Genetic Engineering

• Genetic engineering is altering the genes of an organism to produce a genetically modified organism.
• Plants are genetically modified to be disease resistant, pest resistant, large, flavour full and to have big yields.
• Animals are genetically modified to grow larger and faster, be disease resistant and to produce animal products.
• Concerns about genetically modifying crops:

  • They can reproduce with wild plant varieties and pass on the resistance gene
  • Many think they're bad for our health (no evidence)
  • Expensive seeds
• Stages of Genetic Engineering:

  • Restriction enzymes cut DNA making sticky ends
  • Sticky ends cut plasmids that act as vectors
  • Ligase (enzyme) joins the 2 together