Genetics, DNA and biotechnology lecture 4 Flashcards
What is biotechnology?
Is the use if artificial methods to modify the genetic material of living organisms or cells
- has been used for improving livestock and crops since the beginning of agriculture through selective breeding
What is DNA?
- chromosomes are built out of DNA
- DNA comprises genetic material in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
- All genes are made of DNA
What is the structure of DNA?
Adenine (A), Guanine (G), cytosine(C), Thymine(T)
What is RNA structure?
It is a second necleic acid in all cells
- RNA nucleotides also contain adenine (A) cytosine (C and guanine (G)
- DOES NOT contain THYMINE (T) BUT have URACIL (U)
- Single - stranded molecule, not double helix
What is Transcription?
DNA is copied to RNA
- two strands of DNA double helix separate
- Each strand serves as template from which complementary strand is copied
- DNA is copied to messenger RNA which carries information needed to make a protein
- the resulting single strand of RNA is the reverse- complement of the original DNA sequence
What is Translation?
RNA is used to make proteins
- mRNA formed in transcription is transported from nucleus to ribosome
- mRNA in ribosome directs protein synthesis
- Transfer RNA makes proteins by stringing amino acids together in lengths of 50 - 1000
- Proteins made perform a wide variety of the functions of a cell
What is Gene regulation ( prokaryotes)?
express the entire DNA they encode in every cell, but not necessarily all at the same time
What is multicellular eukaryotes:
Express a subset of the DNA that is encoded in any given cell
- In each cell type, the type and amount of protein is regulated by controlling gene expression
- To express a protein, the DNA is first transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins
What is cloning?
The creation of a genetically identical copy of an organism or part of an organism
What is reproductive cloning?
Creating a perfect replica of an entire organism
- used to make a clone or an identical copy of an entire multicellular organism
- since each parent contributes DNA during sexual reproduction, it is impossible for this process to naturally make an identical copy of either parent
- BUT possible to reproductively clone mammals in lab setting using biotechnology
How it works:
- Scientists take an egg cell from one individual and to remove the haploid nucleus
- add a diploid nucleus from a body cell of a second individual into the egg cell
- egg is stimulated to divide so that development proceeds
- results in an organism genetically identical to the donor
What is molecular cloning?
creating perfect replicas of short stretches of DNA
- modified plasmids are reintroduced into a host for replication
- as bacteria divide, they copy their own DNA, including the plasmids
- inserted DNA fragment is copied along with the rest of bacterial DNA
- Plasmids may be engineered to express genes and make proteins only when stimulated by environmental factors
- scientists control expression of the recombinant proteins
What is plasmid?
a small circular DNA molecule that replicates independently from chromosal DNA in bacteria
- found naturally in bacteria and have genes that can contribute favorable traits to the organism
What is cloning process?
A DNA fragment is inserted into a plasmid,which is then inserted into a bacterial cell to be copied and expressed
What is genetic engineering?
using recombinant DNA technology to modify an organism’s DNA to achieve desirable traits
What is GMO?
an organism that receives the recombinant DNA
- bacteria, plants, and animals have been genetically modified since the early 1970s
- done for academic, medical, agricultural and industrial purposes
