Variation and Evolution: Genetic Engineering.

Question 1

What is genetic engineering?

Answer 1

• Genes from one organism are cut out and transferred to cells of a different organism.
• E.g: Human Insilin to be produced in bacteria.

Question 2

What are GM crops and how are they useful?

Answer 2

• Genes are transferred into crops.
• Produces a greater yield to normal crops.
• make plants resistance to disease or inset attacks.
• Bigger fruits.
• Resistance herbicides.
• Needs more research for the health effects.

Question 3

What is genetic modifcation?

Answer 3

• Still being explored as a method of treating inherited disorders in humans.
• Gene Therapy.
• ## Long term effects are unknown as if we modify a gene we don’t know the effect it has on other genes.

Question 4

How does Genetic engineering work?

Answer 4

1) Identify the gene that we want to transfer.
2) Use enzymes to isolate the gene.
3) Transfer the gene into a smaller circle of DNA called a Plasmid (originally came from bacteria and is useful for transferring DNA from one organism to other). INSTEAD OF USING A PLASMID WE CAN ALSO USE A VIRUS.
- These are known as vectors.
4) Desired gene is transferred into the cells of the targets organism.
( we always transfer the gene at an early stage of an organisms development so all cells receieve transferred gene and develops with the characteristic wanted).