Key Area 2.7 & 2.8 Flashcards
What is the disadvantage of mutagenisis
No guarantee the mutation will be useful
Other than mutagenesis how can wild strains of micro organism be improved
Selective breeding
Recombinant DNA technology
What is asexual reproduction
One parent passing on genetic information to offspring
No variation amongst individuals
What is sexual reproduction and why is it good
Two parent passing on a combination of their genes to offspring
Variation from parents
Good?
New strains can be made
How can new strains of bacteria arise naturally
- transfer of plasmids
- transfer of pieces of chromosomal DNA
- uptake of DNA from the environment
Which part of the genetic material of a bacterial cell is used in recombinant DNA technology
Plasmid
Describe what is meant by the following:
1) endonuclease
2) ligase
1) the enzyme which cuts DNA leaving sticky ends
2) the enzyme seals the gene into the plasmid by its sticky ends
DNA technology can be used to give an organism gene that ______ in metabolic pathways
- amplify specific steps in a metabolic pathway
- removes inhibitors in a metabolic pathway
What is mutagenisis and how it can be achieved
Process of inducing mutations
Can be achieved by:
- exposure to UV light
- exposure to radiation (X-Ray, gamma rays)
Risked involved in genetic engineering?
Microorganism can escape and disrupt ecological systems
Precaution taken in recombinant DNA technology
•make the micro-O unable to survive in external environment
Why might yeast be used instead of bacteria in recombinant DNA technology
Using bacteria might result in polypeptide chains that are not folded correctly or lack post translational DNA
Yeast would be used for eukaryotic proteins
What name is given to an agent that carries DNA into a cell
A vector
If an animal protein is expressed in a bacterial cell what problem may arise
May be folded incorrectly or lack post translational modification
Describe the ethical issue of working with micro organism
Religious reasons that GM micro-organism are unnatural
