6. variation and evolution
Using freesciencelessons
Genetic engineering
- Genes are sections of DNA on a chromosome
- Each gene codes for the amino acid sequence of a specific protein
- Genes from one organism can be cut and transferred to other organisms
- For example: bacteria have been genetically modified to contain the human insulin gene to
produce insulin needed for type 1 diabetics
- can also transfer genes to plants to produce genetically modified crops
- greater yield, bigger fruit, herbicide resistance
- need more research on health effects
- genetic modification is being studied as a way to treat inherited disorders in humans
- this is called gene therapy
- long term effects not known
- main steps in genetic engineering:
- identify gene that we want to transfer
- eg a human gene or plant
- use enzymes to isolate this gene
- transfer gene to small circle of DNA called a plasmid
- plasmids came from bacteria and are useful to transfer DNA from one organism to another
- instead of plasmid we can also use a virus
- DNA is transferred from one organism to another so they are called vectors
- Desired gene is transferred into cells of the target organism
- We always transfer gene at early stage in the organisms development
- Early embryo for an animal
- All cells receive gene and desired characteristic
Using freesciencelessons
Genetic engineering
- Genes are sections of DNA on a chromosome
- Each gene codes for the amino acid sequence of a specific protein
- Genes from one organism can be cut and transferred to other organisms
- For example: bacteria have been genetically modified to contain the human insulin gene to
produce insulin needed for type 1 diabetics
- can also transfer genes to plants to produce genetically modified crops
- greater yield, bigger fruit, herbicide resistance
- need more research on health effects
- genetic modification is being studied as a way to treat inherited disorders in humans
- this is called gene therapy
- long term effects not known
- main steps in genetic engineering:
- identify gene that we want to transfer
- eg a human gene or plant
- use enzymes to isolate this gene
- transfer gene to small circle of DNA called a plasmid
- plasmids came from bacteria and are useful to transfer DNA from one organism to another
- instead of plasmid we can also use a virus
- DNA is transferred from one organism to another so they are called vectors
- Desired gene is transferred into cells of the target organism
- We always transfer gene at early stage in the organisms development
- Early embryo for an animal
- All cells receive gene and desired characteristic
