Chapter 20 Questions

Question 1

What are the common uses of biotechnology?

Answer 1

• Agriculture
• Criminal law (forensics)
• Paternity testing
• Medical and pharmaceutical

Question 2

What are the basic steps in DNA cloning?

Answer 2

1. DNA is isolated from the organism
2. The gene of interest is cut out with restriction enzymes and spliced into a cloning vector to make a recombinant DNA molecule
3. The vector containing the recombinant DNA molecule is inserted into a host organism (bacteria cells, yeasts, animal cells, plant cells). The host organisms will now begin replicating (cloning) and expressing the foreign gene.

Question 3

What are the basic steps for isolating DNA from an organism?

Answer 3

• Lyse cell
• Remove membranes
• Remove proteins from DNA
• Purify DNA

Question 4

What role do restriction enzymes play in producing recombinant DNA for cloning?

Answer 4

The gene of interest is cut out with restriction enzymes and spliced into a cloning vector to make a recombinant DNA molecule

Question 5

What role does DNA ligase play in producing recombinant DNA?

Answer 5

used to seals the bonds between restriction fragments

Question 6

What causes sticky ends to form?

Answer 6

The most useful restriction enzymes cut DNA in a staggered way, producing fragments with “sticky ends”

Question 7

How are sticky ends useful in producing recombinant DNA?

Answer 7

Sticky ends can bond with complementary sticky ends of other fragments

Question 8

What happens when you put a recombinant DNA plasmid vector containing a gene of interest inside of a bacterial cell? (Does the vector replicate the plasmid vector containing the foreign gene? Is the foreign gene transcribed?)

Answer 8

yes

Question 9

What are some practical applications of gene cloning?

Answer 9

specific proteins produced that are needed. Useful for amplifying genes to produce a protein product for research, medical, or other purposes

• pest resistance in plants
• vaccines