Genetic modification
Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) · Unit 21: Biotechnology and genetic modification · 11 flashcards
Genetic modification is topic 21.3 in the Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) syllabus , positioned in Unit 21 — Biotechnology and genetic modification , alongside Biotechnology and genetic modification and Biotechnology. In one line: Genetic modification involves altering an organism's genetic material by removing, changing, or inserting individual genes. This results in organisms with new characteristics.
This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical).
The deck below contains 11 flashcards — 3 definitions, 1 key concept, 2 process cards and 5 application cards — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward. Use the 3 definition cards to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.
Genetic modification
Genetic modification involves altering an organism's genetic material by removing, changing, or inserting individual genes. This results in organisms with new characteristics.
What the Cambridge 0610 syllabus says
2026-2028 syllabus, in our wordsWhat the syllabus expects you to be able to do in this topic, in plain English. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks. For the exact wording, see the official syllabus (PDF).
- Describe Describe genetic modification as altering an organism's genetic material by taking out, changing or adding individual genes.
- Outline Outline examples of genetic modification: (a) adding human genes to bacteria so the bacteria make human proteins (b) adding genes to crop plants to give them resistance to herbicides (c) adding genes to crop plants to give them resistance to insect pests (d) adding genes to crop plants to improve their nutritional qualities.
- Outline Outline genetic modification, using bacteria making a human protein as the example, covering only: (a) restriction enzymes are used to isolate the DNA of a human gene, leaving sticky ends (b) the same restriction enzymes cut bacterial plasmid DNA, leaving complementary sticky ends (c) DNA ligase joins the human DNA into the plasmid DNA, making a recombinant plasmid (d) recombinant plasmids are put into bacteria (details of how are not required) (e) the bacteria carrying recombinant plasmids multiply (f) the bacteria express the human gene and make the human protein. Supplement
- Discuss Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of genetically modified crops, including rice, maize and soya. Supplement
What is genetic modification?
Genetic modification involves altering an organism's genetic material by removing, changing, or inserting individual genes. This results in organisms with new characteristics.
Describe how bacteria can be genetically modified to produce human proteins.
Human genes are inserted into bacterial plasmids using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase, creating a recombinant plasmid. These plasmids are introduced into bacteria, which then multiply and express the human gene to produce the desired human protein, such as insulin.
What are 'sticky ends' in the context of genetic modification?
Sticky ends are single-stranded DNA overhangs created by restriction enzymes during the cutting of DNA. These overhangs are complementary and allow for the specific joining of DNA fragments from different sources, like human genes and bacterial plasmids.
What enzyme is used to join DNA fragments together during genetic modification?
DNA ligase is the enzyme responsible for joining DNA fragments with complementary sticky ends together during genetic modification. It forms a stable phosphodiester bond between the fragments, creating a continuous DNA molecule.
Give an example of a crop plant that has been genetically modified for herbicide resistance.
Soya beans are commonly genetically modified to be resistant to herbicides like glyphosate. This allows farmers to spray the herbicide to kill weeds without harming the soya bean crop.
Give an example of a crop plant that has been genetically modified for insect pest resistance.
Maize (corn) is often genetically modified to produce the Bt toxin, which is toxic to certain insect pests like the European corn borer. This reduces the need for insecticide sprays.
Give an example of a crop plant that has been genetically modified for improved nutritional qualities.
Golden Rice is genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A. This addresses Vitamin A deficiency in populations where rice is a staple food.
What is a recombinant plasmid?
A recombinant plasmid is a bacterial plasmid that has had foreign DNA, such as a human gene, inserted into it. This plasmid is then introduced into bacteria for replication and expression of the inserted gene.
Outline one advantage of genetically modifying crops.
Increased crop yields can be achieved through genetic modification,
Outline one disadvantage of genetically modifying crops.
Potential for unintended consequences on ecosystems, such as the development of herbicide-resistant weeds or the impact on non-target organisms. This can lead to imbalances in ecosystems.
What are restriction enzymes used for in genetic modification?
Restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA at specific sequences, creating fragments with 'sticky ends'. This allows for the precise insertion of desired genes, such as human genes, into plasmids.
Key Questions: Genetic modification
What is genetic modification?
Genetic modification involves altering an organism's genetic material by removing, changing, or inserting individual genes. This results in organisms with new characteristics.
What are 'sticky ends' in the context of genetic modification?
Sticky ends are single-stranded DNA overhangs created by restriction enzymes during the cutting of DNA. These overhangs are complementary and allow for the specific joining of DNA fragments from different sources, like human genes and bacterial plasmids.
What is a recombinant plasmid?
A recombinant plasmid is a bacterial plasmid that has had foreign DNA, such as a human gene, inserted into it. This plasmid is then introduced into bacteria for replication and expression of the inserted gene.
More topics in Unit 21 — Biotechnology and genetic modification
Genetic modification sits alongside these Biology decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.
Key terms covered in this Genetic modification deck
Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.
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