Genetic Engineering (AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy: Life & Environmental Sciences): Revision Note

The Process of Genetic Engineering

• Genetic engineering is changing the genetic material of an organism by removing or altering genes within that organism, or by inserting genes from another organism

• Genes can be transferred to cells of animals, plants or microorganisms at an early stage of development

  • The organism will then develop with the desired characteristics

• The process is much faster than selective breeding

• The organism receiving the genetic material is said to be ‘genetically modified’, or is described as a ‘transgenic organism’

• The DNA of the organism that now contains DNA from another organism as well is known as ‘recombinant DNA’

The main steps in the process of genetic engineering:

• Enzymes are used to isolate (cut out) the required gene

• This gene is inserted into a vector

• The vector is usually a bacterial plasmid (a piece of circular DNA found inside bacterial cells) or a virus

• The vector is used to insert the gene into the required cells of the target organism

• Genes are transferred to the cells of animals, plants or microorganisms at an early stage in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics

Advantages & Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering

• It is important to be able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of GM technologies

• The table below gives some comparisons