What is genetic engineering (also known as genetic modification)?

Genetic engineering is the process of modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism, in order to give a desired characteristic.

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What do we call crops that have been genetically engineered?

Genetically modified (GM) crops. 

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How has genetic engineering played a role in the treatment of diabetes?

Bacterial cells have been genetically engineered to produce human insulin to treat diabetes.

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Give 3 traits that could be altered by genetic engineering in crops. 

There are many; some examples include: 


  1. Increased yield (e.g. larger fruit).
  2. Increased quality (e.g. better taste).
  3. Resistance to disease.
  4. Resistance to insects.
  5. Resistance to herbicides.
  6. Resistance to droughts.

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Give 2 drawbacks of genetic engineering.

1If the crops breed with wild plants, they could spread the new genes into the wild and affect the wild population's gene pool.


2There is a small risk that genetically modified food could negatively affect our health. 

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Describe the steps of genetic engineering (genetic modification).

  1. Isolate the desired gene from human DNA.
  2. Insert the DNA into a vector, such as a plasmid. 
  3. Insert the plasmid into a host bacterium. 
  4. Let the bacterium divide and then produce the desired protein. 

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What is gene therapy?

Gene therapy is the treatment of an inherited disorder by giving the patient a healthy copy of the faulty gene.

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