genetic engineering

• genetic engineering

  • a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to give a desired characteristic.
• GM crop

  • crops that have been produced by genetic engineering
• vector

  • something that can carry a gene into another organism (e.g. bacterial plasmid or virus)
• process of genetic engineering

  1. genes are cut out by enzymes
  2. the gene is inserted into a vector (either a bacterial plasmid or virus)
  3. the vector is used to insert the gene into the required cells
  4. genes are transferred to the cells of animals, plants or microorganisms at an early stage in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics
• examples of genetic engineering

  • bacterial cells have human insulin gene inserted into them so that they produce insulin for diabetes
  • plants that have had genes inserted that make them resistant to disease, insects or herbicides