Skip to content
MarkSchemeMarkScheme
Sign up — no card

9700 · 19.2

Genetic technology applied to medicine

Welcome to **genetic technology applied to medicine**, a revolutionary field that's transforming how we understand, diagnose, and treat diseases. No longer confined to science fiction, techniques like **genetic screening**, **gene therapy**, and **CRISPR-Cas9** are now at the forefront of healthcare. For your Cambridge Biology 9700 Paper 4, you need to grasp not only the scientific principles but also the profound ethical considerations surrounding these powerful tools. Key points align with **A-Level Notes** 9700 Biology chapter **19** (topic **19.2**). Notes and diagrams from **A-Level Notes** chapter **19**, topic **19.2** (9 pages).

Need to know

What you need to know

  • Recombinant DNA technology is used to produce human proteins in other organisms.
  • Key examples include insulin for diabetes and Factor VIII for haemophilia.
  • Advantages include high yield, high purity, reduced risk of disease transmission from animal sources, and fewer ethical concerns.
  • The process involves gene isolation, insertion into a vector, transformation of a host, and large-scale culture in fermenters.

Explanation

Genetic technology applied to medicine

  1. Recombinant DNA technology is used to produce human proteins in other organisms.
  2. Key examples include insulin for diabetes and Factor VIII for haemophilia.
  3. Advantages include high yield, high purity, reduced risk of disease transmission from animal sources, and fewer ethical concerns.
  4. The process involves gene isolation, insertion into a vector, transformation of a host, and large-scale culture in fermenters.
Mark this topic →Open full visual lesson