Genetic Engineering (chp 13)

Question 1

Genetic engineering

Answer 1

The application of molecular genetics for practical purposes. Can be used to identify genes for specific traits, or transferring specific trait from one organism to another.

Question 2

DNA Technology

Answer 2

The technology involved in genetic engineering. It can be used to cure diseases, to treat genetic disorders, to improve food crops, and do other things that may improve the lives of humans.

Question 3

Restrictive Enzymes

Answer 3

They cut up DNA molecules into more manageable pieces and cut them at a specific site (the recognition site) within a sequence of nucleotides.

Question 4

Sticky Ends

Answer 4

Sticky end are single chain “tails” of DNA that are created on each DNA segment after they have been cut by restrictive enzymes. Their function is to bind to complementary chains of DNA so that they can bind together to form a new sequence of nucleotides.

Question 5

Cloning vectors

Answer 5

A cloning vector is a carrier that is used to clone a gene and transfer it from one organism to a another.

Question 6

Plasmid

Answer 6

A type of cloning vector is called a plasmid. A plasmid is a ring of DNA found in the bacterium in addition to its main chromosome. To be used in genetic experiments, the plasmid is isolated from the bacterium, and cut by the restrictive enzyme, allowing a donor gene to be spliced into it. The plasmid gets put back into the bacterium where it replicates and makes copies of the donor gene. Each plasmid will now contain a copy of the gene

Question 7

Donor gene

Answer 7

A specific gene isolated from another organism

Question 8

Gene clone

Answer 8

An exact copy of a gene

Question 9

Ways genetic engineering could be used to improve lives of humans

Answer 9

1) make insulin for those with diabetes
2) improve food crops
3) To cure diseases

Question 10

Steps involved in Transplanting genes

Answer 10

1) isolate the DNA from human cells and isolate plasmids from bacteria.
2) Restrictive enzymes cut human DNA into pieces and then they are spliced in plasmids. This results in a recombinant DNA molecule.
3) Recombinant DNA is put into a bacterium called a transgenic organism, where the plasmid is copied, making clones of the DNA.
4) The copies of DNA can produce large amounts of the gene

Question 11

Genomic Library

Answer 11

A set of thousands of DNA pieces from a genome that have been inserted into a cloning vector. It provides a source of cloning vectors.

Question 12

Recombinant DNA

Answer 12

Is the combination of DNA from two or more sources. A recombinant DNA molecule is created by inserting a donor gene, such as the human gene for insulin, into a cloning vector, such as bacterial plasmid. The DNA moves from one organism to another

Question 13

Transgenic organism

Answer 13

Is a host organism that receives the recombinant DNA

Question 14

Why is it important to use the same restrictive enzyme to cut DNA thats going to be joined together?

Answer 14

The same restrictive enzyme is what allows the pieces of DNA to bind together to form a new sequence of nucleotides.

Question 15

DNA Fingerprints

Answer 15

A pattern of bands made up of specific fragments from an individual’s DNA. Fragments from 2 individuals may be compared to establish whether they are related, or how closely the species are related. The method of DNA fingerprinting is called Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)

Question 16

The steps involved in preparing a DNA fingerprint

Answer 16

1) DNA is cut into several fragments by restriction enzymes.
2) Fragments are separated according to size and charge by gel electrophoresis. This happens when an electric current runs through the gel and negative charged DNA moves to positive charged gel and smaller DNA moves faster than longer pieces.
3) Radioactive probes bind DNA fragments together to be compared. They are complementary to the DNA being compared.
4) This allows the DNA fingerprint to form when it’s exposed to photographic film, which then can be analyzed

Question 17

Gel electrophoresis

Answer 17

The technique used to separate DNA by their size and charge

Question 18

Probes

Answer 18

Radioactive segments of DNA that are complementary to the segments being compared. They bind to complementary segments of DNA to form visible bands when exposed to photographic film. The photographic film can be developed to show a DNA fingerprint that can be analyzed.

Question 19

DNA Fingerprint accuracy

Answer 19

The accuracy depends on how unique the prints are. DNA fingerprints are very accurate because they compare segments of DNA that vary the most from person to person.

Question 20

Polymerase chain reaction

Answer 20

Can be used to quickly make copies of a small amount of DNA thats available. It requires a DNA molecule or fragment of DNA, a supply of 4 DNA nucleotides, DNA polymerase ( enzyme involved in DNA replication) and primers. When combined and incubated, the selected regions of DNA quickly double

Question 21

Primer

Answer 21

An artificially made single stranded sequence of DNA required for the initiation of replication.

Question 22

The human genome project

Answer 22

The human genome projects purpose is to determine the nucleotide sequence of the entire human genome and map the location of every gene on each chromosome. The findings could help improve diagnoses, treatments, and find potential cures for approximately 4000 humane genetic disorders.

Question 23

Gene therapy

Answer 23

Gene there’s is when you treat a genetic disorder by introducing a gene into a cell or by correcting a gene defect in a cells genome

Question 24

Vaccine

Answer 24

A solution that contains a harmless version of a virus or bacterium

Question 25

Pathogen

Answer 25

Disease-causing agents

Question 26

Herbicide

Answer 26

Weed-controlling chemicals

Question 27

How is a vaccine made by DNA technology and benifits

Answer 27

The genes for a disease causing virus’s surface proteins are inserted into a harmless virus. The transplanted genes cause the harmless virus to produce the surface proteins that alert the body of the presence of the disease causing virus. Benefits are that it’s more effective, safer, and could alter the genome of a pathogen so that it no longer causes the disease

Question 28

Nitrogen fixing bacteria

Answer 28

Nitrogen fixing bacteria is a bacteria that some plants contain that convert nitrogen in the atmosphere to forms of nitrogen that plants can use. Genetic engineers use them by adding expensive nitrogen fertilizer into their soil to increase their crop yields

Question 29

Health and environmental problems that could potentially arise from genetic engineering.

Answer 29

Foods could contain toxic proteins or substances that cause allergies. Genetically engineered crops could spread into the wild and wipe out native plant species. Transgenic crops could transmit their new genes into species in neighbouring areas, causing “super-weeds”.

Question 30

3 examples of how genetic engineering has helped plants.

Answer 30

1) Enzymes harmful to hornworms have been put into tomatoes so the tomatoes are not ruined by them.
2) Cassava plants have been made resistant to some diseases.
3) Crops such as wheat, cotton, and soybeans have been made resistant to herbicides

Question 31

Medicines produced by genetic engineering

Answer 31

Some include vaccines, growth factors, human growth hormone, interleukins, interferons

Question 32

Host organism, donor gene, and transgenic organism

Answer 32

Host organism is where you put the donor gene into. The donor gene is the specific gene that is isolated from another organism. A host organism receiving recombinant DNA is called a transgenic organism.

Question 33

Benefits of using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Answer 33

It can be used to solve violent crimes, diagnosing genetic disorders, and studying ancient fragments of DNA

Question 34

How is genetic engineering used to treat cystic fibrosis

Answer 34

Nasal sprays have been made to carry a normal cystic fibrosis gene to the cells in the nose and the lungs, where cells are particularly affected by a defect CF protein. The nasal spray destroys the defective cells. However, it cant cure CF because the spray will never reach all the defective cells and the cells are constantly replicating