Suggest two reasons why gene therapy may not provide a long-term cure for a genetic disorder.
From Mock B · Paper 2 (topics 5–8)
16.13 marks
Comprehension passage (written for this paper): Gene drives against malaria.
(1) Malaria is spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes. (2) Scientists have engineered a 'gene drive': a DNA sequence that includes the gene for a Cas9 enzyme and a guide RNA. (3) In mosquitoes carrying one copy, Cas9 cuts the matching sequence on the homologous chromosome, and the cell copies the gene drive into the cut. (4) As a result, more than 95% of offspring inherit the gene drive instead of the 50% expected. (5) One gene drive disrupts a gene needed for female fertility. (6) In caged populations, the gene drive spread to all mosquitoes within 8 to 12 generations and the populations collapsed. (7) Critics worry about effects on food webs and about genes spreading to other species.
Explain how the gene drive DNA (sentence 2) could be inserted into mosquito cells.
From Mock C · Paper 2 (topics 5–8)
15.13 marks
Explain how restriction enzymes and ligase are used to insert a gene into a plasmid.
From Mock C · Paper 2 (topics 5–8)
16.23 marks
Explain why a virus can be used to insert the CAR gene into T cells.
Score 0 / 15 · 0 of 5 marked
This paper is written by Plasmo in the style of the AQA A-Level Biology exam. It is not a past paper and is not produced or endorsed by the exam board.
Recombinant DNA technology Exam Questions: AQA A-Level Biology | Plasmo