Lecture 17- DNA Technology Flashcards

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1
Q

Why is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) so useful?

A

Allows us to produce billions of copies of DNA in a short period of time, which allows us to study small DNA samples

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2
Q

What is Taq polymerase?

A

DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus (a bacteria from hot springs in Yellowstone which tolerates high temperatures)

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3
Q

True or false: The goal of PCR is to produce genetically unique DNA

A

False; PCR is used to synthesize identical DNA strands

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4
Q

What type of material is gel electrophoresis conducted with?

A

Polyacrylamide gel (agarose polysaccharide)

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5
Q

What are dNTPs?

A

Deoxyribonucleotides (A, T, C, G)

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6
Q

What process can be used to figure out the order of the nucleotides of a DNA strand?

A

DNA sequencing

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7
Q

What occurs during the denaturation step of PCR?

A

Hydrogen bonds between DNA strands break apart, separating the strands

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8
Q

What is the difference between deoxyribonucleic acid and dideoxyribonucleic acid?

A

Oxygen is removed from the free 3` OH on DNA → becomes dideoxyribonucleic acid

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9
Q

What can DNA sequencing be used for?

A

Determining common evolutionary ancestors of species (species diversity)

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10
Q

What are the components required to conduct PCR?

A

dNTPs, primers, & Taq polymerase

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11
Q

How does gel electrophoresis separate DNA fragments by size?

A

DNA fragments move from negative to positive. Small fragments move far and big fragments stay close

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12
Q

True or false: RNA primers are required to conduct PCR

A

False; the primers used in PCR are DNA

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13
Q

How does DNA elongate using dideoxyribonucleic acid?

A

It doesn’t. Dideoxyribonucleic acid terminates elongation

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14
Q

What are the steps of PCR in order?

A

Denaturation → Annealing → Extension

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15
Q

What is the function of Taq polymerase in PCR?

A

Replicates new strands in the 5 to 3 direction

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16
Q

True or false: During the denaturation step of PCR, the phosphodiester bonds in DNA are broken, allowing DNA strands to separate

A

False; only the hydrogen bonds break. PCR does not reach high enough temperatures to break covalent bonds

17
Q

What occurs during the annealing step of PCR?

A

DNA primers anneal very specifically to the 3` side of the DNA as the solution cools

18
Q

True or false: During PCR, Taq polymerase replicates the lagging DNA strand

A

False; there is no lagging DNA strand in PCR

19
Q

Which constituent of DNA gives it the properties necessary to be used in gel electrophoresis?

A

Phosphate group is negatively charged

20
Q

What is the dideoxy chain termination method?

A

Method of DNA sequencing by which dideoxyribonucleic acids inhibit elongation

21
Q

How do we know that dideoxyribonucleotides (ddNTPs) inhibit DNA elongation?

A

ddNTPs are labeled with fluorescent molecules