Chapter 20: DNA Tools and Biotech

Question 1

adult stem cells

Answer 1

the kind of stem cells (i.e. bone marrow, intestinal cryps) that can be used to replace non reproducing cells

Specialize into a limited number of cell types compared to embryonic stem cells

Question 2

genetic profile

Answer 2

the parts of each person’s DNA that is unique from other people’s

used to ID people in crime solving efforts

Question 3

Expression vector

Answer 3

a cloning vector that contains a highly active bacterial promoter

one of the methods used to overcome compatibility differences between control elements of eukaryotic genes and the bacterial vectors you’re trying to clone them in

Question 4

Transgenic animals

Answer 4

what you call an animal that has had genes introduced into its genome from another species

we do this to animals so that they can/will produce high volumes of otherwise rare compounds for medical use

Question 5

Restriction Enzymes

Bouncers of the cell

Answer 5

enzymes that bacteria usually use to cut out DNA from viruses, but we use them in biotech to make recombinant DNA plasmids

to cut DNA molecules at specific sequences (called restriction sites)

Question 6

Nucleic acid hybridization

Answer 6

key to many DNA tech tools

base pairing of one strand of nucleic acid to the complementary sequence of another strand

Question 7

DNA cloning (2 types)

Answer 7

1. Gene cloning

2. Organismal cloning

Question 8

Plasmid

Answer 8

Small, circular DNA molecule used as a vector to grow/manipulate genes/create recombinant DNA in the lab

Question 9

Whole genome shotgun approach

Answer 9

newer/cheaper approach to DNA sequencing

was used to map the human genome;

Question 9

Whole genome shotgun approach

Answer 9

sequencing method that involves randomly breaking up DNA sequences into lots of small pieces and then reassembling the sequence by looking for regions of overlap.

bypasses the time-consuming mapping and cloning steps that requires slow process of DNA be broken into large chunks, which are then broken into smaller chunks

newer/cheaper approach to DNA sequencing

was used to map the human genome;

Question 11

Recombinant DNA

Answer 11

DNA from different sources (like when you mix banana DNA with fish DNA ha!)

Question 12

Sticky ends

Answer 12

The restriction fragments you get when DNA is cut in a staggered manner during creation of recombinant DNA plasmids (in the lab)

Question 13

Transgenic animals

Answer 13

what you call an animal that has had genes introduced into its genome from another species

we do this to animals so that they can/will produce hight volumes of otherwise rare compounds for medical use

Question 14

Genetic engineering

Answer 14

the direct manipulating of genes for practical purposes

Question 15

Map based sequencing

Answer 15

Cut DNA into smaller, overlapping pieces that are short enough for sequencing, clone the fragments, sequence each fragment, then use computer to order the sequences into an overall sequence

Question 16

Polymerase Chain Reaction PCF

Answer 16

when you use a special polymerase (like taq polymerase) to copy desired segments of DNA strands

1. denaturing (heating)
2. annealation (cooling)
3. extension (replication)

Can produce more than 1 billion molecules in 30 replication cycles

Question 17

Gene cloning

Answer 17

1 of 2 types of DNA cloning

produces multiple copies of a single gene; used for improving medicines (exp. insulin) or transferring genes that make orgs better (exp. more resistant to drought)

Question 18

Transformation

Answer 18

Inserting a new piece of DNA into a bacteria

Question 19

Map based sequencing

po’ man’s shotgun sequencing

Answer 19

Cut DNA into smaller, overlapping pieces that are short enough for sequencing, clone the fragments, sequence each fragment, then use computer to order the sequences into an overall sequence

Question 20

in situ hybridization

Answer 20

when you use fluorescent dyes attached to probes to ID the location of specific mRNAs in place in an intact organism

Do this to analyze the mRNA’s expression and function

Question 21

Biotechnology

Answer 21

The manipulation of organism or their components to make useful products

Question 22

DNA sequencing

Answer 22

mapping? the complete nucleotide sequence of a DNA molecule

First method was dideoxy/chain termination sequencing

Question 23

complementary DNA (cDNA)

Answer 23

when you use a reverse transcriptase enzyme to write the complimentary strand to an mRNA strand (bc this essentially tells/gives you the sequence for the DNA strand that the mRNA strand came from WITHOUT having to deal with the introns that were cut out)

Question 24

Bacterial plasmid

Answer 24

plasmids from bacteria that feature:

1. Origin of replication
2. Genes for antibiotic resistance
3. Multiple cloning sites

Favorable plasmids for for use as cloning vectors bc they’re readily available, easily manipulated, multiply rapidly

Question 24

Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chains reaction (RT-PCR)

Answer 24

when scientists exploit the ability of reverse transcriptase to synthesize complementary DNA (cDNA) from mRNA transcripts, and then use PCR to amplify regions of interest

Usually also involves electrophoresis

Question 26

Organismal cloning

Answer 26

1 of 2 types of DNA cloning

when a new organism is cloned using a single cell from the parent

exp. nuclear transplantation

Question 27

embryonic stem cells

Answer 27

the kind of stem cells that can reproduce indefinitely

not the same as adult stem cells

Question 28

electroporation

Answer 28

when scientists apply an electrical shock to eukaryotic cells to produce a temporary hole in the plasma membrane which DNA can be inserted through

unless they just use a really tiny needle instead

Question 28

Stem cells

Answer 28

cells that are not differentiated/specialized and can reproduce indefinitely OR can be made to specialized into whatever we want in the right conditions

stem cells become precursor cells then precursor cells become specialized cells

Question 29

Recombinant Plasmid

Answer 29

What you get after you’ve cut up DNA into fragments (ideally, with sticky ends) and sealed them together (with DNA ligase)

Question 31

Vector

Answer 31

DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell, where it can be replicated and/or expressed

exp. plasmid

Question 32

nuclear transplantation

Answer 32

exp. of organismal cloning were the nucleus of an unfertilized egg or zygote is replaced with the nucleus of a differentiated cell

regulatory processes/epigenetic changes (like histone methylation and base acetylation) have to be undone in order for this to work right

Frequently results in death and defects

Question 33

Short tandem repeats (STR)

Answer 33

the markers in analysis of genetic profiles