CIE iGCSE Biology-21.1 Biotechnology and genetic modification- Study Notes- New Syllabus
CIE iGCSE Biology-21.1 Biotechnology and genetic modification- Study Notes – New syllabus
CIE iGCSE Biology-21.1 Biotechnology and genetic modification- Study Notes -CIE iGCSE Biology – per latest Syllabus.
Key Concepts:
Core
- State that bacteria are useful in biotechnology and genetic modification due to their rapid reproduction rate and their ability to make complex molecules
Supplement
- Discuss why bacteria are useful in biotechnology and genetic modification, limited to:
(a) few ethical concerns over their manipulation and growth
(b) the presence of plasmids
Bacteria in Biotechnology and Genetic Modification
Key Statement:
Bacteria are useful in biotechnology and genetic modification because of their:
- Rapid reproduction rate
- Ability to produce complex biological molecules
🔍 Why Bacteria Are Useful:
1. Rapid Reproduction
- Bacteria can divide every 20 minutes under ideal conditions.
- This allows quick production of large quantities of desired products.
2. Make Complex Molecules
- Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce important substances such as:
- Insulin for diabetes
- Enzymes for food and washing products
- Vaccines and other medical proteins
3. Simple and Easy to Manipulate
- Bacteria have simple DNA structures (usually a single circular chromosome + plasmids).
- Scientists can easily insert new genes using plasmids.
4. Cost-Effective and Scalable
- Growing bacteria requires less space and resources compared to animals or plants.
- They are ideal for industrial-scale production in fermenters.
🧠 Example – Insulin Production:
A human gene for insulin is inserted into bacterial DNA. The bacteria reproduce rapidly and mass-produce human insulin, which is then purified and used in medicine.
Why Bacteria Are Useful in Biotechnology and Genetic Modification
Key Point:
Bacteria are ideal for genetic engineering because they are easy to manipulate, reproduce quickly, and can produce useful substances like insulin, enzymes, and vaccines.
🔍 Two Important Reasons:
(a) Few Ethical Concerns
- Bacteria are simple, single-celled organisms without a nervous system or consciousness.
- Using them raises fewer ethical issues compared to animals or humans.
- They are widely accepted for producing medicines and industrial products.
📌 This makes them suitable for genetic modification in schools, labs, and large-scale production.
(b) Presence of Plasmids
- Plasmids are small, circular pieces of DNA found in bacterial cells, separate from the main chromosome.
- Scientists can easily insert new genes into plasmids using enzymes.
- Modified plasmids are reintroduced into bacteria, which then express the new gene and produce the desired protein.
📌 Example: Inserting the human insulin gene into a plasmid → bacteria make insulin.
🧠 Summary Table:
| Reason | Why It’s Useful |
|---|---|
| Few ethical concerns | Bacteria can be used freely without animal rights issues |
| Presence of plasmids | Easy to insert and express new genes for protein production |