Selective breeding, cloning, genetic engineering and biotechnology

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By the end you’ll be able to

describe selective breeding as choosing parents with desired characteristics and breeding from them over many generations to increase the frequency of those characteristics
evaluate advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding, including increased yield or disease resistance and reduced genetic variation or inbreeding concerns

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explain the basic process of genetic engineering, including isolating a useful gene, inserting it into a vector such as a bacterial plasmid, transferring it into target cells and growing modified organisms

identify uses of genetically modified microorganisms or plants to produce useful substances such as insulin or to improve crop characteristics

evaluate potential benefits, risks and ethical issues associated with cloning, genetic engineering and biotechnology in medical, agricultural and environmental contexts

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