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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Which two enzymes are used during the process of genetic engineering? 

1DNA ligase.


2Restriction enzymes.

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Describe the steps of genetic engineering (genetic modification).

  1. Isolate the desired gene from human DNA using restriction enzymes, forming sticky ends.
  2. Use the same restriction enzymes to cut open a bacterial plasmid, forming complementary sticky ends. 
  3. Insert the desired gene into the plasmid using the enzyme DNA ligase to form a recombinant plasmid.
  4. Insert the recombinant plasmid into the host bacteria. 
  5. Let the bacteria divide and produce the desired protein. 


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