Uses of biological resouces - year 11

Advantages of selective breeding in crops

• higher yield

• Resistance to disease

• Resistance to pest damage

• Obtain better nutritional value

• Longer lifespan

Advantages of selective breeding in animals

• higher yield (meat, eggs, milk)

• Resistance to disease

• More offspring

• Higher quality wool

Two disadvantages of selective breeding

• slow

• Unhelpful phenotypes may be passed on

Define ‘genetic engineering’

Changing the DNA by inserting a gene from another organism

Define ‘transgenic organism’

A species which receives a gene from a different species

Define ‘recombinant DNA’

A gene from one species cut out of DNA and inserted into DNA of another species

What must be used in genetic engineering?

A vector

What is the process of bacteria plasmid vectors

1. Restriction enzymes makes cut in DNA

2. This creates sticky ends

3. Bacterial plasmids are cut with same restriction enzymes

4. These are complementary bases to the sticky ends

5. DNA ligase enzymes joins the complementary bases to sticky ends

6. DNA is now recombinant DNA

What are some uses of GMO bacteria?

• enzymes used in washing powder

• Enzymes for food industry

• Human growth hormone

• Human vaccines

Advantages of GMO plants

• cheaper

• Time efficient for farmer

• Increases shelf life

• Increases nutritional value

• Resistance to pest and disease

Disadvantages of GMO plants

• increased cost of seeds

• Unknown health risks

• Reduce biodiversity

Define ‘clone’

Genetically identical copy of an organism

Two way of natural cloning

1. Twins

2. Asexual reproduction in plants

Process of micropropagation

1. Explants are taken

2. Places in a sterile agar

3. Contains growth hormone (auxin), nutrients and minerals

4. Control light and humidity

Advantages of micropropagnation

• can occur at any time of the year

• Large number grown rapidly

• Sterile so pest and disease free

Disadvantages of micropropagnation

• requires sterile lab and trained personnel

• One pest could damage ALL plants

Process of animal cloning

1. Diploid body cell has its nucleus taken from animal A

2. Egg cell is enucleated from animal B

3. Nucleus and egg cell is fused together by electric shock

4. Cell begins to divide by mitosis

5. Embryo is implanted in uterus lining of surrogate animal C

Advantages of animal cloning

• no need for male

• Faster than selective breeding

• Production of human tissue for organs

Disadvantages of animal cloning

• many are deformed

• Die easily

• Ethical issues

Two problems of using cloned animals to make proteins for human medicine

• issue of rejection

• Transfer of viruses from animals to human