Genetic Technologies in Medicine
- Junessa Masaya
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
HSC Biology | Study Notes
Genetic technologies in medicine are a key part of NSW Biology Stage 6, Module 6, Genetic Change. This topic matters because Module 6 specifically asks students to evaluate the benefits of using genetic technologies in medical applications, and to describe applications of recombinant DNA technology in medical contexts. HSC marking guidance also uses insulin production and gene therapy as clear medical examples.
In this lesson
how insulin is produced using genetic technology
what gene therapy is
how genetic technologies can be used in disease treatment
the main benefits of medical genetic technologies
the main limitations of these technologies
Why genetic technologies matter in medicine
Genetic technologies are used in medicine to:
produce useful biological substances
treat or manage disease
improve quality of life
increase life expectancy
In Module 6, this fits within the study of biotechnology and genetic technologies, especially their medical applications.
Insulin production
One of the clearest medical uses of genetic technology is the production of human insulin.
How it works
Using recombinant DNA technology:
the human insulin gene is identified
it is inserted into bacteria
the bacteria then produce insulin
A 2020 HSC marking guideline explains that bacteria can be given a human insulin gene and then produce insulin, which can be used to treat diabetic patients.
Why this matters
This is important because people with type 1 diabetes no longer produce enough insulin naturally.
The insulin made by genetically modified bacteria can then be used to:
treat diabetes
keep patients alive
improve health and daily function
Key idea
This is a strong example of how recombinant DNA technology can produce a useful medical product.
Gene therapy
Gene therapy is the use of genetic technology to replace, insert or alter genes in a patient’s cells.
What gene therapy aims to do
Gene therapy is designed to:
replace a faulty gene
restore normal function
reduce the effect of an inherited disorder
Example from HSC material
A 2020 HSC marking guideline explains that faulty genes in inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis could be replaced by delivering a replacement gene to lung cells using recombinant viruses.
Why this matters
Gene therapy is important because it aims to treat the cause of a disease at the genetic level, rather than only treating symptoms.
Disease treatment
Genetic technologies can help in disease treatment in different ways.
Treating non-infectious disease
Diabetes
Recombinant insulin is used to manage diabetes by replacing the insulin a patient cannot produce.
Inherited disorders
Gene therapy may be used to treat inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis by providing a healthy version of a faulty gene.
Treating disease more effectively
Genetic technologies can improve disease treatment by:
making medicines more available
allowing more targeted treatments
improving survival and quality of life
A 2025 HSC marking guideline states that genetic technologies have largely been beneficial to society by improving access to drugs, life expectancy and quality of life for many people.
Benefits of genetic technologies in medicine
Increased supply of useful medicines
Genetic technology allows large-scale production of important substances such as insulin. This can make treatment more available and sometimes cheaper.
Improved survival and quality of life
Medical genetic technologies can:
help keep patients alive
reduce the impact of disease
improve day-to-day health
The 2025 HSC marking guideline directly links these technologies to improved life expectancy and quality of life.
Potential to treat inherited disease at the source
Gene therapy is especially significant because it aims to correct the genetic problem itself, not just manage the symptoms.
Limits of genetic technologies in medicine
Gene therapy may not be permanent
A 2020 HSC marking guideline notes a major limitation of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis: when treated lung cells are replaced, the new cells formed from stem cells may still not have the healthy version of the gene.
Why this matters
This means treatment may not always be permanent or complete.
Ethical concerns
HSC marking guidance notes that arguments against genetic technologies can include ethical concerns.
These concerns may relate to:
fairness of access
how far genetic intervention should go
how human genetic information is used
Unintended health effects
The same 2025 HSC marking guideline also notes unintended health effects as a possible concern.
Why this matters
A genetic treatment may work in one intended way but still produce unexpected effects elsewhere.
Cost and complexity
Even when a technology is scientifically effective, it may still be limited by:
cost
specialist equipment
technical difficulty
the need for careful monitoring
Benefits and limits compared
Aspect | Benefit | Limitation |
Insulin production | Large-scale supply of insulin for diabetes treatment | Requires biotechnology systems and controlled production |
Gene therapy | May treat the genetic cause of a disease | May not be permanent, and may raise ethical concerns |
Why this topic matters in Module 6
This topic is important because it shows how genetic technologies can be applied in real medical settings.
It links directly to:
biotechnology
recombinant DNA technology
disease treatment
evaluation of benefits and limitations
That is why medical uses such as insulin production and gene therapy appear repeatedly in HSC material and marking guidance.
Worked example
Exam-style question
Explain one benefit and one limitation of using genetic technologies in medicine.
Worked answer
One benefit is that recombinant DNA technology can produce human insulin in bacteria, which allows people with diabetes to access insulin treatment. One limitation is that gene therapy may not always be permanent, because replacement genes in treated cells may not remain in new cells formed later.
Why this works
This answer:
gives one clear medical benefit
gives one clear medical limitation
uses named examples from the course
Common mistakes
Treating insulin production and gene therapy as the same process.
Saying gene therapy always cures a disease completely.
Forgetting that recombinant DNA technology is used to produce medical substances.
Listing benefits without giving a real medical example.
Ignoring ethical concerns and unintended effects when discussing limitations.
Quick quiz
How is insulin produced using genetic technology?
What is gene therapy?
Give one medical use of recombinant DNA technology.
What is one benefit of genetic technologies in medicine?
What is one limitation of gene therapy?
Comments