Biology • Year 12 • Module 6 • Lesson 13
Current Genetic Technologies That Induce Genetic Change
Lock in the IQ3 vocabulary, distinguish reproductive from DNA-level technologies, and learn what each named technology changes, where it acts, and why it is used.
1. Term–definition match
The ten definitions below are shuffled. In the right-hand column write the matching term from this list: genetic technology, reproductive technology, artificial insemination, artificial pollination, whole-organism cloning, gene cloning, recombinant DNA, transgenic organism, induce genetic change, vector. 10 marks
| # | Definition (shuffled) | Matching term |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | A technology used to analyse, manipulate or direct inheritance and genetic change. | |
| 1.2 | A technology that controls how gametes or reproductive material are brought together, but does not normally insert a new DNA sequence. | |
| 1.3 | A reproductive technology in animals that controls which sperm fertilises an egg, allowing selected gametes to combine. | |
| 1.4 | A reproductive technology in flowering plants that controls which pollen reaches the stigma. | |
| 1.5 | A technology that produces a near-genetically identical organism from a donor nucleus or tissue source; acts at the cellular and developmental level. | |
| 1.6 | A DNA-level technology that copies a selected DNA sequence many times, often using bacteria or other host cells. | |
| 1.7 | DNA formed by combining genetic material from different sources, then inserted into a vector or host cell. | |
| 1.8 | An organism that contains inserted DNA originating from another species or external source. | |
| 1.9 | To intentionally produce or direct a genetic outcome rather than waiting for change by chance alone. | |
| 1.10 | A carrier (often a plasmid or virus) used to transfer chosen DNA into a host cell during recombinant DNA work. |
2. Build the technology map — what changes, where it acts, why it is used
For each named technology, complete the three columns using lesson terminology. Keep answers short and specific (one phrase per cell). 15 marks (1 per cell)
| Technology | What changes? | Where does it act? | Why is it used? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial insemination | |||
| Artificial pollination | |||
| Whole-organism cloning | |||
| Gene cloning | |||
| Recombinant DNA / transgenics |
3. True or false — with correction
Circle T or F. If false, write the corrected version on the line. 10 marks (1 for T/F, 1 for the correction where needed)
3.1 Artificial insemination directly changes the DNA sequence of an animal's genome. T / F
3.2 Gene cloning copies a selected DNA sequence many times. T / F
3.3 Whole-organism cloning guarantees that the clone will be identical to the donor in every trait. T / F
3.4 Recombinant DNA technology and selective breeding are identical processes. T / F
3.5 "Genetic technology" is a broader term than "direct DNA editing"; it includes reproductive and cloning methods. T / F
4. Function recall
Answer each in 1–2 sentences using precise terms from the lesson. 10 marks (2 each)
4.1 What is the function of a reproductive technology such as artificial pollination?
4.2 What is the function of gene cloning within a larger recombinant DNA workflow?
4.3 What is the function of whole-organism cloning in agriculture or research?
4.4 What is the function of recombinant DNA technology when a useful trait is not already present in a population?
4.5 What is the function of a vector in recombinant DNA technology?
5. Cloze — three categories of genetic technology
Fill each blank using a word from the bank below. Each word is used once. 10 marks (1 per blank)
Word bank: reproduction · DNA · pollen · insemination · clone · recombinant · vector · genotype · induce · transgenic.
Current genetic technologies that (5.1) ____________ genetic change do not all work at the same biological level. Some, such as artificial (5.2) ____________ in animals and artificial (5.3) ____________ transfer in flowering plants, mainly control (5.4) ____________ — they direct which existing alleles combine in offspring. Others work directly at the (5.5) ____________ sequence level: gene cloning copies a selected sequence, while (5.6) ____________ DNA technology combines chosen sequences from different sources and uses a (5.7) ____________ to deliver them into a host cell. An organism that ends up carrying inserted DNA from another species is called a (5.8) ____________ organism. Whole-organism cloning is different again — it aims to preserve a useful (5.9) ____________ by producing a near-identical (5.10) ____________ from a donor nucleus or tissue source.
6. Build a concept map of the three categories
Draw labelled arrows between the six terms below to show how they group into the three categories introduced in this lesson (reproductive control, DNA copying, DNA insertion). Each arrow must carry a linking phrase (e.g. "is a type of", "supplies DNA to", "preserves genotype of"). Aim for at least 6 labelled arrows. 6 marks
Supplied terms: genetic technology · artificial insemination · artificial pollination · whole-organism cloning · gene cloning · recombinant DNA technology.
Q1 — Term–definition matches
1.1 genetic technology • 1.2 reproductive technology • 1.3 artificial insemination • 1.4 artificial pollination • 1.5 whole-organism cloning • 1.6 gene cloning • 1.7 recombinant DNA • 1.8 transgenic organism • 1.9 induce genetic change • 1.10 vector.
Marking notes. 1 mark per correct match (max 10). Spelling errors do not penalise if the term is unambiguous.
Q2 — Technology map (15 marks, 1 per cell)
Artificial insemination — What changes: which sperm fertilises the egg. Where: at reproduction in animals. Why: controlled breeding, valuable trait spread, reduced need to move breeding animals.
Artificial pollination — What changes: which pollen reaches the stigma. Where: at reproduction in flowering plants. Why: controlled crosses, crop improvement, trait combination.
Whole-organism cloning — What changes: produces a near-genetically identical organism from a donor nucleus / tissue. Where: at cellular and developmental level. Why: preserve elite traits, research, rare-species support in some contexts.
Gene cloning — What changes: copies a selected DNA sequence many times. Where: DNA and host-cell level. Why: analysis, protein production, vector preparation.
Recombinant DNA / transgenics — What changes: inserts chosen DNA into a vector or genome. Where: DNA sequence level in cells. Why: new trait introduction, medicine, agriculture, industrial production.
Marking notes. 1 mark per correct cell (15 total). Award if the student captures the same idea using equivalent lesson terminology.
Q3 — True / false with correction
3.1 False. Correction: artificial insemination controls which sperm fertilises the egg; it does not directly change DNA sequence — it directs gamete combination.
3.2 True.
3.3 False. Correction: cloning aims for genetic sameness, but environment, mitochondrial DNA, epigenetic patterns and development still vary — so identical phenotype is not guaranteed (cloned cats can have different coat patterns from their donors).
3.4 False. Correction: recombinant DNA inserts selected DNA directly into a vector or genome, whereas selective breeding works through reproduction and allele reshuffling across generations — the two have different mechanisms.
3.5 True.
Marking notes. 1 mark for T/F decision + 1 mark for the correction where the statement is false. Items 3.2 and 3.5 are 1 mark each (no correction needed). Max 10.
Q4 — Function recall (10 marks)
4.1 Reproductive technologies direct which gametes or reproductive material combine, so a chosen cross is more likely to occur. Artificial pollination places selected pollen on a chosen stigma, giving the grower control over which alleles meet in the offspring — without changing any DNA sequence itself. [2 — controls gamete combination + does not edit DNA]
4.2 Gene cloning supplies many identical copies of a chosen DNA sequence. Within recombinant DNA work, this provides the raw material that is then ligated into a vector and transformed into a host — without first cloning the gene, there would not be enough DNA to work with. [2 — copies a chosen sequence + supports later recombinant steps]
4.3 Whole-organism cloning preserves an entire useful genotype without reshuffling it through meiosis. This is used to replicate elite breeding animals, replicate research subjects with identical genetic backgrounds, or (in some contexts) support populations of rare species. [2 — preserves genotype + named use]
4.4 Recombinant DNA technology lets a useful DNA sequence be inserted directly into a target organism, even when no individual in that population already carries it. This is faster and more targeted than waiting for selective breeding to combine the right alleles, and it works across species boundaries. [2 — introduces new trait + more direct than breeding]
4.5 A vector (e.g. a plasmid or modified virus) is the carrier that physically transports recombinant DNA into a host cell. It allows the chosen sequence to enter, replicate inside the host and, in some cases, be expressed as a protein. [2 — carrier + delivers DNA to host]
Marking notes. 1 mark per correct idea (key term + mechanism); 2 marks per item, max 10.
Q5 — Cloze paragraph
5.1 induce • 5.2 insemination • 5.3 pollen • 5.4 reproduction • 5.5 DNA • 5.6 recombinant • 5.7 vector • 5.8 transgenic • 5.9 genotype • 5.10 clone.
Marking notes. 1 mark per correct blank (max 10).
Q6 — Sample concept map
A correct map should include arrows such as:
- artificial insemination — is a type of → genetic technology (reproductive branch)
- artificial pollination — is a type of → genetic technology (reproductive branch)
- whole-organism cloning — is a type of → genetic technology (cellular / developmental branch)
- gene cloning — supplies copies of DNA to → recombinant DNA technology
- recombinant DNA technology — is a DNA-level type of → genetic technology
- whole-organism cloning — preserves a genotype without using → recombinant DNA technology
Marking notes. 1 mark per correctly labelled arrow (max 6). The map must show the three categories — reproductive (AI + AP), DNA-level (gene cloning + recombinant DNA), and cellular/developmental (whole-organism cloning) — even if the exact phrasing differs.