Gene Technology

Question 1

What is genetic modification?

Answer 1

The insertation of genes from one organism to another
or
Changing the genetic material of an organism

Question 2

What is recombinant DNA?

Answer 2

DNA produced by genetic modification when the genes from one organism are combined with another

Question 3

What is the function of reverse transcriptase?

Answer 3

To take mRNA and use it to create the correct DNA sequence

Question 4

What is cDNA?

Answer 4

DNA that can act as an artifical gene and is made by reversing the transcription process from mRNA

Question 5

How is recombitant DNA made?

Answer 5

Restriction enzymes iscolate the gene. The gene is then put into a vector (the DNA of a bacteria) and the DNA is taken up by a bacterial cell that will now produce the chemical needed

Question 6

What is replica planting?

Answer 6

The process used to identify recombitant cells by growing identical colonies on plates with different selective media.

Question 7

How can scientists tell which bacteria are recombitant? (not all will take up the vector)

Answer 7

The vector also contains marker genes for antibiotic resistance. When they are grown in a medium favouring the vector, only recombitant organisms will survive.

Question 8

What are knockout organisms?

Answer 8

One or more genes have been silenced by inserting a similar gene into the middle of the sequence so it can’t be read propperly

Question 9

What are knockout organisms used for?

Answer 9

Scientific research looking into what a gene does. They silence the gene to see it’s effect