B7 Page 9 Flashcards
How is the gene probe located?
A fluorescent chemical marker is stuck on the end of the sequence of bases so you can locate the gene probe once it’s stuck to the gene.
Th marker will fluoresce when you shine UV light on it. The marker shows if the faulty gene is present, and where it’s found on the DNA
How is a genetic disorder tested?
1) Take a DNA sample-blood sample
2) produce a gene probe- a strand of bases complementary to the faulty gene that you’re looking for.
3) Use the gene probe- the gene probe is mixed with the DNA. If the gene is present the probe will stick to it- their bases will lock perfectly together.
Explain ways in which nanotechnology can improve packaging properties.
- food can last longer- adding clay nano-particles to plastic makes the packaging better at keeping out oxygen and moisture. Some nano-particles kill microorganisms.
- some packaging uses nanoparticles to change the packaging’s properties depending on the conditions. Milk carton could be made to change colour when the milk goes off.
How can stem cell technology be used to treat illnesses?
1) Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. It’s been successfully treated using stem cell technology. Bone marrow transplants can be used to replace the faulty bone marrow in patients suffering form leukaemia. Bone marrow contains stem cells that can become specialised to form any type of blood cell.
How can biomedical engineering replace body parts?
The heart has a group of cells which determine how fast it beats. If they stop working the heartbeat becomes irregular, which can be dangerous. The cells can be replaced with an artificial device called a pacemaker. It’s implanted under the skin and it produces an electrical current to control the heartbeat.
Faulty valves can also be replaced- either animal or mechanical valves.
