genetic engineering

Question 1

genetic engineering

Answer 1

• altering genomes in organisms by biotechnological processes
• any direct manipulation of an organism’s genes
• ethically concerns, environmental concerns, however is beneficial

Question 2

biotechnology

Answer 2

• using scientific procedures to influence specific processes in living organisms which will benefit humans or improve the environment
• genes may be turned on and off, deleted or deactivated

Question 3

recombinant DNA technology

Answer 3

• introduce new, beneficial genes into a organism to create genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)
• a form of DNA that does not exist naturally but is created by combining DNA sequences that would not normally occur together genetically modified organisms
• finding desirable genes and moving them into an organism via a vector
• vector being a virus or a plasmid
• plasmid, a circular, double stranded DNA molecule found in bacterial cells that are not part of the bacterial chromosome
• new organism follow instructions of inserted gene
• bacteria can be cultured (to make clones)
• examples (GH, interferon for Hepatitis B, factor VIII for Haemophilia B)

Question 4

Insulin

Answer 4

• DNA gene coding for insulin removed from healthy human pancreatic cell
• restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific sites
• Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria used as factories, plasmid removed via restriction enzymes leaving uneven sticky ends
• ligase joins DNA to sticky end to form recombinant DNA
• plasmid acts a vector, producing insulin
• bacteria are cloned in optimum reproductive environment (fermentation broth)
• advantages : rapid reproduction, inexpensive, few side effects
• yeast cells may be used