Genomics Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a virus and what does it consist of?

A

A virus is an infectious particle with a bit of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat called a capsid and, in some cases, a membrane envelope.

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2
Q

What are the viruses that infect bacteria known as?

A

Bacteriophage.

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3
Q

What is the only goal of a virus?

A

A virus’ only goal is to replicate, and cannot do that on its own – needs a host

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4
Q

How does the viral DNA become part of the host’s DNA?

A
  1. The virus attaches itself to the bacterial cell and injects its DNA.
  2. Phage DNA circularizes

Lytic cycle: the new phage and proteins are synthesized, then they assemble into new phages and burst the cell releasing the phages.

Lysogenic cycle: The phage inserts its DNA into the bacteria’s chromosome, it is then called a prophage. The bacteria replicates and copies the prophage at every stage.

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5
Q

What are the 3 ways bacteria can transfer DNA?

A
  1. Transformation: Foreign DNA inserts itself into the chromosome of the host.
  2. Transduction: Fragment of DNA from a former phage host is inserted
  3. Conjugation: The donor cell and recipient cell form a mating bridge and transfer DNA
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6
Q

What is the ability of a donor E. coli cell to carry out conjugation?

A

The ability of a donor E. coli cell to carry out conjugation is usually due to a specific piece of DNA called the F factor (F for fertility).

An F factor can exist as a plasmid.

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7
Q

Why do R plasmids pose big problems to human medicine?

A

R plasmids pose serious problems for human medicine by carrying genes for enzymes that destroy antibiotics.

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8
Q

What are the applications of gene modifications?

A
  1. A gene is used to alter bacteria for cleaning up toxic waste.
  2. A gene for pest resistance is inserted into plants.
  3. Insulin is given to diabetics
  4. A protein is used to dissolve blot clots in heart attack therapy.
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9
Q

Can existing genes be edited?

A

yes.
Researchers introduce Cas9 protein and guide RNA.

The Cas9/guide RNA complex binds to the target DNA sequence in the nucleus.

Next, the Cas9 protein cuts both DNA strands.

A normal copy of the gene serves as a template for repair enzymes to edit the cut in the target gene, resulting in a corrected nucleotide sequence

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10
Q

What is an application of CRISPR-Cas9 system?

A
  1. Xenotransplantation, which involves taking parts of bovine or porcine organs and transplanted into humans, in order to minimize graft rejection.
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11
Q

What cells are used for for eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms?

A

prokaryotic: E.coli
eukaryotic: Yeast

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12
Q

Give an example of recombinant genes being mass produced.

A

A recombinant gene for human antithrombin (a clotting factor) inserted into goat genome and can be harvested in the milk

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13
Q

How are we able to make organisms produce the proteins of different organisms?

A

This fact showcases the conservation of cell machinery across prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, resulting in similar genetic mechanisms

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14
Q

What are the uses of DNA technology?

A
  1. Treating diseases: insulin is injected in diabetic patients who cannot produce their own. Before, insulin was harvested from pigs but that led to allergic reactions.
  2. Diagnosing diseases: PCR
  3. Preventing diseases: Different recombinant organisms can also be used for vaccine production (ex: Hepatitis B vaccine in bacteria, flu vaccines are produced in embryonated chicken eggs)
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15
Q

What is an example of a GMO plant?

A

Golden rice uses daffodil genes to boost it’s beta-carotene levels.

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16
Q

What virus can insert themselves into human genomes?

A

Retrovirus