Genetic Engineering

• Genetic engineering is also called genetic modification or GM
• It involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to result in a desired characteristic
• Genetic Engineering involves these steps :

  1. selection of desired characteristics and the gene responsible for it is identified
  2. the target gene responsible for the characteristic is 'cut out' of the chromosome
  3. the gene is transferred and inserted into another organism
  4. replication of the genetically modified organism
• The organism receiving the genetic material is said to be 'genetically modified' or is described as a 'transgenic organism'
• the DNA of the organism that now contains DNA from another organism as well is known as 'recombinant DNA'
• Current Uses of Genetic Engineering :

  • the gene for human insulin has been inserted into bacteria which then produce human insulin which can be collected and purified for medical use for diabetics
• Current Uses of Genetic Engineering :

  • crop plants, such as wheat and maize, have been genetically modified to contain a gene from a bacterium that produced a poison that kills insects (an insecticid), making them resistant to insect pests such as caterpillars
• Current Uses of Genetic Engineering :

  • crop plants have also been genetically modified to make them resistant to certain herbicides (chemicals that kill plants), meaning that when the herbicide is sprayed on the crop it only kills weeds and does not affect the crop plant
• Current Uses of Genetic Engineering :

  • some crops have been genetically modified to produce additional vitamins
  • eg ‘golden rice’ contains genes from another plant and a bacterium which make the rice grains produce a chemical that is turned into vitamin A in the human body, which could help prevent deficiency diseases in certain areas of the world