6.3 - Manipulating Genomes Flashcards
DNA Sequencing def
A technique that allows genes to be isolated and read
Cloning DNA mechanism - using bacteria
- Gene to be sequenced is isolated
- Using restriction enzymes, from a bacterium
- DNA inserted into a bacterial plasmid - a Vector
- Inserted into a bacterium host (E. coli)
- When cultured, divided many times,
- Enables plasmid with DNA inserted to be copied many times
PCR Def - Polymerase Chain Reaction
- A method of artificially amplifying DNA to get many copies of the same sample
- Used to make enough DNA to test multiple times (crimes, genetic profiling etc.)
DNA Primers def
- 10-20 bases of single stranded DNA
- Complementary to base pairs of strand of DNA you are trying to replicate
Uses of DNA primers
- Used for DNA sequencing
- And for PCR to bind to section of DNA so (Taq) DNA polymerase can bind
- (Taq) DNA Polymerase cannot bind to single stranded DNA
PCR key temps for each step
Denaturation - 95 Degrees C
Annealing - 68 Degrees C
Elongation - 72 Degrees C
Denaturation of DNA def
When double-stranded DNA splits into single strands
What does PCR rely on?
- DNA is made of two anti parallel backbone strands
- Each strand of DNA has a 5’ end and a 3’ end
- DNA grows only from the end
Base pairs pair up according to complementary base pairs according to base pairing rules - A, T and G, C
Annealing (DNA) def
When a primer joins with complementary base pairs
- occurs at 68 Degrees C
How does PCR differ from DNA replication
- PCR - heat to 95C to separate complementary strands
- DNA replication - DNA helicase separates complementary strands
- PCR - DNA Primers needed for polymerase to join and reaction to begin
- DNA replication - no DNA primers needed for complementary base pairing to occur
- PCR - does not copy whole chromosomes
- DNA replication - copies whole chromosomes
- PCR - repeats immediately after one cycle done
- DNA replication - repeats once every cell cycle
- PCR - Taq DNA polymerase used
- DNA Replication - DNA polymerase used
- PCR - artificial DNA required
- DNA Replication - Natural DNA replication
- PCR - uses Mg2+ coenzymes
- DNA replication - no coenzymes required
What is Taq DNA polymerase
- Isolated from Taq DNA
- Obtained from Thermophilius Aquaticus
- A thermophilic extremophile bacteria (survives in harsh/hot conditions)
- Stable at high temperatures
PCR simple steps
- Small fragments of DNA to be copied is mixed with DNA nucleotides
- Mixed with primers
- Mixed with Taq DNA polymerase
- Mixed with Mg2+ cofactors (for polymerase
- Heated to 95 Degrees C
- Temp cooled to 68 C - Annealing
- Temp increased to 72 C - Elongation
- Process is repeated over and over again
Applications of PCR
- Tissue Typing
- Detection of oncogenes - specific gene cancer is found - tailored medication
- Detecting mutations
- Identifying viral infections
- Monitoring spread of infectious diseases
- Forensic science - DNA profiling, crime scenes, etc
- Research - analyse ancient base sequences/genomes
Similarities between DNA replication and PCR
Both use polymerase enzymes to catalyse formation of phosphodiester bonds between sugar phosphate backbone
Both utilise free nucleotides to form double stranded DNA from sing,e stranded DNA
Both polymerase enzymes form phosphodiester bonds in 5’ to 3’ direction in double stranded DNA
State the function of PCR
Mass replication of DNA strands
- amplifying DNA strands
Why are high temperatures used during … stage - at 95C?
To denature the enzymes present in Taq DNA
Why is temperature increased during … stage - 72C
Optimum temperature for Taq DNA polymerase enzymes to function
- Catalyse formation of phosphodiester bonds between complementary base pairs
What is electrophoresis?
What is it used for?
- A method of separating and ordering DNA fragments or proteins based on size
- used so that the fragments can be identified and analysed
- used in sequencing and DNA profiling
What charge does DNA have?
- Where does it move to in electrophoresis?
DNA is slightly negatively charged
- so moves towards the cathode
Electrophoresis of DNA mechanism
- Small amounts of DNA can be amplified using PCR
- DNA is cut into smaller fragments using restriction enzymes. (The same restriction enzyme must be used to cut the fragments from any of the individuals involved in the identification for forensics)
- The fragments are placed into the wells at the end of the gel plate where the negative electrode (cathode) will be
- The plate is immersed into a tank filled with buffer solution and an electric current is passed through the tank (1‐2 hours)
- DNA is negatively charged (due to the phosphoryl groups of the sugar‐phosphate backbone) and so are attracted to the other end of the plate, where the positive electrode (anode) is, so the molecules diffuse along the gel to the other end
- The shorter fragments move further in the same period of time than the longer ones
- The banding pattern is invisible so the DNA must be stained with ethidium bromide and then viewed under UV light to observe the final banding pattern
Electrophoresis of proteins
- done in the same way as DNA electrophoresis
• Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is added the proteins to give them equal negative charge
• This means that they can be separated by molecular mass (rather than charge)
Uses of protein electrophoresis
Analyse proteins by mass in order to diagnose medical conditions, e.g.
- sickle cell anaemia
- diseases in which patients have higher level of fetal haemoglobin than they should
DNA Profiling info
(AKA Genetic Fingerprint)
- a way of identifying individuals by characteristics of their DNA
- this is used to compare compare the DNA of more than one individual
- most human DNA is the same - so most would not be suitable for comparisons
- so hair/saliva is used to obtain cheek cells and DNA in nucleus
Short Tandem Repeats (STR) info
- STR are loci on the genome composed of 2-10 base pairs which repeat 5-50 times in a row
- the number of times the STR repeats varies at each loci which varies from person to person
- we can use these to compare the DNA of different individuals
What is a DNA probe?
A short single-stranded length of DNA that is complementary to a section of the DNA being investigated
How could the probe be labelled?
- A radioactive marker (usually with P32) in one of the phosphate groups in the probe strand
- once the probe has annealed (bound) by complementary base pairing to the piece of DNA, it can be revealed by exposure to photographic film
- a fluorescent marker that emits a colour in exposure to UV light.
- these may also be used in automated DNA sequencing
Why are DNA probes useful?
- to locate a specific gene needed for use in genetic engineering
- to identify the same gene in a variety of different genomes from different species when conducting genome comparison studies
- to identify the presence of a specific allele for a particular genetic disease - or a susceptibility to a particular condition
Chances of one person having the same STR as another person
- from 13 different STR loci:
- 10^13
- almost impossible
How do we find out the number of STRs a person has at each location?
Electrophoresis - more STRs - larger DNA fragments- moves less far in electrophoresis
How to create a DNA profile mechanism
- DNA obtained from all people to be compared, e.g. via mouth swab to obtain cheek cells/ saliva, hair etc.
- DNA amplified using PCR
- DNA from all people cut into different size fragments using the same restriction enzyme
- DNA from different people will be different sizes because the number of STRs will differ vary between each person - DNA fragments are separated based on size using gel electrophoresis
- people to be compared are loaded into different wells - DNA fragments examined (small fragments move further on agarose gel plate)
- DNA banding patterns from each person compared
What is used for DNA profiling?
- Using different polymorphic STR sequence variation in different people to compare
- STR - Short Tandem Repeats