Genetic engineering

Question 1

What is: GENETIC ENGINEERING

Answer 1

The transfer of genes from one organism to another(eg. human to bacteria)

Question 2

Why are bacteria good for genetic engineering?

Answer 2

Because they contain plasmids which can be removed, altered and then placed into another bacterium.

Question 3

What does insulin do?

Answer 3

Keeps the blood sugar at the correct level.

Question 4

What does a lack of insulin cause?

Answer 4

Diabetes.

Question 5

Why is the demand for insulin increasing?

Answer 5

The number of diabetics are increasing.

Diabetics are living longer.

Question 6

Why is producing insulin by genetic engineering good?

Answer 6

It means that we can make as much as we need.

Question 7

What is: The transfer of genes from one organism to another(eg. human to bacteria) ?

Answer 7

Genetic engineering.

Question 8

What: Keeps the blood sugar at the correct level?

Answer 8

Insulin

Question 9

How is human insulin produced in genetic engineering?

Answer 9

A working human insulin gene is removed from a non diabetic. It is placed into the plasmid of a bacterium, which is then able to produce human insulin.

Question 10

What is a: REPROGRAMMED BACTERIAL CELL?

Answer 10

The bacterial cell that contains the new desired gene.

Question 11

What are: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS?

Answer 11

Any organisms which have had genes inserted from another organism.

Question 12

What are genetically modified organisms important in?

Answer 12

The development of new varieties of animals and plants.
Improving the quality and quantity of food produced.
Beneficial in the search for new cures for diseases.

Question 13

What are examples of GMO to crop plants?

Answer 13

Drought tolerance.
Disease resistance.
Pest resistance.
Easier harvesting.
Richer in vitamins.

Question 14

What is: The bacterial cell that contains the new desired gene.

Answer 14

A reprogrammed bacterial cell.

Question 15

What are: Any organisms which have had genes inserted from another organism.

Answer 15

Genetically modified organisms.

Question 16

What is: GENE THERAPY

Answer 16

The replacement of a defective gene with a fully fuctional gene.

Question 17

What are some difficulties with gene therapy?

Answer 17

It is difficult getting the genes into the cancer cells.
Using modified viruses to do this can result in diseases being inserted.
In trials there have been some unexplained deaths.

Question 18

Why is gene therapy controversial?

Answer 18

Because if you can change the genes of a patient, it could be passed on to their children.

Question 19

What is: The replacement of a defective gene with a fully fuctional gene?

Answer 19

Gene therapy.