Biotechnology and genetic modification
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| biotechnology | 生物技术 | shēng wù jì shù |
| genetic modification | 基因改造 | jī yīn gǎi zào |
| GM organism | 转基因生物 | zhuǎn jī yīn shēng wù |
Putting living things to work
- Humans have long used living organisms — especially microbes — to make useful products.
- This is biotechnology 生物技术, and modern versions can even rewrite an organism's genes.
Genetic modification route
Follow the main steps from useful gene to modified organism.
Microbes are useful in biotechnology because they:
Fast reproduction and easy growth make microbes ideal.
Why microbes are useful
- Bacteria and fungi reproduce very fast, are easy to grow, and make useful substances.
- They can be grown in large tanks to make food, medicines and fuels.
A human gene is joined into a plasmid, then bacteria make the human protein
Genetic modification involves:
GM transfers a gene between organisms.
Bacteria can be genetically modified to make:
GM bacteria produce human insulin for diabetics.
Changing an organism's genes by inserting a gene from another is genetic ______.
GM creates organisms with new, useful products.
Genetic modification 基因改造
- Genetic modification (GM) changes an organism's genes by inserting a gene from another organism.
- A GM organism 转基因生物 then makes a new, useful product (e.g. bacteria making human insulin).
DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis appear as glowing bands
Genetic modification raises ethical and environmental concerns as well as offering benefits.
Both benefits and concerns must be weighed.
Benefits and concerns
- Benefits: medicines, higher crop yields, pest-resistant plants.
- Concerns: effects on wild species, ethics, and unknown long-term impacts.
GM transfers a gene between organisms. A useful gene (e.g. for human insulin) is inserted into bacteria, which then make that product. The organism's own DNA is deliberately changed — unlike selective breeding.
You've got it
- biotechnology uses living organisms (often microbes) to make useful products
- microbes are useful because they reproduce fast and are easy to grow
- genetic modification inserts a gene from one organism into another (e.g. insulin-making bacteria)