Ch.21: Biotechnology Flashcards
What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?
an organism that has received genetic material via recombinant DNA technology
What is non-GMO organism (non-GMO)?
an organism that has not been modified using recombinant DNA technology. May be created using conventional genetic techniques such as cross breading or mutagenesis
What is a transgenic organism? What is a transgene?
An organism that has received genetic material from a different species; a gene from one species that is introduced into another species
How was insulin originally isolated? How is it made now?
Historically, insulin was isolated from cows and human cadavers.
But now, patients can use insulin made by recombinant bacteria
Describe the two peptides in insulin
-There is 1 intramolecular disulfide bond in the A-chain between amino acid 6 (cys) and amino acid 11 (cys)
-There are 2 intermolecular disulfide bonds between the A-chain and the B-chain
What is biological control?
the use of microorganisms or their products to alleviate
plant problems, such as disease or damage from environmental conditions
Describe the use of Agrobacterium radiobacter
Agrobacterium radiobacter produces an antibiotic that can prevent crown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Describe Bacillus thuringiensis toxins
Bacillus thuringiensis toxins are lethal to many caterpillars
and beetles but harmless to plants and humans
What is bioremediation?
the use of microorganisms to reduce environmental pollutants
What is the difference between gene addition and gene deletion modifications?
-Gene addition or gene knockin adds a new gene into the genome
-Gene deletion or gene knockout deletes a gene from the genome
What’s the difference between cloning and reproductive cloning?
-Cloning is copying of a gene into a vector so multiple copies of the gene can be produced.
-Reproductive cloning is the production of two or more genetically identical individuals (entire organism)
Describe the 4 types of stem cells
-Totipotent cells, like fertilized eggs, can give rise to all cell types
-Pluripotent cells, like embryonic cells, can differentiate into almost every cell, but can’t give rise to an entire, intact individual; can easily be grown in the laboratory and provide the greatest potential for stem cell transplantation therapy
-Multipotent cells, like hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, can differentiate into several cell types
-Unipotent cells, like the germ cells in the testis, can only differentiate into one cell type
