6.16 Genetic Modification

  • taking an organism with a desirable characteristic (like a plant with big fruit) & take the gene responsible for said trait

    • this gene is transferred to another organism (so it can develop same trait)

  • We are modifying an organism’s genome by adding a new helpful gene

    • This organism is now genetically modified (GM)

  • Organisms of different species can be used to genetically modify each other

Gene therapy

  • Treating inherited disorders due to faulty genes

    • works by giving person healthy version of the faulty gene (hoping it fixes problem)

    • But is proven difficult as faulty gene is in every cell in the body

      • Hard to transfer new gene to every cell

      • So need to transfer gene at early stage of development (egg / embryo)

Pros & cons of GM crops

  • Easily make crops with desirable characteristics (more edible fruit / resistant to disease = more food for less money)

  • Don’t know how GM plants might affect human health

  • Plants can make way into the wild - might outcompete local plants & change entire ecosystem

    • unlikely, as GM plants are modified to survive in farmers’ fields, not the wild

How to transfer genes from one organism to another

  1. Find gene we want & cut section out of DNA (using enzymes) and isolate it

  2. Insert gene into a vector (virus or bacterial plasmid)

  3. Introduce the vector to whichever organism we want to have the gene

  4. The organism’s cells take up vector & the useful gene it contains

    • Cells will start producing protein the gene codes for