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20 Genetic Engineering

genetic engineering for ib

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Suri Zou
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13 views3 pages

20 Genetic Engineering

genetic engineering for ib

Uploaded by

Suri Zou
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A.

GENETIC ENGINEERING

CHANGING the GENETIC MATERIAL of an ORGANISM by


REMOVING, CHANGING or INSERTING individual genes

B. WHY WE USE BACTERIA

1. They REPRODUCE RAPIDLY

2. They can make COMPLEX MOLECULES

3. NO ETHICAL CONCERNS over their MANIPULATION and GROWTH

4. They contain PLASMIDS

5. The GENETIC CODE IS UNIVERSAL – the same SETS OF THREE BASES CODE FOR THE
SAME AMINO ACIDS in ALL ORGANISMS.

If this was not true, it would not work.

C. EXAMPLES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

Gene Added Into Benefit

Human insulin Bacteria Produce sufficient insulin to treat


diabetes in humans
Herbicides are chemicals that kill
Resistance to Crop plants unwanted plants, such as weeds
herbicides
Less chance of killing useful plants with
the herbicide

Resistance to Crop plants Less chance of useful plants


insect pests being eaten by insects

Provides Less diseases caused by


additional Crop plants a lack of vitamins
vitamins in poorer countries
D. USING GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED BACTERIA TO MAKE HUMAN INSULIN

human insulin gene plasmid (from bacteria)

1. Cut out insulin gene


from human DNA 3. Gene and plasmid have 2. Cut a plasmid using the
using a restriction complementary sticky ends same restriction enzyme
enzyme

4. Seal human gene into plasmid


using DNA ligase enzyme =
now called a recombinant
plasmid.

5. Insert
recombinant 5. Bacteria express (switch on) the human insulin
plasmid into gene and secrete insulin, which is extracted
bacteria from the fluid and purified

4. Bacteria undergo asexual


reproduction in fermenters = cloning

All new bacteria will contain the


plasmid and therefore the
human insulin gene
E. ADVANTAGES OF MAKING HUMAN INSULIN IN THIS WAY

• CHEAPER TO PRODUCE

• HIGH YIELD OF INSULIN

• INSULIN HAS A COMPLEX STRUCTURE – so it is difficult to make chemically.

• IT CONTAINS NO CONTAMINANTS – insulin used to be extracted from dead bodies or


other animals.

F. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MAKING GENETICALLY-MODIFIED CROPS

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

More resistant to:

- disease
- herbicides Long term effects are not known
- insecticides
- drought
Potential bad effect
Higher yield / faster growth on our health
e.g. toxins or allergies

More nutritious
Ethics – only God has the right to
e.g. increased vitamin A in rice create, change or end organisms

Can potentially Potential for resistance genes to be


help poorer countries transferred to weeds
(unwanted plants)

Better taste Could disrupt food webs

Increased shelf life / Could kill useful insects


Less spoilage

Less use of herbicides / Lower genetic variation


insecticides / fertilisers / water

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