Genetic modification: Practice Questions

Which of the following is the best description of genetic modification?

In the process of genetic modification, which enzyme is specifically used to join a human gene into a bacterial plasmid to create a recombinant plasmid?

In the production of human insulin using bacteria, the same restriction enzyme is used to cut both the human DNA and the bacterial plasmid DNA.
What is the purpose of using the same enzyme?

In the process of genetic modification, what is the specific role of a bacterial plasmid?

During the genetic modification of a crop plant to confer resistance to insect pests, what is the role of the recombinant plasmid?

Define the term genetic modification according to the syllabus.

State two examples of how genetic modification has been used to improve the quality or yield of food crops.

During the genetic modification process to produce human insulin, explain why it is essential that the restriction enzyme used to isolate the human gene and to cut the bacterial plasmid must be identical.

Genetic modification is a common technique used in modern agriculture to improve crop characteristics.
a) Define the term genetic modification<\/i>.
b) Some crop plants are modified to be resistant to herbicides. Explain how this modification can lead to an increase in crop yield by referring to competition between plants.<\/p>

The production of human insulin involves several precise steps to create a recombinant plasmid<\/b>.
a) Describe the specific role of restriction enzymes<\/b> in isolating the human gene and preparing the bacterial plasmid.
b) Explain why it is essential to use the same restriction enzyme for both the human DNA and the plasmid DNA, with reference to sticky ends<\/i>.
c) Describe how DNA ligase<\/b> is used to complete the formation of the recombinant plasmid.
d) Briefly outline the final stage required for the bacteria to begin making the human insulin protein.<\/p>