Genetic Modification (genetic Engineering)
Overview
For thousands of years, farmers bred plants and animals by selecting the offspring with the most useful traits. Today, scientists can go further: they can take a single gene from one organism and place it directly into another, creating a genetically modified (GM) organism in a matter of days rather than generations.
In this lesson you will learn how restriction enzymes and ligase cut and paste DNA, how vectors carry genes into new cells, and how GM bacteria now manufacture human insulin on an industrial scale. You will also explore how GM crops are designed to improve food production and what it means for an organism to be transgenic.
Objectives
- Understand how restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA at specific sites and ligase enzymes are used to join pieces of DNA together
- Understand how plasmids and viruses can act as vectors, which take up pieces of DNA, and then insert this recombinant DNA into other cells
- Understand how large amounts of human insulin can be manufactured from genetically modified bacteria
- Understand how genetically modified plants can be used to improve food production
- Understand that the term transgenic means the transfer of genetic material from one species to a different species
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Genetic Modification (genetic Engineering). Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which enzyme is used to cut DNA at a specific base sequence? A) DNA ligase B) Amylase C) Restriction enzyme D) Lipase Answer: C
- A plasmid is best described as: A) A large chromosome found in animal cells B) A small, circular loop of DNA found in bacteria C) A type of restriction enzyme D) A virus that infects plants Answer: B
- What does the term transgenic mean? A) An organism that reproduces asexually B) An organism that contains DNA from a different species C) An organism that has been cloned D) An organism with a mutation Answer: B
- In the production of GM insulin, the role of DNA ligase is to: A) Cut the insulin gene from human DNA B) Join the insulin gene into the bacterial plasmid C) Replicate the bacterial chromosome D) Break down the insulin protein Answer: B
- Which of these is an example of a GM crop? A) A wheat plant grown with fertiliser B) A tomato plant grown in a greenhouse C) Golden Rice enriched with beta-carotene D) A rose bred for larger flowers by selective breeding Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Practice Mock Questions
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