Bio 5: Biotechnology and gene technologies Flashcards
Asexual reproduction
+ve
Quick
Can be completed it sexual fails
Offspring have same genetic info
-ve
No genetic variation so there is weakness
Vegetative propagation
The production of structures in an organism that can grow into new individual organisms. These offspring contain the same genetic information as the parents and so are clones of the parent.
Tissue culture
The separation of cells of any tissue type and their growth in or on a nutrient medium. In plants undifferentiated callus tissues is grown in nutrient medium containing plant hormones that stimulate development of the complete plant.
Splitting embryos
Eggs and sperm is collected fork individuals that have the desirable characteristics ( eg high mild yield). It is fertilised in vitro. The cells grow to be an embryo and then split. These embryos are then implanted into multiple surrogates.
Nuclear transfer
Mammary cells are removed from an udder of a sheep
An ovum is removed from another
A mammary cell with a nucleus and the now enucleated egg are joined by electrofusion. This transfers the nucleus of the first sheep into the cytoplasm of the second.
It is put into culture, the early embryo is recovered and implanted into a ewe
Cloning
+ve
High value animals
Rare animals preserved
Genetically modified animals
-ves
Not always produced with welfare in mind
Hard to cope with environmental changes
Unclear of their future health
Non reproductive cloning
Replace tissue or organs
Eg- regeneration of heart muscle
Repair nervous tissue
Repair spinal cord
No rejection if from own tissue
End of donor lists?
Less dangerous
Any cell type - totipotent
Biotechnology
Technology based on biology and involves exploitation of living organisms or biological processes to improve agriculture, food science, medicine or industry
Production of food
Cheese and yoghurt: lactobacillus changes the flavour and texture of milk
Mycoprotein: growth of fungus in culture. Then separated and processed as food
Drugs and pharmaceuticals
Penicillin: fungus penicillin is grown in culture, produced antibiotic is a by product of metabolism
Insulin: E. coli modified to carry insulin gene. Secrets insulin
Enzymes and chemicals
Pectinase: fungus secretes pectinase
Calcium citrate: fungus makes citric acid as a by product of metabolism
Microorganisms in biotechnology
Grow rapidly
Often make chemicals that can be harvested
Can be genetically engineered
Grow well in low temps
Can be grown anywhere
Tend to generate more pure products
Can grow using “waste” or “toxic” materials
Culture
The growth of microorganism a. This make be a single species or a mixture of species.
Primary metabolites
Substances produced by an organism as part of its normal growth; they include amino acids, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, ethanol and lactate.
Secondary metabolites
Substances produced by an organism that are not part of its normal growth.
The antibiotic chemicals produced by a number of microorganism are almost all secondary metabolites
Normally after main growth period
Fermentation conditions
Temperature
Type and time of addition of nutrient
Oxygen concentration
pH
Batch culture
Starter population mixed with a specific quantity of nutrient, then allowed to grow for a fixed period. No further nutrient is added. At the end the tank is emptied
Continuous culture
Nutrients are added at intervals, and products are removed at intervals too.