GENETIC ENGINEERING Flashcards
What is a genome
A complete set of genes in a particular organism
Who was Gregor Mendel
He preformed experiments on pea plants in his free time to study the inheritance of characteristic from one generation to another - he formulated the basic laws of genetics and is known as the father of genetics
What conclusions were made from Mendels experiments
- hereditary characters are determined by genes
- a particular gene occurs in 2 or more different forms that affect the same characteristics in different ways these are known as alleles
Different alleles contain different information about the same characteristics
Alleles occur at the same location on a specific homologous pair
What is a genotype
- a composition of the gene pair (2 alleles) - it is the genetic makeup of an organism
What is a phenotype
- an observable characteristic of an organism as determined by its genotype - the physical appearance of an organism
What is homozygous
When 2 alleles for a particular characteristic on the homologous chromosome are the same eg TT or tt.
What is heterozygous
When 2 alleles on the homologous chromosomes differ from each other
What is mendels law of segregation
During meiosis homologous pairs separate from each other this each gamete that is produced receives only one allele of a gene pair
What is complete dominance
When one allele is fully dominant over the other
Incomplete dominance
Where neither allele is dominant and the phenotype is a blend of both characteristics
Co dominance
Alleles are equally dominant and both expressed eg cows - red cow crossed with white cow claves will express bith red and white hair
Sex linked genes - why do males generally have more chance of genetic abnormalities
The Y is small and carried almost no other genes while the X is larger and carries other genes
In males there is only 1 X chromosome meaning if it carries an abnormality it cannot be masked by a dominant allele of the other X chromosome like it does in females
What are 2 sex linked disorders
- red green colour blindness
- haemophilia
what is a vector
an organism that transfers something
what is recombinant dna
refers to the new combining of DNA in the organism that received the new gene
what is gene therapy
the integration of genes in cells with faulty or missing genes
what are plasmids
ring shaped Dna molecules found in bacteria
what are antigens
a protein molecule that occur on the surface of cells and act as identifying markers
what are antigens
a protein molecule that occur on the surface of cells and act as identifying markers
what is the importance of genetic engineering
plays a role in
- synthesis of medicinal drugs (insulin + vaccines )
- cloning (therapeutic (embryo for research) + DNA + reproductive)
- production of new crops (gmos +polyploidy)
- stem cell research
name 3 advantages of GMO
- larger better yields and stronger crops
- cheaper
- resistant to herbicides
- fortified crops can be produced
name 3 advantages of GMO
- larger better yields and stronger crops
- cheaper
- resistant to herbicides
- fortified crops can be produced
name 3 disadvantages of GMOS
- negative effect on humans health (increase in allergies)
- decreases biodiversity
- undesirable effect of new gene on organisms in the environment
name 2 viewpoints against cloning
- unnatural and against natural selection process
- decreases genetic variation
- ethical factors to consider like who controls cloning and who is responsible for the new individuals
name 2 viewpoints for cloning
-cloning may provide hope for couples who cannot have children
- diseases may be eliminated from population
- replacement of diseases tissue due to cloned organ
what are stem cells
- simple, undifferentiated somatic cells that are not yet specialised
4 main sources - embryonic stem cells ( obtained from inner cell mass of an early embryo (blastocyst) the stem cell is called pluripotent)
- foetal stem cells ( foetus terminated pregnant or umbilical cord/ amniotic fluid and placenta)
- adult stem cells ( bone marrow, adipose tissue, blood, heart, brain and molar teeth) (multipotent - bc limited potential to differentiate)
- induced pluripotent stem cells IPSC (any adult stem cell that are genetically reprogrammed to function like embryonic stem cells)
uses of stem cells
- brain or spinal cord injuries or to treat cancers or diseases
