Biotechnology and genetic modification

Question 1

Why is bacteria useful in biotechnology and genetic modification?

Answer 1

• due to their rapid reproduction rate and their ability to make
  complex molecules
• few ethical concerns over their manipulation
  and growth
• the presence of plasmids

Question 2

Describe the role of anaerobic respiration in yeast
during the production of ethanol for biofuels

Question 3

Describe the role of anaerobic respiration in yeast
during bread-making

Question 4

Describe the use of pectinase in fruit juice
production

Question 5

Investigate and describe the use of biological
washing powders that contain enzymes

Question 6

Explain the use of lactase to produce lactose-free
milk

Question 7

Describe how fermenters can be used for the
large-scale production of useful products by
bacteria and fungi, including insulin, penicillin and
mycoprotein

Question 8

Describe and explain the conditions that need to be
controlled in a fermenter, including: temperature,
pH, oxygen, nutrient supply and waste products

Question 9

Describe genetic modification

Answer 9

changing the genetic material of an organism by removing,
changing or inserting individual genes

Question 10

Outline the process of genetic modification using
bacterial production of a human protein as an
example

Answer 10

• solation of the DNA making up a human
  gene using restriction enzymes, forming
  sticky ends
• cutting of bacterial plasmid DNA with
  the same restriction enzymes, forming
  complementary sticky ends
• insertion of human DNA into bacterial
  plasmid DNA using DNA ligase to form a
  recombinant plasmid
• insertion of recombinant plasmids into
  bacteria (specific details are not required)
• multiplication of bacteria containing
  recombinant plasmids
• expression in bacteria of the human gene to
  make the human protein

Question 11

Outline examples of genetic modification:

Answer 11

• the insertion of human genes into bacteria to
  produce human proteins
• the insertion of genes into crop plants to
  confer resistance to herbicides
• the insertion of genes into crop plants to
  confer resistance to insect pests
• the insertion of genes into crop plants to
  improve nutritional qualities

Question 12

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
genetically modifying crops, including soya,
maize and rice