Genetic Engineering Flashcards
What is hybridization?
Choosing organisms with different traits.
Why would someone use selective breeding?
It would allow them to get a desired result in an offspring.
Why would you want a hybrid animal?
They are normally stronger and bigger than the parents.
What is inbreeding?
Choosing individuals with similar traits to maintain desired characteristics.
What are the risks of inbreeding?
The offspring have a greater chance of recessive genetic disorders.
What does cull mean?
Removing something from the population.
What is biotechnology?
The application of technological processes to a living organism.
What is a gene pool?
All of the traits in a population.
How do breeders manipulate DNA to get a desired trait not in a gene pool?
They induce mutations by using chemicals and radiation.
What is genetic engineering?
Making changes in DNA.
What is transformation?
A process by which a cell takes in DNA from outside the cell.
What are plasmids?
Small circular DNA molecules in some bacteria.
True or false
Taking plasmids out of bacteria harm them.
False
True or false
The plasmid is replicated along with the rest of the bacteria’s DNA.
True
What is a genetic marker?
A gene that makes it easy to distinguish a chromosome.
How do scientists cut DNA?
With restriction enzymes.
True or false
There’s only one type of restriction enzyme.
False, there are hundreds of different types of restriction enzymes and each one cuts at a specific nucleotide sequence.
What are blunt ends?
DNA cut straight down.
What are sticky ends?
DNA cut crooked.
What are the steps in making insulin?
- Isolate plasmid DNA and human DNA.
- Cut both DNA samples with the same restriction enzyme.
- Mix the DNAs
- The plasmid is put back into the DNA with a mechanical vector.
- Allow the bacteria to reproduce.
- Harvest the insulin the bacteria produced.
What are two types of vectors?
- micropipette
* gene gun
What is a transgenic organism?
An organism contains genes from other species.
What is another thing produced in a very similar way to insulin?
The human growth hormone
What is a polymerase chain reaction?
A process used to make copies of DNA samples.
What is a thermocycler?
A machine that provides heat needed to separate DNA strands
What are primers?
Small segments of DNA that bind a sample.
What are the steps in a polymerase chain reaction?
- use a thermocycler to separate DNA strands.
- add primers to the sample
- add DNA polymerase
- let DNA polymerase copy the DNA and make millions of copies
Who invented the polymerase chain reaction?
Kary Mullis
Where did Kary Mullis get DNA polymerase that could resist high temperatures?
From bacteria at the Hot Springs of Yellowstone National Park inside
What is gel electrophoresis?
A process used to separate DNA fragments.
Describe the process of gel electrophoresis.
- Place DNA into the wells on a gel plate
- An electric current is applied and the negative fragments migrate towards the positive pole
- smaller fragments will travel faster and farther and lineup smallest to largest
What is DNA fingerprinting?
Analyzing sections of DNA that have little or no function but that do very widely from one individual to another.
What is the process of DNA fingerprinting?
- DNA is cut with restriction enzymes
- They are run through the gel
- DNA probes are used to identify specific sequences
- The southern plotting technique is used
What is the southern blotting technique?
When you put your probes on a filtered sheet and you can see specific groups of DNA.
What is the product of the southern blotting technique?
A pattern of bands that can be distinguished as belonging to a specific individual.
What are two uses for DNA fingerprinting?
- paternity testing
* forensics
What do scientists add to the DNA when they’re sequencing it?
The normal bases along with special bases with chemical bases attached.
What do the dye-labeled bases do?
They terminate replication
What does sequencing DNA result in?
DNA fragments of various sizes.
What is DNA MicroArray used for?
Studying thousands of genes at once to compare their activity levels.
What color is a normal cell on a DNA MicroArray?
Green
What color is a cancer cell on a DNA MicroArray?
Red
What color is “both cells” on a DNA Microarray?
Yellow
During DNA microarray, what is removed from both types of cells and copies into single strands of DNA containing fluorescent labels?
mRNA
Why take the mRNA out during DNA MicroArray?
It copies and helps make proteins and DNA.
What are two other names for transgenic animals?
GM animals or GMO
What is PCR?
Polymerase chain reaction
What are the requirements of PCR?
A thermocycler, primers, DNA polymerase, and nucleotides.
List two transgenic animals and the possible benefits of them.
- GM mice- have an immune system like humans.
* GM cows- Produce meat faster and leaner than normal cows.
List two GM foods and their benefits.
- GM rice - contains vitamin A
* GM corn - produces natural insecticides
What are some pros and cons of transgenic organisms?
- Pros- they grow quicker, produce more meat/fruit/vegetables, are insect resistant, and produce bigger fruits/ vegetables.
- Cons- haven’t been widely tested and could pose a threat to humans
Describe how Dolly the sheep was created.
- Nucleus from egg is removed and a nucleus from a body cell is added.
- The egg is placed in a surrogate.
What are some pros and cons of cloning?
- Pros- you could save endangered animals, and you can make exact copies of organisms.
- Cons- they die quicker, have more genetic problems, and are not very genetically diverse.
What are the two goals of the human genome project?
- sequence all 3 billion pairs of human DNA
* Identify all human genes
What is gene therapy?
Changing genes that cause genetic disorders, and making them normal.
What is the vector most often used in gene therapy?
A Virus
What disorders has gene therapy had some success with?
Cystic fibrosis and hemophilia.
