Genetic engineering can be used to manufacture many pharmaceutical and agricultural products.
The diagram below shows how human Factor VIII (a blood clotting protein used to treat haemophilia) is produced using genetically engineered bacteria:
Which specific part of the human cell's DNA is isolated and inserted into the bacterial plasmid?
Which therapeutic substance is produced by the genetically engineered bacteria?
Historically, Factor VIII was extracted from pooled blood plasma donated by thousands of humans.
Why is genetically engineered human Factor VIII safer or more advantageous for patients than donor-derived Factor VIII?
Select one option:
- Donor-derived Factor VIII carries a risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens such as HIV or Hepatitis.
- Genetically engineered Factor VIII contains active therapeutic viruses that cure haemophilia.
- Genetically engineered Factor VIII is digested more quickly by the stomach.
Genetic engineering can also be used in crop production. Weeds are a major problem for farmers because they compete with crop plants like soybeans.
Give three abiotic or space-related resources that weeds and soybean crops compete for in a field.
Some soybean crops are genetically modified (GM) to be resistant to a herbicide called glyphosate.
Suggest one advantage of spraying glyphosate on a field where GM soybean is growing.
Suggest one biological or environmental concern of using GM herbicide-resistant crops. Do not refer to economic cost.