry technology could be used unethically e.g. make designer babies.

Question 10

humanitarians

Answer 10

1. GM agricultural crops could reduce risk of famine and malnutrition
2. transformed crops could produce useful pharmaceutical products - drugs available to more people
3. medicines could be produced more cheaply so more can afford them
4. potential to be used in gene therapy and to treat human diseases

Question 11

gene therapy

Answer 11

recombinant DNA tech used to treat human diseases

Question 12

how gene therapy works

Answer 12

1. alter defective genes (mutated alleles) inside cells to treat genetic disorders and cancer
2. cause by 2 mutated recessive alleles add dominant allele
3. cause by dominant allele - silence dominant allele e.g. add a bit of DNA in middle of allele so doesn’t work anymore

both involve inserting DNA frag into original DNA

Question 13

gene therapy - how you get new allele inside the cell

Answer 13

1. inserted using vectors like in recombinant DNA tech

Question 14

gene therapy - 2 types?

Answer 14

1. somatic therapy - alter alleles in body cells particularly cells most affected by disorder
2. germ line therapy - altering alleles in sex cells. every cell of any offspring produced by these cells will be affected by the gene therapy and wont suffer from disease. currently illegal in humans

Question 15

gene therapy ethical issues

Answer 15

used in other ways other than medical treatment
cosmetic effects of ageing
potential to do more harm than good