Key area 5: genetic engineering

• what is genetic engineering?

  the transfer of a gene from one organism to another
• What is the organism that receives the DNA called?

  genetically modified (GM)
• Why are organisms genetically modified?

  Improving traits giving them DESIRABLE physical characteristics
• what is the genetic information usually inserted into?

  The plasmid found in bacterial cells
• What are the stages of genetic engineering?

  1. Identify the section of DNA that contains required gene from source chromosome
  2. Extract the required gene *using special enzyme*
  3. Extract the plasmid from the bacterial cell *using special enzymes*
  4. Insert the required gene into the plasmid
  5. Insert modified plasmid into new bacterial cell (now a GM organism)
  6. bacterial cells divide and produce the required product