Chapter 12: DNA Technology Flashcards
What is Genetic Engineering?
The direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes
such as curing diseases.
What is Biotechnology?
The manipulation of organisms of their genetic components to make useful products.G
Gene Cloning
The process of making multiple copies of a particular gene.
Genomics
The molecular analysis of the entire genome of a species. (analyze the whole DNA strand)
Why clone a gene?
To make large amounts of specific genes DNA
*To study DNA directly and to use DNA as a tool.
To make a large amount of the gene product
* to study the structure and function of a protein.
* to produce a protein drug for medical use.
Vector DNA
A carrier for the DNA segment to be cloned.
What are the two common vectors?
Plasmids and Viral Vectors
Plasmids
A small circular piece of DNA that is found naturally in many strains of bacteria.
Viral Vectors
Derived from viruses that infect living cells and propagate themselves using the host cell’s machinery.
Restriction Enzymes
Cut the DNA at specific sequences
They are made by bacteria as a defense mechanism
Restriction Fragments
Staggered cuts at the single-stranded ends called “stinky ends”
Genomic Library
A collection of all the cloned DNA fragments from a target genome.
Vector
A vehicle that can copy and move “genes of interest”
Complementary DNA (cDNA)
A library made by cloning DNA made into vitro by reverse transcription of all the mRNA produced by a particular cell.
cDNA is created from mRNA using reverse transcription.
Nucleic Acids Probes
Bind very selectively to cloned DNA.
They identify clones carrying specific genes.
This will speed up the process!
They are labeled with radioactive isotopes or fluorescent tags for detection.
Reverse Transcriptase
uses a processed mRNA transcript and uses base-pairing rules to make DNA segments from it.
DNA polymerase
Uses the DNA segment to make the other strand following the base-pairing rules. Resulting in cDNA
Bacteria are often the best organisms for manufacturing a protein product because bacteria,
Have plasma and phages available for use as gene-cloning vectors.
Can be grown rapidly and cheaply
Can be engineered to produce large amounts of particular protein.
Often secrete the proteins directly into their growth medium.
Genetically Modified (GM)
Organisms contain one or more genes introduced by artificial means.
Same organism/species are used.
Transgenic Organisms
Contain at least one gene from another species.
Different organisms/species are used.
Gene Therapy
Aims to treat disease by supplying a functional allele.
Gene therapy is an alteration of an afflicted individual’s genes and an attempt to treat disease.
DNA profiling
*The analysis of DNA fragments to determine whether they come from the same individual.
Compares genetic markers from noncoding regions that show variations between individuals and involves amplifying (copying) markers for analysis.
What is DNA profiling used?
DNA fingerprinting (to identify someone)
Paternity
Disease Diagnosing
Polymerase Chair Reaction (PCR)
A method of amplifying a specific segment of DNA molecule.
copies DNA.
3 step process.
What are four important thins needed for PCR?
Target DNA
DNA primer
DNA polymerase
4 nucleotides.
Short Tandem Repeats (STR’s)
Short nucleotide sequences that are repeated in tandem (in conjunction with each other)
STR Analysis
Compares the lengths of STR sequences at specific sites in the genome and typically analyzes 13 different STR sites.
CRISPR-Cas9 System
Technique for gene EDITING in living cells and organisms
Cas9
Nuclease Enzyme
Acts with a “guide RNA”
Bind to the DNA and cut it to be inactivated.
