Genetic Engineering and Cloning: Uses, Advantages, Risks

Genetic engineering

• A gene from one organism is inserted into the DNA of another organism.
• The inserted gene makes its protein in the genetically modified organism.
• Advantages:
• Making human insulin using GM bacteria is quicker and cheaper than producing it any other way. So more people with diabetes can be treated.
• Golden Rice is a GM plant that contains genes from other plants that increases the production of bête-carotene. Beta-carotene makes vitamin A. in people who mainly eat rice.
• Disadvantages:
• A few diabetic people react badly to this insulin and need a different form.
• Golden rice seed costs more than normal rice seed, so the poorest people can't afford to grow it.
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Mitosis

• Mitosis is he cell division that happens in body cells - any body cell except those that produce gametes (sex cells).
• Mi-to-sis makes two cells
• Mitosis makes identical cells
• Diploid means double (two sets of chromosomes).
• Mitosis is used for:
• growth
• repairing damaged parts of the body
• asexual reproduction
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• Caption: Stages of Mitosis

Clones

• Clones are organisms that have identical genes
• Cloning is an example of asexual reproduction
• You start with a body cell from an adult mammal and an egg cell from the same species. The clone will have exactly the same genes as the animal from which the body cell was taken.
• Advantages: If the animal that is cloned has good features, all of its offspring will have the same good features.
• Disadvantages: It is more difficult o clone a mammal than a plant. It may take many attempts before a healthy cloned mammal is born which costs more money. Cloned mammals may suffer more health problems than usual, which may cause them to die early. Any genetic defect in the parent will be passed on to the offspring.