Applications of Genetic Engineering (Leaving Cert Biology): Revision Notes

Applications of Genetic Engineering

1. Plants:

• Many commercially grown plants have been genetically engineered to be resistant to weed killers or adverse conditions.
• Example: Frost-resistant tomatoes.

2. Animals:

• A human gene has been inserted into sheep, allowing the adult sheep to produce a clotting chemical needed by haemophiliacs to clot their blood.

3. Micro-organisms:

• The human insulin gene has been inserted into bacterium, allowing them to produce insulin for diabetics.