Genetic Control of Metabolism

Question 1

What two ways can you improve wild strains of microorganisms?

Answer 1

1. mutagenesis

2. recombinant DNA technology

Question 2

What is mutagenesis?

Answer 2

Exposing microorganisms to mutagenic agents to produce new improves trains.

Question 3

What is recombinant DNA technology?

Answer 3

Transferring genes from one organism into a microorganism.

Question 4

What are examples of mutagenic agents?

Answer 4

• UV light
• radiation
• mutagenic chemicals that result in mutations

Question 5

What is contained in a newly transformed host cell?

Answer 5

A combination of its own DNA and the other source joined together - called recombinant DNA.

Question 6

What enzymes are needed for the manipulation of DNA?

Answer 6

• restriction endonuclease

- ligase

Question 7

What is restriction endonuclease used from in the manipulation of DNA?

Answer 7

Cuts the desired gene out of the donor DNA and opens the plasmid for insertion.

Question 8

What is ligase used for in the manipulation of DNA?

Answer 8

Seals the desired gene into the plasmid.

Question 9

What does restriction endonuclease recognise?

Answer 9

A specific target sequence of DNA bases called the restriction site.

Question 10

What does restriction endonuclease do?

Answer 10

Recognises the restriction site and also cuts out the complementary sequences on the opposite strand.

Question 11

How do the gene and plasmid slot together?

Answer 11

Using the sticky ends created by the restriction endonuclease.

Question 12

What vectors are required for DNA manipulation?

Answer 12

Artificial chromosomes or plasmid.

Question 13

What is a vector in DNA manipulation?

Answer 13

A DNA molecule used to carry foreign genetic information into another cell.

Question 14

Why are artificial chromosomes used?

Answer 14

They are capable of carrying a much longer sequence of DNA compared to plasmids.

Question 15

What do both plasmids and artificial chromosomes contain?

Answer 15

• restriction sites
• regulatory sequences
• origin of replication
• selectable markers

Question 16

What is the restriction site?

Answer 16

The target sequence of DNA where specific restriction endonuclease is cut.

Question 17

What is the regulatory sequence?

Answer 17

Controls the gene expression of the vector’s own gene and the inserted gene.

Question 18

What is the origin of replication?

Answer 18

Initiates the self-replication of the vector.

Question 19

What is the selection marker?

Answer 19

Antibiotic resistance genes protect the microorganism from a selective agent that can kill it or prevent its growth. This ensures only the microorganism with the vector will grow.

Question 20

How can you see that the organism has successfully taken in the organism?

Answer 20

Using the selectable marker, flooding the organism with something it should be resistant to.

Question 21

What shape must proteins be to work properly?

Answer 21

Folded into the correct 3D structure.

Question 22

What would an incorrectly folded protein result in?

Answer 22

An inactive protein.

Question 23

How do you remedy an incorrectly folded protein?

Answer 23

Using recombinant yeast cells to produce correctly folded, active forms of the protein.

Question 24

Why can recombinant yeast cells be used?

Answer 24

They are eukaryotic cells with complex machinery that can produce more complicated proteins.