1. Genetic engineering 27/04/12
 Aims:
 To understand the process of
genetic engineering.  Success Criteria…..
C: Explain how an organism can
 Starter: be genetically modified
 To order the stages of cloning B: Explain why we would want to
from last lesson. genetically modify an organism
A/A*: Make connections between
the genetic modification of
crop plants and the human
populations demand for food
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2. Definitions:
Genetic engineering:
 Putting DNA from one organism into a
different organism
 e.g. Putting the human insulin gene
into a bacterium
Plasmid:
 A small, circular piece of DNA found in
bacteria
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3. A case study
 Insulin is an important hormone that
controls blood sugar
 Diabetes is a disease where you can’t
make insulin
 It can be treated by injecting insulin
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4. Diabetes
 Diabetes used to be  Now we use insulin
treated with pig made by a genetically
insulin. modified (GM)
 But there were bacteria
problems:  You need to know
 Had to kill lots of pigs how we do this…
 Not perfect
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/genetic-engineering-and-insulin-production/4200.h
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5. Animals and plants can also be
genetically modified:
 Why might you want to genetically modify a crop
plant?
 Herbicide resistant
 Resistant to insect attack
 Increased yield
 Indicators of insect attack (jellyfish gene that
glows when plant is attacked)
 Alter the vitamin content of food
 Drought resistant
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6. Human DNA Bacterial plasmid
(circular DNA)
Insulin gene
Cut out insulin gene
Cut plasmid with enzyme
Insulin gene inserted
Plasmid inserted into plasmid
into bacteria
Bacteria
produce
insulin
Bacteria reproduce which is
extracted

7. Make your own genetically modified
bacterium
1. Outline the E. coli bacterium in green then colour the plasmid in
yellow.
2. Cut out the plasmid from the bacterium.
3. Make a cut in the plasmid using an enzyme (your scissors!).
4. Outline the human chromosome in blue then colour the insulin gene
in red.
5. Cut out the DNA from the human cell.
6. Cut out the insulin gene using an enzyme (your scissors!)
7. Stick your insulin gene into your bacterial plasmid using a different
enzyme (glue!).
8. Insert your plasmid into an E. coli cell. (stick it in!)
9. Now let your genetically modified bacteria divide and reproduce – it
will make human insulin for you!
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8. Genetic engineering review
 Complete the gaps on the flow chart to
summarise the process of genetic engineering.
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