Biology: Unit 2 module 2 biotechnology

Question 0

Three advantages of asexual reproduction in plants

Answer 0

1. It is quick and allows the plant to spread.
2. It can be completed if sexual reproduction is not possible
3. It passes on genetic information to help the offspring to survive in the environment.

Question 1

What is vegetative propagation?

Answer 1

The production of structures in an organism which can grow into new individual organisms

Question 2

What is the disadvantage if asexual reproduction?

Answer 2

It does not produce genetic variety.

Question 3

An example of a plant species that undergoes vegetative propagation.

Answer 3

Dutch Elm tree

Question 4

What forms at the meristem tissue at the root and base of the tree?

Answer 4

basal sprouts or root suckers

Question 5

Why are root suckers growing at meristems being identical bad?

Answer 5

It can spread diseases to its offspring such as dutch elm disease

Question 6

State the steps for splitting embryos?

Answer 6

Two high valued male and female cows
Sperm collected from the male and eggs from the female
in vitro fertilisation
Grow in vitro to 16 embryo
4 embryo placed into surrogate mothers
Each calf produced is a clone

Question 7

Nuclear transfer, how does it work?

Answer 7

A differentiated cell is taken from an animal
Nucleus taken out of egg cell of other animal
Enucleate ovum fused with differentiated cell
Reconstructed cell with nucleus of differentiated cell
Cell grows into embryo in Uterus of other sheep.
Early embryo recovered
Implant embryo in surrogate mothers uterus
Clone is born

Question 8

Three advantages of cloning animals.

Answer 8

1. High value animals can be cloned in large amounts
2. Rare animals can be cloned to preserve the species
3. Genetically modified animals can be quickly reproduced

Question 9

Three disadvantages of cloning.

Answer 9

1. High value animals are not always produced with animal welfare in mind
2. Animals that are genetically identical can not adapt to changes in the environment
3. It is still unclear if cloned using Nuclear transfer are healthy in the long term

Question 10

What is non reproductive cloning?

Answer 10

The possibility of cloning cells to generate cells, tissues and organs to replace those lost or damaged

Question 11

How is biotechnology used in the production of food?

Answer 11

1. Cheese and yoghurt-making
2. Mycoprotein such as quorn
3. Naturally brewed soya sauce

Question 12

How is biotechnology use in the production of drugs and pharmaceutical chemicals.

Answer 12

1. Production of penicillin.

2. The production of Insulin.

Question 13

How is biotechnology used in the production of enzymes or other chemicals for commercial use?

Answer 13

1. The production of Pectinase used in fruit juice extraction.
2. Production of Calcium citrate used in detergents
3. Biogas production

Question 14

Why are microorganisms used in biotechnology?

Answer 14

1. The grow rapidly in favourable conditions.
2. Can produce proteins and chemicals which can be extracted and used.
3. Can be genetic engineered to produce other products.
4. Grow well in lower temperatures.
5. Can be grown anywhere in the world/ not dependent on climate.
6. Tend to generate purer products.
7. Can be grown using products that are potentially harmful to humans.

Question 15

In the growth curve, what is the lag phase?

Answer 15

Where the organisms are adapting, producing the enzymes necessary to break down the nutrients in the surroundings. The bacteria is active but not reproducing.

Question 16

In the growth curve, what is the log phase?

Answer 16

The population has now produced the enzymes needed and begins to grow in size.

Question 17

In the growth curve, what is the stationary phase?

Answer 17

Nutrient levels decrease and toxidity levels and metabolites increase. The bacteria are dying off at the same rate that they are reproducing.

Question 18

In the growth curve, what is the death phase?

Answer 18

Nutrient exhaustion and increased levels of toxic waste products leads to the bacteria dying off, until theres none left.

Question 19

What are primary metabolites?

Answer 19

Substances produced by an organism as part of its normal growth.

Question 20

What are secondary metabolites?

Answer 20

Substances produced by an organism that is not part of its normal growth.

Question 21

Three advantages of immobIlising enzymes

Answer 21

1. Enzymes not present with products so low purification/ down-streaming cost.
2. Enzymes are immediately available for reuse.
3. They are more stable due to them being protected by an immobilised enzyme matrix.

Question 22

Disadvantages of immobilising enzymes.

Answer 22

1. Immobilising enzymes requires extra setup. Requiring more time and money.
2. They are less active as they do not mix freely with the substrate.
3. Contamination can be costly to deal with.

Question 23

Immobilising enzymes, what is adsoption?

Answer 23

Enzyme molecules are mixed with the immobilising support and bind to it due to a combination of hydrophobic interactions and ionic links.
However, the bonding forces are not that strong.

Question 24

Immobilising enzymes, what is covalent bonding?

Answer 24

Enzyme molecules are covalently bonded to a support, often by covalently linking enzymes together and to an insoluble molecule using a cross linking agent.
This doesnt immobilise a huge quantity if enzymes, but the links are strong.

Question 25

Immobilising enzymes, what is entrapment?

Answer 25

Enzymes may be trapped in a gel bead or a network of cellulose fibres. They are trapped in there natural state.
However, reaction rates are reduced.

Question 26

What is tissue culture?

Answer 26

The separation of cells of any tissue type and their growth in or on a nutrient medium.

Question 27

How does micropropagation by callus tissue culture work?

Answer 27

1. A small piece of plant is taken from the plant to be cloned, this is called an explant.
2. The explant is planted on a nutrient growth medium.
3. Cells in the tissue divide, but they don’t differentiate. They form a group of undifferentiated cells called a callus.
4. After a few weeks, single callus cells can be removed from the mass and placed on a growing medium containing plant hormones to encourage growth.
5. After a few weeks, the growing shoots are transferred onto a different growing medium containing different hormones to encourage root growth.
6. Growing plants are moved to a greenhouse to be acclimatised and then are planted outside.