Genetic Engineering notes from
A clone is a large number of cells grown from a single cell. A clone is a group of genetically identical organisms produced by the division of a single cell.
Cloning is a way that a clone can be made. It is a technique where bacteria can be isolated and grown into large colonies that contain the recombinant DNA.
Bacteria are single celled organisms, they reproduce quickly and in large numbers, therefore you get lots and lots of the recombinant DNA.
The final step of genetic engineering is called DNA sequencing. This means “reading the sequence of DNA bases.
Only 1 of the 2 strands of the double helix is used in the process of DNA sequencing. However, many copies of this one strand are needed. These many copies can be produced through the process of DNA cloning.
Applications of genetic engineering (ways to apply genetic engineering):
Genetic engineering provides a way of producing large amounts of previously rare substances.
Insulin- a hormone in the human body that is produced in the pancreas to control the blood sugar levels in the body.
One application of genetic engineering is inserting the human gene for insulin into bacteria. These bacteria are then able to make the insulin. When the bacteria are cloned, large amounts of insulin are produced and can be collected to be used for people with diabetes.
Another application of genetic engineering is called gene replacement. It is a way to correct genetic defects by transferring normal genes into cells that lack them. The replacement of defective genes is called gene therapy.
Farmers also use genetic engineering to help their plants become resistant to disease, insects and weed-killing substances. Genes are inserted into plants to make the plants resistant.
Farmers also use growth promoting hormones that are produced
by genetic engineering to increase the amount of milk produced by cows and to
fatten farm animals.