B7- genetic modification
- Created by: superlouasaur
- Created on: 13-06-15 13:16
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- B7 Genetic modification
- Genes can be transferred between organisms
- Genetic modification is where a gene from one organism is transferred to another
- The organism with the transferred gene will then produce a protein using instructions in that gene
- Protein can be made even though the gene came from another organism because all organisms use the same genetic code
- Genetic modification involves important stages
- 1.) the gene that is responsible for the desirable protein is isolated
- 2.)The useful gene is replicated to create lots of copies
- 3.)Each gene is joined to a vector- a carrier for the gene which makes it easier to insert into a new cell
- Plasmids and viruses are often used as vectors
- 4.) Vectors containing the useful genes are transferred into new cells e.g. bacterial cells
- 5.) Not all of the new cells will be modified e.g. the vector might not have been transferred properly
- 6.) So, the last stage is to select the individuals that have been successfully modified
- Genetic modification has useful applications for humans
- Making medicines
- Genetically modified bacteria make medicines cheaply, quickly and in large quantities
- Insulin is used to treat type 1 diabetes
- The gene for human insulin production can be transferred into bacteria
- The bacteria are grown in a fermenter, and the human insulin is simply extracted when it's produced
- This means that the insulin made by the bacteria is exactly the same as human insulin
- Making crops herbicide resistant
- Some plants have natural resistance to herbicides
- Can cut out the gene responsible and stick it to any other plant we want to
- Herbicide resistant crops are useful to farmers because they can use a really effective weed killer without damaiging their produce
- Herbicide resistant crops can be more expensive than normal crops
- Some people are worried that the gene might be transferred into wild plants, making them hard to kill
- Herbicide resistant crops could encourage the use of weedkillers. This could reduce biodiversity, and it's possible the weed killers could pollute water systems or get into foodchains
- Making medicines
- Genes can be transferred between organisms
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