Chapter 21:Manipulating Genomes

Question 1

What is Satellite DNA?

Answer 1

Short sequences of DNA that are repeated many times

Question 2

Mini Satellite Vs Micro Satellite

Answer 2

sequence of 20-50 base pairs repeated 50-100

2-4 base pairs repeated 5-15 times (short tandem repeats)

Question 3

Explain the steps involved in PCR and state what is needed for PCR?

Answer 3

Reaction mixture = DNA sample, DNA polymerase, Primers, free nucleotides

Step 1: Separation phase (95°C) heat up the sample to break the Hydrogen bonds between the strands

Step 2: Annealing phase (55°C) Cool down to allow the primers to bind to the template strands.

Step 3: Synthesis Phase (75°C) Free nucleotides bind/anneal to their complementary bases on the template strands via DNA polymerase

Question 4

What is the formula for how many strands are generated after PCR?

Answer 4

Starting number X 2(superscript n)

Question 5

What are restriction enzymes/endonucleases?

Answer 5

Enzymes with a unique sequence that cut DNA at that recognition sequence into small pieces

Question 6

Purpose and uses of PCR?

Answer 6

To amplify DNA when only a small sample is available
Used at crime scenes
Used for paternity testing
Identifying diseases
For species regonition

Question 6

Purpose and uses of PCR?

Answer 6

To amplify DNA when only a small sample is available
Used at crime scenes
Used for paternity testing
Identifying diseases
For species regonition

Question 7

Bioinformatics vs computational Biology

Answer 7

Bioinformatics=Development of software tools to organise biological data
Computational Biology= uses the software and data to build models of biological systems

Question 8

Genomics Vs Proteomics

Answer 8

Genomics applies DNA sequencing and computational biology to analyse genomes

Proteomics is the study and amino acid sequencing of an organisms entire protein complement, Study of the proteins produced by an organism coded for by DNA in an organism

Question 9

What are spliceosomes?

Answer 9

Enzyme complexes that create mature functional mRNA

mRNA from the DNA contains introns and exons and so needs to be modified from pre mRNA to mature mRNA by spliceosomes so they only contain exons

Question 10

Genetic Engineering and main stages involved

Answer 10

Manipulation of an organism’s genome to achieve a desired outcome

1) Isolation: Use restriction endonucleases to isolate desired gene
2) Insertion: Insert desired gene into a vector to form recombinant DNA
3) Transformation: Vector introduced into host cell via electroporation or electrofusion
4) Identification: Antibiotic resistant gene also introduced with desired gene and only bacteria that survive have taken up gene therefore and these are selected
5) Growth/cloning: Bacteria reproduce and divide several times