21.3 Genetic Modification

What is Genetic Modification? 🔬

Genetic modification is the process of changing the genetic material of a cell or of a whole organism. This can be achieved by:

• Removing genes from an organism
• Altering existing genes within an organism
• Adding individual genes to cells

Genetic modification allows scientists to transfer specific genes between organisms, even between different species, creating organisms with desired characteristics that would be difficult or impossible to achieve through traditional breeding methods.

Examples of Genetic Modification 🧬

1. Insertion of Human Genes into Bacteria to Produce Human Proteins

Production of Human Insulin

One of the most important applications of genetic modification is the production of human insulin using genetically modified bacteria.

How it works:

• The human insulin gene is inserted into bacteria
• The bacteria follow the instructions on the gene to make insulin protein that is normally made in human pancreatic cells
• The bacteria are grown on a large scale in fermenters
• The insulin they produce is purified for medical use

Advantages of GM insulin production:

• Ensures insulin is pure and of consistent quality
• More reliable than older methods of extracting insulin from animal pancreases
• Can be produced in large quantities to meet global demand
• Reduces the risk of allergic reactions that some patients experienced with animal insulin