Genetic Engineering

• What is genetic engineering?


  It is the modification of an organism's genome by transferring genes from one organism to another.
• How is genetic engineering used in medicine?


  It is used to produce human insulin for people with type 1 diabetes.
• How is genetic engineering applied in agriculture?


  It is used to create genetically modified (GM) crops that yield more and resist diseases.
• What is a good example of a product of genetic engineering in medicine?


  Human insulin produced by genetically modified bacteria.
• Why do people with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections?


  Because they cannot produce their own insulin.
• What advantages do GM crops have over normal crops?


  GM crops generally produce a greater yield and can resist diseases and pests.
• What is the purpose of making GM crops resistant to herbicides?


  It allows farmers to kill weeds without harming the GM crop.
• What concerns do people have regarding GM crops?


  They question whether GM crops could harm insects or wildflowers and the health effects of eating them.
• What is gene therapy?


  It is the exploration of genetic modification as a way to treat inherited disorders in humans.
• What is the first step in the process of genetic engineering?


  Identifying the gene that we want to transfer.
• What are plasmids used for in genetic engineering?


  Plasmids are used to transfer DNA from one organism to another.
• What are vectors in genetic engineering?


  Vectors are plasmids or viruses that transfer DNA between organisms.
• When is the desired gene transferred into the target organism?


  At an early stage in the organism's development.
• Why is it important to transfer the gene at an early stage of development?


  To ensure that all cells receive the transferred gene.
• What are the main steps in genetic engineering?


  1. Identify the gene to transfer.
  2. Use enzymes to isolate the gene.
  3. Transfer the gene into a plasmid or virus (vectors).
  4. Transfer the desired gene into the target organism's cells.
  5. Ensure transfer occurs at an early developmental stage.