Monday 20 March 2023

What is genetic engineering?

Learning Objective: To identify why genetic
engineering is carried out

Learning Outcomes:
Must define the term genetic engineering
Should describe how genetic engineering is carried
out
Could evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of genetic engineering
 Starter
Do you think the following plants
and animals have been genetically
engineered?
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Why would we want to be able to
change the genes of an organism?
Modern uses of genetic engineering:
Finding out where
genes are expressed in
the body

Manufacturing insulin

Crops which produce a

greater yield Crops resistant to
disease
 But what is “Genetic Engineering”?

• Genetic engineering is the deliberate

modification (changing) of an organism’s
genes.

• GE = Genetic engineering
• GM = Genetically modified (organisms
which have been genetically engineered)
Manufacturing Insulin
Human cell

Nucleus
Chromosomes
Gene for
producing
insulin
Harmless
Bacteria

Plasmid
(DNA)
Insulin gene is
removed using
restriction
enzymes
Enzymes are used
to cut open the
Human insulin gene
is placed in the
Human insulin gene
is placed in the
Plasmid is replaced
in bacteria
 Bacteria reproduce
rapidly

All of these bacteria have the gene to make human

Genetic
engineerin
g in action

The insulin
these bacteria
make saves
lives every day
 Chromosomes
1 2 3

Insulin gene is
5 6
Enzymes are
used to cut open
removed using the plasmid
4 restriction
enzymes

Human
insulin gene Plasmid is
is placed in replaced in

7 the plasmid 8 bacteria 9 10

1. DNA taken from a human cell

2. Use a restriction enzyme to cut

out the gene for insulin from the DNA

3. Use an enzyme called lysozyme to cut the

Plasmid (ring of DNA) out of a bacterial cell
4. Use the same restriction enzyme to cut a
section of DNA from the plasmid

5. Insert the gene for insulin into the plasmid

6. Use an enzyme called ligase to join the ends

of the DNA
7. Put the plasmid with the insulin gene back
into a bacterial cell

8. Leave the bacteria to divide

Multiple copies
of the bacteria
which produces
insulin
9. Insulin is removed and purified

10. Ready for use in humans!

The process of cutting out a gene from the DNA

of one organism and inserting it into the DNA
of another is called gene splicing
 Task
• Complete the revision grid to summarise your
notes from today’s lesson
• Include as much information as possible
 What is your opinion?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages
of genetic engineering?
• What is your opinion?

• Support each point that you make with

evidence!
 Social, economical, ethical?

Social How it affects groups of people.

Economica
Anything to do with money.
l

Ethical People’s ideas of right and wrong.

 Social, economical, ethical?
The issue Social Economic Ethical
1. We have developed plants that are
resistant to pests and disease.
2. Unborn children will be genetically
screened and then aborted if their genetic
make-up is faulty.
3. Cross pollination of GM crops could cause a
natural ‘weed’ to become resistant to
herbicides.
4. GE means we can produce crops that can
grow in drought areas.
5. Parents could choose the genetic makeup
of their child – known as ‘designer babies’.