LIFE SCIENCES/P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMS
LIFE SCIENCES
GRADE 12
GENETIC ENGINEERING AND CLONING
3.1 Growth hormone is important in promoting skeletal and muscular
growth. It can be produced for people who do not secrete, or
under secrete this hormone using recombinant DNA
technology.
HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE PRODUC TION USING RECOMBINANT
DNA TECHNOLOGY
3.1.1 Name the biotechnological process that is shown above. (1)
3.1.2 Identify structure X found in a bacterial cell which is used in the
above process. (1)
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LIFE SCIENCES/P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMS
3.1.3 Name the organic catalysts used to cut structure X. (1)
3.1.4 Give ONE benefit of:
(a) Using growth hormone by sports athletes (1)
(b) The process named in QUESTION 3.1.1 for diabetics (1)
3.1.5 State TWO characteristics of bacteria that make them suitable to
be used in the above process. (2)
3.1.6 Describe ONE observable function of the sticky ends as illustrated
in the process above. (1)
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3.3 Synthetic insulin is used to treat diabetes and is produced by genetic
engineering technology.
The diagram below represents the process.
G enetically engineered
bacterium
H uman cell
DNA
H uman insulin -
producing gene
R ecombinant DNA F ermentation
tank
P lasmid
DNA H uman
insulin
B acterium
3.3.1 Define genetic engineering.
(2)
3.3.2 Describe the steps involved in producing the recombinant DNA.
(4)
3.3.3 Explain why bacteria are most suitable for genetic engineering.
(2)
3.3.4 Suggest THREE objections that some people might have to
genetic engineering. (3)
(11)
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LIFE SCIENCES/P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMS
2.5The passage below refers to genetically modified foods.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD ON THE MENU
A research agency’s survey has found that South Africans are becoming more
accepting of genetically modified (GM) food.
The survey found that 64 percent of South Africans now believe that GM food
would become more widely accepted and less risky in the next few years.
An earlier survey revealed that people thought the risks outweighed the benefits.
2.5.1 Define the term genetically modified food. (2)
2.5.2 Give TWO steps that should be considered in planning the survey. (2)
2.5.3 State the following with regard to genetically modified organisms:
(a) TWO benefits (2)
(b) ONE disadvantage (1)
(7)
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LIFE SCIENCES/P2 PREPARATION FOR EXAMS
3.4 The diagram below shows one method of cloning sheep.
An embryonic cell is
removed from the donor
sheep and allowed to
multiply.
The nuclei are taken from the donor cells and
imported into “foster eggs” (nuclei-less ova
from another sheep). They are allowed to
develop.
The eggs are implanted into the wombs of
foster sheep where they will develop until
birth.
3.4.1 Explain why the lambs produced by this technique are identical to each other.
3.4.2 Explain why the lambs are not genetically identical to the sheep which produced the “foster”
eggs.
3.4.3 Describe how cloning in animals or plants can be beneficial to humans
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3.5. The characteristics of organisms can be changed through selective
breeding and the genetic engineering process.
3.5.1 State TWO similarities between the selective breeding process and the
genetic engineering process. (2)
3.5.2 Explain TWO reasons why some people may be against the use of
genetic engineering. (4)
(6)
3.3. The snails in this population show variation of black shells and white shells
because of mutations. The characteristics of shell colour allow them to
survive better in their environment. Hence, they will reproduce to pass on
these favourable characteristics to their offspring. This phenomenon is called
natural selection.
3.3.1 Who identified this phenomenon first? (1)
3.3.2 State the favourable characteristic for this snail population to
survive. (1)
3.3.3 Describe TWO different types of mutations that may cause
variation in a population. (4)
3.3.4 Tabulate THREE differences between natural selection and
artificial selection (7)
(13)
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