Manipulating genomes Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the purpose of DNA sequencing?

A

Working out the sequence of bases in a strand of DNA

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2
Q

What is bioinformatics?

A

The development of software and computingtools needed to organise and analyse raw biological data

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3
Q

What is computational biology?

A

Using raw data to build theoretical models of biological systems

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4
Q

What is a genome?

A

All the genetic material of an organism

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5
Q

What is genomics?

A

The branch of biology concerned with evolution, structure, function, and mapping of genomes

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6
Q

What is synthetic biology?

A

The redesign of existing natural biological systems

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7
Q

How can the comparison of many human genomes help the understanding of disease?

A

Show the patterns of disease inherited by people and diseases which people may be vulnerable to

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8
Q

Why might scientists want to analyse the genomes of pathogens?

A
  • To find out the source of an infection
  • To identify antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria
  • To track the progress of an outbreak
  • To identify regions of pathogen genomes that may be useful targets for new drugs
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9
Q

How can DNA barcoding allow for the identification of species?

A
  • Sections of the genome are common to all species but the sequences vary between them
  • This section of DNA can be compared
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10
Q

How can DNA sequencing allow scientists to identify the evolutionary relationships between species?

A
  • DNA sequences of different organisms can be compared
  • Due to DNA mutation rate scientists can calculate how long ago species diverged from a common ancestor
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11
Q

What can DNA profiling be used for?

A
  • Identifying individuals at risk of developing certain diseases
  • Identifying perpatrators of crimes
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12
Q

What is the process of Southern blotting?

A
  • Gel electrophoresis is completed
  • Nitrocellulose paper is placed against the gel
  • Paper placed in buffer solution with DNA probes which hybridise
  • Autoradiography is completed
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13
Q

What does PCR stand for?

A

Polymerase Chain Reaction

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14
Q

What is added to a DNA sample in PCR?

A
  • DNA nucleotides
  • DNA polymerase
  • 3’ primers
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15
Q

What temperatures is PCR cycled through?

A
  • 95º
  • 55º
  • 72º
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16
Q

Why is the sample heated to 55º in PCR?

A

Allows the primer to bind to the DNA

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17
Q

Why is the sample heated to 95º in PCR?

A

Hydrogen bonds between strands break

18
Q

Why is the sample heated to 72º?

A

It is the optimum temperature for taq polyermase

19
Q

How is an insulin recombinant plasmid formed?

A
  • mRNA is isolated and converted to cDNA using reverse transcriptase
  • Plasmid is cut with a restriction so the sticky ends match the cDNA
  • Plasmid and gene are combined with DNA ligase
20
Q

How can recombinant plasmids be inserted into bacteria?

A
  • Electroporation or
  • Place cells and plasmid in Ca2+ and increase the temperature
21
Q

Which bacteria is used to produce GM plants?

A

A. tumefaciens

22
Q

What are the positive impacts of genetic engineering of pathogens?

A
  • Useful substances can be produced cheaply, reliably and in large quantities
  • Used for research into medical treatments
  • Living resource of sequences DNA fragments for future use
    *
23
Q

What are the negatives of genetic engineering of pathogens?

A
  • pathogens could be modified to make them more virulent (could be used as a biological weapon)
  • Antibiotic resistant bacteria could escape from labs
24
Q

What are the positives of engineering soya beans with herbicide and insect resistance?

A
  • reduces need for pesticides
  • targets effect on pesticides that damage the crop
  • increases crop yields
25
Q

What are the negatives of engineering soya beans with herbicide and insect resistance?

A
  • pests may develop resistance
  • new seeds must be used each year
  • genes for herbicide resistance could spread and create superweeds
  • encourages overuse of herbicides
  • killing insects interupts the food chain
26
Q

What are the advantages of genetic engineering over artificial selection?

A
  • Very quick, desired genes can be formed in one experiment
  • Large scope for genetic changes
  • Small space needed
27
Q

What are the advantages of artificial selection over genetic engineering?

A
  • Limited technology is needed
  • Low cost
  • Technology has been used for 1000’s of years
28
Q

What are the postitives of GM crops?

A
  • pest resistant crops increase yield and reduce amount of pesticide used
  • crops with an extended shelf life help to reduce food waste
  • nutritional value of crops can be increased
  • plants could be used to produce human medicines
29
Q

What are the negatives of GM crops?

A
  • non-pests and insect predators may be damaged by toxins in GM plants
  • insects may become resistant to pesticides
  • transferred genes might spread to wild populations
  • people may be allergic to different proteins made in GM crops
30
Q

What are the issues with patenting GM crops?

A
  • Limits the avaliablility of new developments
  • Those in most need may not be able to afford it
31
Q

Give an example of GM farm animals

A
  • Swine fever resistant pigs; fewer animals contract the disease so higher yield and better animal welfare
32
Q

What is pharming?

A

Using animals to produce human medicines

33
Q

Give 2 examples of pharming

A
  • Animal models for disease
  • Production of human proteins in milk e.g. antibodies
34
Q

What is gene therapy?

A

Treating a disease by targeting the faulty gene responsible for the disease

35
Q

What is somatic cell gene therapy?

A

Gene therapy which targets cells of the body

36
Q

What is germ line gene therapy?

A

Gene therapy which targets gametes and undifferentiated embryonic cells

37
Q

What are the disadvantages of somatic cell therapy?

A
  • It is only a temporary solution
  • Faulty allele can be passed onto children
  • Treatment must be repeated
38
Q

What are the disadvantages of germ line cell therapy?

A
  • Impact on germ cells are unknown
  • Human rights of the child would be violated
  • Raises many ethical questions e.g. designer babies
39
Q

What diseases has somatic cell therapy successfully treated?

A
  • Retinal disease
  • Haemophilia
  • Leukemia
40
Q

What are the potential risks of gene therapy?

A
  • New gene may be inserted into the wrong place in DNA
  • overexpression of missing protein
  • DNA could accidentally be introduced into gametes
  • Immune system complications
41
Q
A