Why can a human gene work in a bacterium?

The genetic code is the same in all living things, so the bacterium can read it and make the protein.

What are the five main steps of genetic engineering?

Identify the gene, cut it out, insert it into a vector, transfer to the host cell, host expresses the gene.

What does a restriction enzyme do?

It cuts DNA at a specific sequence of bases, such as to remove a gene.

A carrier, such as a plasmid or virus, used to transfer a gene into a host cell.

A small ring of DNA in a bacterium that can carry a gene into the cell.

How is human insulin made by genetic engineering?

The human insulin gene is put into bacterial plasmids, and the bacteria make insulin in fermenters.

A crop with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis that makes a protein toxic to certain insect pests.

Give one benefit of Bt crops.

Less of the crop is lost to pests and less insecticide needs to be sprayed.

What does golden rice contain that normal rice does not?

Genes that make beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.

Why was golden rice developed?

To prevent vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness in children.

Give one concern about GM crops.

Genes may spread to wild relatives, long-term health effects are unknown, or seed is controlled by companies.

What should a discussion answer about GM crops end with?

A justified conclusion that weighs the benefits and the concerns.

Genetic engineeringIB MYP Biology: Flashcards

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What is genetic engineering?

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What is genetic engineering?: Changing the genes of an organism by transferring a gene from another organism into it.
Why can a human gene work in a bacterium?: The genetic code is the same in all living things, so the bacterium can read it and make the protein.
What are the five main steps of genetic engineering?: Identify the gene, cut it out, insert it into a vector, transfer to the host cell, host expresses the gene.
What does a restriction enzyme do?: It cuts DNA at a specific sequence of bases, such as to remove a gene.
What is a vector?: A carrier, such as a plasmid or virus, used to transfer a gene into a host cell.
What is a plasmid?: A small ring of DNA in a bacterium that can carry a gene into the cell.
How is human insulin made by genetic engineering?: The human insulin gene is put into bacterial plasmids, and the bacteria make insulin in fermenters.
What is a Bt crop?: A crop with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis that makes a protein toxic to certain insect pests.
Give one benefit of Bt crops.: Less of the crop is lost to pests and less insecticide needs to be sprayed.
What does golden rice contain that normal rice does not?: Genes that make beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.
Why was golden rice developed?: To prevent vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness in children.
Give one concern about GM crops.: Genes may spread to wild relatives, long-term health effects are unknown, or seed is controlled by companies.
What should a discussion answer about GM crops end with?: A justified conclusion that weighs the benefits and the concerns.

Exam questions on Genetic engineering

Millions of people with diabetes need regular injections of insulin. Insulin used to be extracted from the pancreases of pigs and cattle. A biotechnology company in India now makes human insulin using genetically modified bacteria grown in large steel fermenters. The human insulin gene is cut out of human DNA and inserted into a bacterial plasmid, which is then put into the bacteria.
Explain why bacteria are suitable organisms for making human insulin.2 marks
Farmers in Burkina Faso compared two types of cotton in a field trial. Bt cotton contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which makes a protein that is toxic to bollworm caterpillars. Conventional cotton does not contain this gene. Two plots of the same size were sown on the same day in the same field, with the same soil, water and fertiliser. At harvest, 100 plants were chosen at random from each plot and the number of damaged cotton bolls was counted. In the conventional plot there were 46 damaged bolls and in the Bt plot there were 7.
Suggest two ways in which the farmers could improve the reliability of this trial.2 marks
In parts of Asia and Africa, many children who eat mainly rice become short of vitamin A, which can cause blindness. Scientists produced 'golden rice' by adding genes from a plant and a bacterium to rice. The genes allow the rice grains to make beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. The grains are golden in colour.
Outline the main steps in producing golden rice.3 marks

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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).