Feeding the human race - OCR GatewayGenetic engineering

Factors such as the increase in population, new pathogens and overhunting can result in food scarcity. Improved farming techniques, sustainable fisheries and biotechnology can help increase supply.

Part ofBiology (Single Science)Global challenges

Genetic engineering

is also called or GM. It involves modifying the genome of an by introducing a from another organism to result in a desired characteristic.

Genetic engineering involves these steps:

  1. selection of the desired characteristic
  2. the gene responsible for the characteristic is 'cut out' of the
  3. the gene is transferred and inserted into another organism
  4. replication of the modified organism

Plant crops have been genetically engineered to be disease resistant or to produce bigger fruits.