Genetic modification

• Genetic engineering

  Process of modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism
• How has genetic engineering played a role in the treatment of diabetes

  Bacterial cells have been genetically engineered to produce human insulin to treat diabetes
• 3 traits that could be altered by genetic engineering in crops

  Increased yield

  Increased quality

  Resistance to disease
• 2 drawbacks of genetic engineering

  if the crops breed with wild plants they could spread new genes into the wild and affect the wild populations gene pool

  Small risk that gm food could negatively affect our health
• Steps of genetic engineering

  Isolate the desired gene from human DNA

  Insert DNA into a vector like a plasmid

  Insert plasmid into a host bacterium

  Let bacterium divide and then produce the desired protein
• Gene therapy

  Treatment of an inherited disorder by giving the patient a healthy copy of the faulty gene