What is genetic modification?
Changing an organism’s genetic material by removing, changing or inserting individual genes.
Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology 0970 (Extended) (2026–2028) · 21.3
Revise Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology 0970 (Extended) (2026–2028) specification point 21.3, Genetic modification, with free active-recall flashcards. Flip through the set or review every question and answer below.
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What is genetic modification?
Changing an organism’s genetic material by removing, changing or inserting individual genes.
What two effects can changing an organism’s genes have?
It can alter its characteristics or enable it to produce a desired protein.
How can bacteria be made to produce human proteins?
By inserting human genes into the bacteria.
What three benefits can genes inserted into crop plants confer?
What do restriction enzymes do to isolate a human gene for insertion into a plasmid?
They cut out DNA containing the gene, leaving sticky ends.
Why is the same restriction enzyme used to cut the human DNA and the bacterial plasmid?
It produces complementary sticky ends that allow the human DNA to join to the plasmid.
What is the role of DNA ligase in forming a recombinant plasmid?
It joins the human DNA and plasmid DNA pieces.
What happens to the recombinant plasmid after it is formed?
It is inserted into a bacterium.
What happens to the human gene as bacteria containing its recombinant plasmid multiply?
The gene is carried into more bacterial cells.
How do bacteria containing a human gene produce the human protein?
They express the human gene.