1.2.1 Manipulating DNA : The tools of the trade Flashcards
What is insulin and what does it do?
A hormone that tells the body to take up glucose from the blood
Type I and II diabetics
All type I and many type II diabetics lack the ability to produce insulin in sufficient quantities , therefore the level of glucose can be dangerously high
What can high glucose levels cause?
- acidic blood
- brain swelling
- damaging blood vessels leading to heart attack / stroke
History of insulin
Insulin came from pigs. Pigs are in large supply and the structure of their insulin molecule is very similar to humans. Today human insulin is made in bacterial cells
What tools do we need to manipulate DNA?
enzymes
What is restriction endonuclease?
A bacterial enzyme that cuts DNA . They recognise a specific sequence of DNA and cut it at that sequence . They can cut it so there is a single strand of DNA hanging off ( sticky end ) or a straight cut
What is a ligase?
Ligases join DNA together. Two DNA fragments can be bound together by the ligase holding them together.
What is DNA polymerase?
It is like RNA polymerase but it makes a DNA copy of DNA.
It allows cells to copy DNA and split in two.
It can be used for PCR
