genetic modification

• Alfred Russel Wallace :

  • developed theory of speciation and therefore evolution by natural selection
  • he had the idea of individuals which did not have characteristics to help them survive with changes in the environment would die out
• What is evolution?

  A gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time through natural selection.
• What is natural selection?

  The process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes.
• What is classification?

  The organisation of living organisms into groups based on shared characteristics.
• What are the 5 Kingdoms in biological classification?

  • Animals
  • Plants
  • Fungi
  • Protists
  • Prokaryotes.
• What are the 3 Domains used in classification?

  • Archaea
  • Bacteria
  • Eukaryota.
• What is genetic engineering?

  A process where genes are deliberately modified or transferred from one organism to another.
• What are the main stages of genetic engineering?

   1. Identify gene

  2. Isolate gene using enzymes

  3. Insert gene into vector (e.g. plasmid)

  4. Transfer vector into target organism

  5. Organism expresses the new gene.
• What are vectors in genetic engineering?

  Carriers used to transfer DNA into a cell (e.g. plasmids or viruses).
• What is selective breeding?

  The process of breeding organisms with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits.
• Give an example of selective breeding.


  Breeding cows that produce more milk, or dogs with specific temperaments.
• What is a risk of selective breeding?

  Reduced gene pool → increased risk of inherited diseases.
• One benefit and one concern of genetic modification?

  • Benefit: Crops with higher yields or resistance to disease.
  • Concern: Unknown long-term effects on health or the environment.
• What are Archaea?

  Primitive microbes with no nucleus, often found in extreme environments (e.g. hot springs).
• What is Eukaryota?

  Domain that includes all organisms with cells that have a nucleus — includes Animals, Plants, Fungi, and Protists
• Why was the 3 Domain system developed?

   New genetic evidence showed that some prokaryotes were more different from each other than previously thought — so Archaea were separated from Bacteria.
• What’s the main difference between the 5 Kingdoms and 3 Domains?

  The 3 Domains separate organisms based on molecular differences (e.g. RNA, cell membranes), while 5 Kingdomsgroup based on structure and cell type.
• What is taxonomy?

  Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms into groups based on shared characteristics.