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ASC222 > Intro to biotech > Flashcards

Intro to biotech Flashcards

1
Q

Biotechnology is defined as…? (2 definitions)

A
  1. Use of living organisms & their products to enhance our lives & environment.
  2. Any technique using live organisms or their substances to make or modify products, improve animals/plants, or develop micro-organisms for specific uses.
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2
Q

T or F? Biotechnology has to include the use of recombinant DNA technology.

A

False - It often does, but does not have to.

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3
Q

Which sciences encompass biotech? (6)

A
  • microbiology
  • genetics
  • physiology
  • biochemistry
  • engineering
  • computer science
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4
Q

8 applications of biotech…?

A
  • new/improved food
  • industrial chemicals (AB’s)
  • drugs (insulin)
  • livestock & crops (modified or not)
  • diagnostics (cancers, AIDS…)
  • vaccines
  • environmental protection (oil spills via bacteria)
  • conservation (determining genetic diversity, breeding programs)
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5
Q

First evidence of biotech?

A

8000 BC - Crops grown in Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan), 5000 BC Egypt, Far East, Europe

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6
Q

Origins of beer…?

A

Egypt - 5000 BC by adding bread (yeast) to malted barley

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7
Q

What years did Louis Pasteur produce 2 papers on yeast fermentation? What did they show?

A

1866 & 1876 showing it was sugars used by them to produce ethanol & CO2 or just CO2 in presence of O2

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8
Q

A bit about vinegar…?

A

Used to preserve food. Made by treatment of wine with Acetobacter bacteria converting ethanol -> acetic acid by oxidation in presence of O2

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9
Q

Classical biotech, early fermented products of bacteria & yeasts…? Years?

A

1900-1940ish
glycerol - WWI for explosives (nitro glycerine)
acetone - solvents
lactic acid
citric acid
Discovery of penicillium/penicillin by A. Flemming

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10
Q

A bit about penicillin…?

A

Alexander Flemming discovered Penicillium colonies inhibited growth of bacteria
First antibiotic produced but not widely available until 1950’s
Gave rise to growing organisms in fermentors & extracting AB’s

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11
Q

What happened in 5000 BC?

A

Pastoralist farmers roamed Sahara grazing

1st corn harvested

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12
Q

History of bread…?

A

1800 BC - Egyptians used yeast to make bread

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13
Q

What is a fermentor? What is it used for?

A

Large or small culture container that provides a controlled environment for growing micro-organisms, plant, fungal, or mammalian cells

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14
Q

Name some specific products from fermentation…?

A
  • Single Cell Protein (SCP) - animal & human consumption
  • Bakers yeast
  • Enzymes - glucose isomerase (glucose -> fructose (sweeter))
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15
Q

A bit about modern biotech…?

A

1960’s onwards. Underpinned by rapidly advancing knowledge of composition of living animals, plants & micro-organisms, their organs, tissues, cells at molecular level. Stems from the 1940’s and understanding DNA & proteins it encodes

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16
Q

A bit on Fred Griffiths…?

A

British Physician who in 1928 showed that DNA is the inherited material thru experiments with mice injected with 2 different streptococcus strains

17
Q

A bit on Avery, Macleod & McCarthy…?

A

Pufified parts of cell and repeated Griffiths’ experiments -> DNA carries heritable information

18
Q

A bit on Hershey & Chase…?

A

Labelled viral bacteriophage T2 -> DNA carrier of heritable info

19
Q

A bit about the first recombinant DNA experiment…?

A

Occurred in 1970. Plasmids discovered. DNA polymerase, DNA ligase, and first restriction endonucleases also discovered

20
Q

What did Stanley Cohen’s lab show?

A

…that plasmids could be taken up by bacteria (E. coli) when cells treated with CaCl2. They demonstrated AB resistance was transferred via plasmids. Transformation

21
Q

What is EcoRI & why is it important?

A

One of the first Restriction Endonucleases to be studied. EcoRI generates staggered ends so that they can be joined & recut.

22
Q

What is electrophoresis?

A

A method by which DNA fragments are separated & recovered using agarose gel and a current.

23
Q

First cloning experiment…?

A

1973 & 1974 Cohen’s plasmids pSC101 - Using tetracycline resistance gene & single EcoRI site. Also the plasmid streptomycin resistance gene with EcoRI. Used in frogs including DNA from other bacteria…

24
Q

The contributions made by Watson, Crick, Wilkins & Franklin for our understanding of genetic material…?

A

Determined the structure of DNA and how their molecules are put together using x-ray diffraction by producing crystals and x-raying them. How a mechanism might work as to how DNA is replicated. How the info in DNA was transmitted into the cell & how the cell does what it does.

25
Q

Plasmids are what?

A

extrachromosomal circular molecules of DNA

26
Q

Define nosocomial?

A

Hospital acquired infection

27
Q

Some past concerns about genetic engineering…?

A

DNA from one organism to another a safe prospect? Fundamental material that makes us what we are, thus is it right? What affect would it have if higher organisms were used? Are we tampering with nature/playing god? What happens if an engineered organism escapes from the lab? Could modified genes be transferred and affect human cells?

28
Q

Present concerns about genetic engineering…?

A
  • Diagnosis of genetic diseases eg. Cystic fibrosis etc. introduces techniques that identifies predisposition to disease(s) -> this information divulged to medical insurance companies -> increased insurance premiums.
    DNA fingerprinting -> widespread monitoring of populations (infringement of personal liberties)
29
Q

Describe the structure of DNA including structures of nucleotides & bases…?

A 
long thread-like macromolecule.
double stranded helix joined in the middle by bases via hydrogen bonds
subunits are deoxyribonucleotides which consist of: nitrogenous base, sugar (deoxyribose) derivative of ribose, and phosphate(s)
the sugars (ribose & deoxyribose) are 5C sugars and differ in that the hydroxyl group on the 2nd carbon of ribose is not present in deoxyribose (only has H - not OH)
Bases - purines - 2 ring structures (adenine & guanine); pyrimidines - single ring structure (cytosine & thymine)
30
Q

Difference between nucleotides & nucleosides?

A

nucleotide is the entire unit of DNA (sugar, phosphate & base); nucleoside only sugar & base - no phosphate!

31
Q

5 characteristics of the double helix…?

A
  1. Two helical polynucleotide chains coiled around a common axis
  2. Bases on the inside, phosphate & doexyribose on the outside. Plane of bases perpendicular to helix axis
  3. Helix repeats after 10 nucleotides
  4. Two chains held together by hydrogen bonds (base pairs). A-T 2H, G-C 3H
  5. Sequence of bases along DNA carries genetic code
32
Q

Why are DNA strands antiparallel & complimentary? Define 5’ & 3’ ends…?

A

They are complimentary because of the base-pairing rule (A-T & G-C) making each strand of DNA ‘complimentary’ to the other giving the molecule polarity. In order for hydrogen bonding to occur between the complimentary base pairs, the strands must be antiparallel. ie. one strand goes from 5’ to 3’ while the other strand goes from 3’ to 5’

33
Q

Describe DNA replication…? Include info about direction of synthesis of DNA strands

A
  1. Two strands unwind & unzip via DNA helicase. Replication forks occur.
  2. Deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTP) complementary to each strand pair with nucleotide on old strands.
  3. DNA polymerase (enzyme) joins one nucleotide to another. Releases pyrophosphate (PPi)
  4. DNA polymerase continues along the strand adding more nucleotides (200 nucleotides or base pairs per second)
  5. DNA synthesis is always in 5’ to 3’ direction. Incoming dNTP added to 3’ end of growing strand
  6. DNA polymerase can edit its’ mistakes
34
Q

New nucleotides are added to which side of the strand?

A

Always the 3’ (hydroxyl group) end!

35
Q

Describe the enzymes involved in DNA replication…?

A

DNA helicase - unwinds DNA
DNA gyrase - removes supercoiling
Single strand binding protein - stabilises single strands
Primase - synthesises short RNA primers (10 - 20 bp)
DNA polymerase III - synthesises DNA
DNA polymerase I - removes RNA primers, fills in & joins DNA fragments together
DNA ligase - seals single stranded bits of DNA together

ASC222 (8 decks)

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