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Biology > Cloning and biotechnology > Flashcards

Cloning and biotechnology Flashcards

1
Q

Define vegetative propagation

A

A type of asexual reproduction where new, genetically identical individuals develop from the non-reproductive parts of a plant

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2
Q

Give natural methods for plants to reproduce asexually

A

Rhizomes, stolons (runners), bulbs, tubers, suckers

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3
Q

How to artificially propagate plants from cuttings.

A
  • Use a healthy shoot/cut shoot from a healthy plant
  • cut at a slant using sterile tools
  • cut between nodes
  • Dip in auxin/rooting powder
  • Place in soil/compost and add water
  • Cover with plastic bag/ remove some leaves to reduce transpiration
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4
Q

Advantages of vegetative propagation

A

Fast
Ensures high yield
cost effective
Maintains quality of crop
Allows plants to survive adverse conditions + regenerate each season

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5
Q

Disadvantages of vegetative propagation

A

lack of genetic variation between offspring
Plants more susceptible to disease, pests and climate change

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6
Q

Define micropropagation

A

Technique to produce many identical plant clones from a single parent plant through tissue culture

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7
Q

What are the steps in making tissue culture for micropropagation?

A

Aseptic conditions
Cut the plant material into explants
Sterilise the explant (bleach/alcohol)
Place explant on agar containing glucose and amino acids
A callus will form
High auxin and cytokines
Sub divide the callus
Treat to induce roots
change plant hormone ratio
transfer to a greenhouse

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8
Q

Applications of micropropagation

A
  • Allows large scale production of plants which reproduce slowly/ are endangered
  • Can produce disease free clones
  • Allows mass production of GMO’s
  • Can produce seedless varieties.
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9
Q

Advantages of micropropagation

A
  • Produces genetically identical organisms, can be carried out all year, space efficient, rapid production of mature plants.
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10
Q

Disadvantages of micropropagation

A

Low genetic diversity, may unintentionally propagate undesirable traits, explants vulnerable to infection, expensive

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11
Q

What is natural cloning?

A

When animals produce genetically identical offspring via asexual reproduction

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12
Q

How can natural cloning occur in invertebrates?

A

Regeneration/fragmentation

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13
Q

How can natural cloning occur in vertebrates?

A

When an early embryo splits into two identical embryos.

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14
Q

What is artificial twinning?

A

When a single early embryo is manually split, separating cells before differentiation (produces multiple identical offspring)

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15
Q

Outline the process of artificial twinning.

A
  1. Female organism treated with hormones to produce multiple ova (egg cells)
  2. Ova extracted and treated in a petri dish to produce an embryo
  3. Embryo divides into several cells and whilst it is still totipotent, it is split
  4. Each cell placed in separate dish to develop into its own embryo
  5. Embryo implanted into uteruses of surrogate mothers to develop.
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16
Q

What is somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)?

A

When the nucleus of a somatic (body cell) of one animal is transferred into the ovum of another animal to produce an embryo.

17
Q

Steps in SCNT

A
  1. Somatic cell nucleus removed from an adult animal
  2. Ovum of a female animal of the same species is enucleated (nucleus removed)
  3. Nucleus of somatic cell transferred into enucleated ovum
  4. Somatic nucleus fused with enucleated ovum via electrofusion
  5. Fused cell begins dividing forming an embryo
  6. Embryo implanted into the uterus of a surrogate mother
  7. Surrogate gives birth to clone
18
Q

Applications of cloning

A

Medical research, agriculture, pharming, conservation, stem cells

19
Q

What is biotechnology?

A

Using living organisms (microorganisms) to transform materials for human use

20
Q

Applications of microbes in biotechnology

A

Brewing, baking, cheese making, yoghurt, medicine (penicillin), bioremediation

21
Q

Advantages of using microorganisms for biotechnology

A

Cost effective, no ethical issues, rapid reproduction, simple+ versatile nutrient requirements, sustainable meat alternative, all year round

22
Q

Disadvantages of using microorganisms for biotechnology

A

Sterile conditions needed, risk of contamination, toxin production, social concerns, need to separate microorganisms.

23
Q

What are primary metabolites?

A

Substances produced in processes which are essential for normal microbial functioning e.g. Ethanol from anaerobic respiration in yeast

24
Q

What are secondary metabolites?

A

Substances produced in non essential processes e.g. antibiotics or plant defence chemicals.

25
Q

Typical components of bioreactors/fermentation tanks.

A
  • Metal/plastic tank with inputs/outputs for liquids and gases.
  • Paddles for mixing the culture - even distribution
  • Probes to monitor pH, temp and dissolves oxygen
  • Ports to add ingredients and remove products
  • Sterilisation system (e.g. steam injection)
  • Nutrient medium
26
Q

What is batch fermentation?

A
  • Microbes are grown in a fixed volume in individual batches until nutrients deplete and waste accumulates
  • Each batch is followed by emptying and cleaning the vessel
27
Q

What is continuous fermentation?

A
  • Involves continually supplying fresh nutrients and removing the culture broth
  • Maintains growth of the culture indefinitely.
28
Q

What are the stages in the standard growth curve for batch cultures?

A
  • Lag phase
  • Log phase (exponential growth)
  • Stationary phase
  • Death phase
29
Q

What is enzyme immobilisation?

A

Attaching/enclosing an enzyme onto a solid support or matrix.

30
Q

Methods of enzyme immobilisation

A

Binding
Adsorption
Entrapment
Encapsulation

31
Q

What is binding?

A

Enzymes bound to insoluble support materials e.g. collagen fibres or cellulose by covalent/ionic bonds.

32
Q

What is adsorption?

A

Enzymes adsorbed onto surface of insoluble support material.

33
Q

What is entrapment?

A

Enzymes trapped in a matrix e.g. silica gel

34
Q

What is encapsulation?

A

Enzymes isolated by a partially permeable membrane (e.g. with semi-permeable alginate beads)

35
Q

Evaluate use of immobilised enzymes

A

Cost effective, product purity, improved stability
Higher initial costs, reduced enzyme activity, technical problems.

36
Q

Steps involved in immobilising lactase to produce lactose free milk.

A
  1. Lactase enzyme attached to alginate beads to immobilise it
  2. Lactase containing beads are packed into a column
  3. Milk flows through column
  4. Lactase hydrolyses lactose in milk into glucose and galactose, producing lactose free milk.
  5. Lactase remains in column allowing continuous production.

Biology (4 decks)

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