Quick questions on Recombinant DNA, CRISPR, whole genome sequencing and gene therapy: HSC Biology Module 6

The classical biotechnology toolkit, established in the 1970s. It combines DNA from different sources into a single molecule.

Reproductive cloning. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT): the nucleus of a somatic cell is inserted into an enucleated egg, producing an embryo genetically identical to the donor.

Recombinant human insulin: the human insulin gene is cut with restriction enzymes, ligated into a plasmid, transformed into E. coli, and grown in industrial fermenters; the bacteria secrete human insulin, which is purified for clinical use.

Knock-out cell lines for research, agricultural traits (mildew-resistant wheat, polled cattle, mushroom browning), gene therapy (Casgevy, approved 2023 for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassaemia).

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT): the nucleus of a somatic cell is inserted into an enucleated egg, producing an embryo genetically identical to the donor.

"Describe" wants the steps in order; "compare" wants the same features for both technologies (e.g. insert versus edit); "evaluate"/"assess" want a justified judgement weighing benefits against risks, anchored to a named example.

Insulin/Humulin (recombinant DNA), Casgevy (CRISPR), Luxturna/Zolgensma (gene therapy), Dolly/AquAdvantage salmon (cloning/transgenic). A named, correctly matched example is usually worth a mark.

If a question says "edit at a precise locus", that is CRISPR; if it says "insert a gene into a vector and clone it", that is recombinant DNA.