Genetic Engineering

• What should you be able to describe by the end of this video?

  What's meant by genetic engineering
• What are you expected to describe in this video if you're doing the higher tier exam?

  How genetic engineering is carried out
• What are genes sections of?

  DNA on a chromosome
• What does each gene code for?

  Amino acid sequence of a specific protein
• In genetic engineering, where are genes from one organism transferred?

  Cells of a different organism
• In genetic engineering what happens to the genome of the recipient organism?

  It is modified to include a foreign gene
• What human hormone is produced by genetically modified bacteria?

  Insulin
• Why do people with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections?

  They cannot make their own insulin
• How is the insulin produced by genetically modified bacteria used?

  Purified and used for type 1 diabetes
• What can genes transferred into plants be used to produce?

  Genetically modified crops
• What is a general benefit of GM crops?

  They produce a greater yield
• What are some characteristics that GM crops can be made resistant to?

  Disease or insect attack
• What are some GM crops resistant to that allows farmers to spray their fields?

  Herbicides
• What is the purpose of herbicide resistance in GM crops?

  To kill weeds without harming the crop
• What is a common concern about GM crops?

  Whether they are safe
• What is one potential concern regarding the safety of GM crops?

  They could be harmful to insects
• What do some people feel we need to do more of regarding GM crops?

  Research on the health effects
• What is being explored as a way to treat inherited disorders in humans?

  Gene therapy
• What is a concern regarding gene therapy?

  Long-term effects are not known
• What is a potential risk of modifying a gene?

  Potential effects on other genes
• What is the first step for higher tier students in genetic engineering?

  Identify the gene
• What is used to isolate the desired gene?

  Enzymes
• What is used to transfer the isolated gene?

  A plasmid or a virus
• What are the small circles of DNA called that are used to transfer genes?

  Plasmids
• Where do plasmids originally come from?

  Bacteria
• Why are plasmids and viruses useful in genetic engineering?

  For transferring DNA
• What do scientists call plasmids or viruses when they are used to transfer DNA?

  Vectors
• Into what cells is the desired gene transferred?

  The target organism
• At what stage of development is the gene transferred to the target organism?

  An early stage
• If transferring a gene into an animal, at what stage would it be done?

  Early embryo stage
• Why is the gene transferred at an early stage of development?

  To ensure all cells receive it
• What does transferring the gene at an early stage ensure about the organism?

  It develops with the desired trait
• What are the main steps in genetic engineering according to the video?

  • Identify the gene that we want to transfer.
  • Use enzymes to isolate the gene.
  • Transfer the gene into a plasmid or a virus (vector).
  • Transfer the desired gene into the cells of the target organism.
• What is insulin involved in regulating?

  Blood glucose