1.5 biology

• Genetic engineering


  The artificial transfer of genetic information from one cell to another
• Required gene


  Gene that is extracted from host chromosome
• Enzyme


  Biological catalysts used to extract the required gene and insert it into a plasmid
• Plasmid


  Circular genetic material present in bacterial cells
• Donor bacterial cell


  Source of plasmid to be modified
• Host bacterial cell


  Bacterial cell in which modified plasmid is inserted
• Genetic Engineering can be used to make the second organism produce a specific protein, for example insulin or human growth hormone
• Genetic Engineering


  1. Extract required gene from human chromosome using enzymes

  2. Extract plasmid from bacterial cell

  3. Cut plasmid open using enzymes

  4. Insert required gene into bacterial plasmid and seal using enzymes

  5. Insert altered plasmid into host bacterial cell to produce a genetically modified (GM) organism