Key Area 5 - Genetic Engineering

Question 1

What is genetic engineering?

Answer 1

The transfer of genetic information from one cell to another naturally or artificially.

Question 2

How can people with Type 1 diabetes be treated with genetic engineering?

Answer 2

By transferring the gene for making human insulin into bacterial cells so that they produce the insulin.

Question 3

What is used to combine the desired gene and the DNA of another species?

Answer 3

Enzymes.

Question 4

Why are bacterial cells the common recipients of the inserted genes?

Answer 4

The reproduce very quickly, which results quickly in many transformed bacterial cells.

Question 5

What is the transferred cell called?

Answer 5

A genetically modified organism

Question 6

How is the required gene inserted into a host cell?

Answer 6

Using plasmids or another vector(carrier)

Question 7

Give an example of a GM organism

Answer 7

Tomatoes with a longer shelf life.

Question 8

Give an example of products from GM organisms

Answer 8

Insulin (produced by bacteria)

Question 9

What are the stages of genetic engineering?

Answer 9

Bacterial plasmid is cut open, then a gene is cut out of a human chromosome. The gene is inserted into the plasmid. The plasmid is inserted into the bacterial cell wall with a DNA strand.
(See diagram pg 18 of course Notes)