How Is Gene Technology Used in Medicine and Agriculture?
Learn how gene technology produces medicines such as insulin and insect-resistant crops, with the key DNA steps and an AQA Biology exam mistake to avoid.
Gene technology can give organisms a useful gene from another organism. In medicine, genetically modified microorganisms can produce human proteins such as insulin. In agriculture, genetically modified crops can be given traits such as resistance to insect pests.
How does it work?
A gene is a section of DNA that codes for a polypeptide or functional RNA. Scientists obtain the DNA containing the desired gene and insert it into a vector, which carries it into host cells. Restriction enzymes can cut DNA, and DNA ligase joins DNA fragments. A promoter helps the host cell transcribe the inserted gene; marker genes help identify cells that have taken it up. The universal genetic code means a host from a different species can use the gene’s instructions to make the protein.
Medicine and agriculture
To produce insulin, scientists can use human insulin mRNA to make a DNA copy with reverse transcriptase. They insert the DNA into a vector and transfer it into microorganisms. The modified cells are grown so that insulin can be collected and purified for people with diabetes. This is different from gene therapy, which aims to introduce genetic material into a patient’s cells to treat a condition.
For an insect-resistant crop, a gene introduced into plant cells enables the plant to produce a protein that protects it against particular pests. This may reduce insecticide use, but possible effects on other organisms and the spread of the gene to other plants need evaluating.
Exam mistake to avoid: A genetically modified organism does not gain a trait simply because foreign DNA was added. The gene must enter suitable cells and be expressed: its information must be used to produce the relevant protein.
