The human insulin gene has been engineered into E. coli to produce large quantities of human insulin. Growth hormone, clotting factors, antibiotics, industrial enzymes and vaccines have all been produced using recombinant DNA and genetic engineering in prokaryotes.Transgenic plants can be produced using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a bacterium that causes tumours in plants. The desired gene can be placed in the Ti plasmid with marker genes for fluorescence or antibiotic resistance and be used to infect plants. Electrofusion can also be used on plant cells.Transgenic animals are much harder to produce. Growth hormone made by genetically engineered bacteria is injected into cows to increase milk production, but the cows themselves are not transgenic.
Genetically Engineering Different Organisms
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Specification: OCR Biology A (H420), A-level, 6.1.3 Manipulating genomes. Topic: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
Key terms in this lesson
- Hormone
- A chemical messenger, secreted directly into the blood by an endocrine gland, that travels to target cells and alters their activity.
- Insulin
- A hormone secreted by beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to high blood glucose concentration that increases the uptake of glucose by cells.
- Recombinant DNA
- DNA formed by combining genetic material from two different sources, such as inserting a gene from one organism into a vector for transfer to another.
More in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
- Pathogens, DNA Barcoding
- Genomics and Proteomics
- Recombinant DNA
- Genetic Engineering
- Genetically Engineering Plants
- Ethical Concerns - microorganisms
- GM plants
- Patenting
All 17 lessons in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology · All OCR A-level Biology topics