GCSE · Biology · AQA · Spec 8461

Genetic engineering

Bacteria have been engineered to make human insulin, used to treat diabetes. But a bacterium isn't human — so how? It was given a human gene. That's genetic engineering.

Follow one gene

1Find the gene23456

Stage 1 of 6: Find the gene. paused

Find the gene · 1/6drag to follow the gene →

Start with an organism that already has the characteristic you want, and identify the gene that gives it — for example, the human gene for insulin.

Follow one gene from the organism that has it into a different organism. Drag along the path.

UK note

AQA GCSE Biology: the four outline steps (find the gene, cut it out, move it into another organism's cells, grow the organism) are needed at both tiers. Everything marked 'Deeper detail' — the enzymes, the vector (a bacterial plasmid or a virus) and putting the gene in at an early stage of development — is Higher tier only.

Farming or medicine?

Each of these is a real use of genetic engineering. Pick one, then put it where it belongs.

Still to sort

Agriculture (farming) (0)

The organism that gets the new gene is a crop that farmers grow.

Medicine (0)

The point of the modification is treating or overcoming a medical condition.

Where the line is: Ask what the modification is FOR, not just which organism was changed. A bacterium isn't a patient — but if what it makes is used to treat diabetes, it's medicine.

6 of 6 still to sort.

Watch out: Four of the six are crops. That's why most worries you'll meet next are about GM crops in particular.
Higher

Predict, then check

Back to the 'Go in early' stage of the gene's journey.

Genes are put into animal, plant or microorganism cells at an early stage of development. Why so early?

Is it worth it?

The claim

The benefits of genetic engineering outweigh its risks.

Place each piece of evidence to load the balance. Mark the strong ones — they count double.

  1. GM crops generally show increased yields.

    Evidence 1: does it support or challenge the claim?

  2. There are concerns about the effect of GM crops on populations of wild flowers and insects.

    Evidence 2: does it support or challenge the claim?

  3. Bacteria have been engineered to make human insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.

    Evidence 3: does it support or challenge the claim?

  4. Some people feel the effects of eating GM crops on human health have not been fully explored.

    Evidence 4: does it support or challenge the claim?

  5. Medical research is exploring genetic modification to overcome some inherited disorders.

    Evidence 5: does it support or challenge the claim?

  6. Some people have objections to genetic engineering.

    Evidence 6: does it support or challenge the claim?
Higher

Now write it yourself

Describe the main steps in the process of genetic engineering. [4 marks]

0 words · your answer stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

A quick recap of today's lesson.

One gene moves from one organism into another, so the receiver gains a characteristic it didn't have — and every use has benefits to weigh against risks.

What you need to know

  • Describe genetic engineering: what it changes in an organism, and why it's done.
  • Put the four outline steps in order — and, for Higher, name the enzymes, the vector and when the gene goes in.
  • Give examples from farming and from medicine.
  • Weigh the benefits against the risks, and know that some people object.

The big picture

Genetic engineering modifies an organism's genome by introducing a gene from another organism to give it a desired characteristic, producing a genetically modified (GM) organism. In outline: identify the gene, cut it out of the DNA, transfer it into another organism's cells, and grow the modified organism. (Higher: enzymes isolate the gene, it is inserted into a vector — usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus — and the vector inserts it into the required cells at an early stage of development.) It has produced GM crops and insulin-making bacteria, and its benefits must be weighed against risks and people's objections.

Key points

1Genetic engineering modifies an organism's genome by introducing a gene from another organism, to give it a desired characteristic. The result is a genetically modified (GM) organism.
2Outline steps: identify the gene → cut it out of the DNA → transfer it into another organism's cells → grow the modified organism.
3(Higher) Enzymes isolate the required gene → it is inserted into a vector, usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus → the vector inserts it into the required cells, at an early stage of development so the organism develops with the desired characteristic.
4Uses: GM crops that resist disease, insect attack or herbicides, or give bigger, better fruits; bacteria that make human insulin to treat diabetes; research into overcoming some inherited disorders.
5Weigh it up: GM crops generally give increased yields, but there are concerns about wild flower and insect populations, and some people feel the health effects of eating GM crops haven't been fully explored. Some people object to genetic engineering.

Worked example

Problem

Bacteria can be genetically engineered to make human insulin, which is used to treat diabetes. Using the outline steps, describe how this is done — and say which organism is which.

⚠ Watch out

(Higher) Mixing up the jobs of the enzymes and the vector. Enzymes cut the required gene out; the vector — a bacterial plasmid or a virus — carries the gene and inserts it into the required cells. A virus doesn't cut, and an enzyme doesn't deliver.

🧠

Memory hook

A parcel delivery: FIND the parcel, CUT it free, PACK it in a van, DELIVER it early, watch it GROW. The van is the vector — a plasmid or a virus. Unlike a parcel, the gene stays and becomes part of the new genome.

✓

Check yourself

Cover the page. Say the four outline steps in order, then give one farming use, one medical use, one benefit and two concerns. Higher: what cuts, what carries, and when?

Flashcards

(14)
What is genetic engineering?
Modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism, to give it a desired characteristic.
What is a genetically modified (GM) organism?
An organism whose genome has been changed by adding a gene taken from a different organism.
The four outline steps of genetic engineering, in order?
Identify the gene for the wanted characteristic → cut it out of the DNA → transfer it into the cells of another organism → grow the modified organism.
(Higher) What is used to isolate the required gene?
Enzymes.
(Higher) What is a vector, and what is it usually?
The carrier the gene is inserted into, which then inserts the gene into the required cells. Usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus.
(Higher) Why are genes transferred at an early stage of development?
So that the organism develops with the desired characteristic.
Where can genes be cut out from, and where can they be transferred to?
From the chromosomes of humans and other organisms — into the cells of other organisms (animals, plants or microorganisms).
What characteristics have plant crops been genetically engineered to have?
Resistance to diseases, to insect attack or to herbicides — or bigger, better fruits.
What useful substance have bacteria been engineered to produce?
Human insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
What is medical research exploring with genetic modification?
The possibility of overcoming some inherited disorders — it's still being explored.
What do GM crops generally show?
Increased yields.
Give two concerns about GM crops.
Their effect on populations of wild flowers and insects; and some people feel the effects of eating them on human health haven't been fully explored.
Does 'not fully explored' mean GM crops are harmful to eat?
No. It means the effects aren't fully known yet — a reason for caution, not proof of harm.
What must the benefits of genetic engineering be weighed against?
Risks and ethical questions — and some people have objections.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

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