GENETIC ENGINEERING

Genetic engineering (for students)

Genetic engineering is the                manipulation of the  ___________ material of an organism. in a way that ________ occurs under __________ conditions. Any organism generated by using these techniques is considered a                     modified organism (GMO).

The first organisms genetically modified were ___________ in 1973.  GM human __________, produced by bacteria, was commercialized in _______ and you can buy GM ________ in some countries since 1994.

The ________ idea in genetic engineering is to move _________ genes from the DNA of one organism to the __________ of another one. This process includes three parts:

1^st. Cutting the DNA. The useful gene is “______” from the chromosomes of a particular organism using special  ____________. 

2^nd Inserting the new DNA. Once the enzyme has cut the useful ______, other enzymes cut the ________ of the cell that is going to receive it (this cell is called the ______ cell). Then the useful gene is __________ into the host cell.  This technique is called gene __________. To do that, ________ usually use some ________ which enter the host cell and insert the new gene.

3^rd. Pasting the New DNA. Once the useful gene has been inserted into the host cell, scientists ________ the useful gene to the DNA of the host cell.  When this process finishes, the cell considers the ______ gene as one of its own genes.

Genetic engineering techniques are being applied in many __________ including _________, _____________ and medicine. ____________drugs such as insulin and human growth ___________ are now produced by bacteria, and insect __________ crops are being commercialized.

However, there are many ____________ about genetic engineering, so many people consider this technique as ___________ for both environment and human _________.

Due to that, some _____________ in Europe have decided to ______ GM crops in their countries, and the European Parliament decided in 2002 that all _______ containing or derived from genetically modified __________ has to have especial ______.

1.    Read the text and try to guess the missing words 

2.    Listen to the teacher reading the text twice, and fill the gaps in.

3.    Correct your answers.

4.    Answer  the following questions:

A.    Define genetic engineering and explain how this technique works.

B.    Give examples of areas in which genetic engineering is being applied. Look for some extra information on the Internet.

C.   Why are many people against genetic engineering in crops and food? Do you agree with them?

CELLS.

STUDYING THE CELL

What are you made of? You could say atoms or elements. That would be right, but rocks and tables and pizza boxes are also made of atoms and elements.

What makes you different from those things? You could say organic compounds.  That would be a better response.  Organic molecules are exclusive to living beings.  This answer would distinguish us from rocks and tables and pizza boxes.  But other things are composed of organic compounds too; things like sugar and fats.

But the question is: What are you made of that makes you alive ? The correct answer would be that: you and every living being on this planet are made of CELLS.

But, before studying cells it is necessary to have some idea about some tools available to study cells. Here is a quick exercise to review some important tools and techniques related to cell study. Match each tool or technique with its description.  

a. compound microscope b. electron microscope c. micro-dissection apparatus d. phase-contrast microscope e. simple microscope f. staining g. stereomicroscope h. ultracentrifuge

1. Microscope composed of one lens 
2. Microscope that creates an image using two lenses 
3. To add a chemical in order to make certain cell structures easier to see
4. A high- resolution microscope used to study living cells 
5. Microscope that provides images of the greatest magnification and resolution 

6. Microscope with two oculars to see 3D images

7. Small tools used to remove or transplant cell organelles 
8. Machine used to separate cell organelles according to their densities. It moves very quickly

CELL STRUCTURE & ORGANELLES

YOU HAVE TWO MISSIONS TODAY: 
Mission #1 : to identify all cell organelles in a diagram or picture 
Mission #2 : to identify and write the function of each organelle

In the first mission, you will try to identify the different organelles found in animal and plant cells.  Plant and animal cells have some organelles in common, BUT some organelles are in plant cells and not in animal cells and vice versa. 

Identify and label each of the main organelles in the animal cell below. 

cytoplasm centrioles  chromatin (DNA) rough endoplasmic reticulum smooth endoplasmic reticulum Golgi complex lysosome mitochondria nucleolus nucleus cell membrane ribosome vacuole

                                                                                     

And now identify and label each of the organelles in the plant cell below. Be careful, plant cells have other organelles which are not in the diagram.

cell wall chloroplast mitochondria endoplasmic reticulum  nucleus Golgi complex  vacuole

Next task consists of writing a short summary about main differences between animal and plant cells. Do not forget different shapes, exclusive organelles  and give examples of organisms formed by animal or plant cells.

And the 2^nd mission: ORGANELLES & THEIR FUNCTIONS
Listen to the English teacher and link each sentence with a particular organelle. Then write the particular function of each organelle.

cell membrane cell wall chloroplast centrioles centrosome cytoplasm endoplasmic reticulum Golgi apparatus lysosome mitochondria nuclear membrane nucleolus nucleus ribosome vacuole