📚 Genetic Engineering | 基因工程
Genetic engineering is a powerful biotechnology that allows genes to be transferred from one organism to another. In your Edexcel IGCSE Science course, you need to understand the process, the tools involved, and one important example.
基因工程是一种强大的生物技术，它允许将基因从一种生物转移到另一种生物中。在爱德思 IGCSE 科学课程中，你需要理解其过程、所用工具以及一个重要的实例。
1. What Is Genetic Engineering? | 什么是基因工程
Genetic engineering is the artificial transfer of a gene from one organism to another. The gene may come from a completely different species. The organism that receives the new gene is called a genetically modified organism, often abbreviated as GMO.
基因工程是将一种生物的基因人工转移到另一种生物中。该基因可能来自完全不同的物种。接受新基因的生物称为转基因生物，通常缩写为 GMO。
For example, the human insulin gene can be inserted into bacteria. The bacteria then produce human insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
例如，人类胰岛素基因可以被插入细菌中。然后细菌就会产生人胰岛素，用于治疗糖尿病。
2. Key Tools in Genetic Engineering | 基因工程的关键工具
Several biological tools are essential for genetic engineering. The table below summarises the main ones.
基因工程需要几种关键的生物工具。下表总结了主要的工具。
| Tool | Function |
| Restriction enzyme | Cuts DNA at specific base sequences, isolating the required gene. |
| DNA ligase | Joins the gene into a vector, such as a plasmid. |
| Plasmid | A small circular DNA molecule used to carry the gene into a host cell. |
| Host cell | A cell, such as a bacterium, that receives the recombinant DNA. |
