Biology - Review - 14

Question 1

What is ‘Gene cloning’?

Answer 1

Gene cloning is the copying of individual genes for sequencing, research and the production of recombinant proteins.

Question 2

Whate are ‘therapeutic recombinant human proteins’?

Answer 2

Therapeutic recombinant human proteins, made trom recombinant DNA in bacteria, yeast or animal cell cultures, include hormones, cytokines, enzymes and vaccines.

Question 3

What is ‘gene therapy’?

Answer 3

Gene therapy replaces the defective gene that causes disease with a normal gene.

Question 4

What is used for ‘gene therapy’?

Answer 4

Viral vectors and liposomes are used to deliver recombinant DNA to target cells for gene therapy.

Question 5

What is ‘DNA profiling’?

Answer 5

DNA profiling compares variable short tandem repeat (STR) regions of the genome for identification of individuals.

Question 6

What does ‘genetic screening’ do?

Answer 6

Genetic screening identifies disease-associated mutations in foetuses, newborns or adults.

Question 7

What are the issues of DNA technology applications?

7 items

Answer 7

Issues of DNA technology applications include:

• Cost and scale of production of therapeutic proteins
• Ethics of gene transfer between species
• Safety of gene transfer
• Accuracy of genetic tests

Question 8

What are ‘genetically modified organisms’?

Answer 8

Genetically modified organisms are organisms with modifications made to one or more genes.

Question 9

What is a common method of transferring genes?

Answer 9

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and plasmid transfer is a well established method of transferring genes into plant cells.

Question 10

What are transgenic plants?

Answer 10

Transgenic plants are used in agriculture, providing varieties that resist insect attack, are herbicide resistant or have improved yield or nutritional content

Question 11

What are the social implications of GMOs?

6 points

Answer 11

• Increased food supply, nutritional content and food quality
• Expanded range for growth of agricultural species
• Access to the technology; social equality/inequality
• Labelling and consumer choice
• Patents

Question 12

What are the biological implications of GMOs?

6 points

Answer 12

• Safety of consuming GMOs
• Cross-pollination between GM plants and wild plants
• Cross-pollination between GM and non-GM crops
• Viability of transgenic organisms in the wild
• Health of GMOs
• Genet

Question 13

What are the ethical implications of GMOs?

3 Points

Answer 13

• Violation of animal rights
• Human self-interest overrides ethical treatment of other organisms
• Intervention in evolutionary process

Question 14

What is an epidemic?

Answer 14

An epidemic is the sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease in a localised area.

Question 15

What is a pandemic?

Answer 15

A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents.

Question 16

What are zoonotic disease

Answer 16

A disease transmitted from animals to humans.

• Zoonotic diseases pose a threat to populations in close contact with natural host animals.
• Control of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, such as insect vectors carrying par

Question 17

What do antiseptics and disinfectants do?

Answer 17

Antiseptics and disinfectants control the number of pathogenic organisms or agents in the environment and on surfaces.

Question 18

What are antibiotics?

Answer 18

Antibiotics are natural or synthetic molecules that slow bacterial growth (bacteriostatic) or kill bacteria (bactericidal).

Question 19

How do antiviral drugs work?

Answer 19

Antiviral drugs target proteins tor virus entry into cells, replication within cells or exit from cells.

Question 20

How do antiretroviral drugs work?

Answer 20

Antiretroviral drugs are specific for retroviruses, such as HIV; they inhibit specific enzymes such as reverse transcriptase.

Question 21

What is drug resistance?

Answer 21

Bacteria, protists. fungi and viruses develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs.
Drug resistance arises by mutation and transfer of these new gene variants.

Question 22

What is rational drug design?

Answer 22

Rational drug design specifically develops a drug to be complementary to the shape and/or charge on a target molecule; the drug fits the active site or binding site to prevent its action.
Relenza was developed by rational drug design to block an enzy

Question 23

Major contributors to the emergence and spread of disease?

Answer 23

• Human demographics and behaviors
• Mobility
• Cultural traditions
• Changes in lifestyle
• Sanitation and general hygiene

Question 24

What has been the impact of antimicrobial drugs?

Answer 24

Overuse and inappropriate application of antimicrobial drugs has contributed to the evolution of resistant pathogens.