Inheritance & Survival

1. Inheritance & Survival Genetic Engineering

2. Genetic Engineering • Why can we not use pig organs in humans? • There is a shortage of hearts and kidneys for transplant – why not use a pig? • Biology text book p188

3. Manufacturing Insulin • Insulin is needed to keep diabetics alive. • Human insulin works best with humans • It is possible to obtain small amounts of human insulin from dead bodies.

4. Manufacturing Insulin • There are insufficient supplies of human insulin to meet demand. • Genetic engineers have devised ways of taking the human insulin gene – putting that gene into bacteria that then make insulin.

5. Making insulin • The gene for insulin is “cut” from the DNA of a human. • This is done by using enzymes.

6. Making insulin • Plasmids (small circles of DNA) are obtained from bacteria. • These plasmids are then cut open with enzymes.

7. Making insulin • The human insulin gene is “spliced” into the bacterial plasmid. • The plasmid is re-introduced to the bacteria.

8. Making insulin • The bacteria are grown in large tanks until there are millions of them. • All the plasmids will be busy making “human” insulin

9. Making insulin • This insulin can then be used by diabetics!

10. Genetically Modified Crops GM crops

11. GM Crops • Read carefully through the sheet entitled “Genetic Modification”

12. GM Crops • Make a list of the advantages of GM crops. • Make a list of the reasons people maybe be against the use of GM crops.