Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is a process where the genes of

an organism are changed in some way.
Organisms that have had their genes changed are
known as genetically modified organisms or
GM organisms.
We change the genes of an organism to make them
produce something useful for us or to give the
organism a different characteristic.

Pearson Education, 2012

Genetic engineering

Reasons for genetically modifying organisms

There are many reasons why we change the genes of
living things. Below are just a few.
We change the genes of animals such as sheep to make
them produce milk containing medicines.
We change the genes of plants to prevent them being
eaten by insect pests.
We can add genes to bacteria to make them produce
insulin for use by humans.

Pearson Education, 2012

Genetic engineering

Genetically modified bacteria

Pearson Education, 2012

Genetic engineering

Advantages of genetic modification - plants

Producing GM crops could help to reduce the world
food shortage:
Crops can be genetically modified to grow in hostile conditions
such as low water levels and with fewer nutrients.
Crops can be made herbicide resistant which means that they
are not affected by the chemicals used to kill weeds.
Crops can modified to produce chemicals which are poisonous
to pests.

Genetically modifying plants in these ways usually

increases crop yields
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Genetic engineering

Advantages of genetic modification - bacteria

Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce many
useful substances fairly cheaply.
Bacteria multiple very rapidly which means that a large
amount of a useful product can be produced in a
relatively short amount of time.
Substances such as insulin that is produced by
bacteria give far fewer side effects in humans than the
insulin that is extracted from cattle.

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Genetic engineering

Disadvantages of genetic engineering

GM plants that are resistant to herbicides could
encourage farmers to use more chemicals on weeds.
This could affect other living organisms
Weeds may provide food for other living organisms.
These organisms may need to seek out another food
source if there are fewer weeds. This could reduce
biodiversity and affect food chains.
The long term effects of GM plants on the health of
humans has not yet been determined.
GM plants may cross-pollinate with natural plants in the
environment and pass on their modified genes to new
plants.
Pearson Education, 2012