Module 6 - Notes Flashcards

1
Q

How would you engineer a bacteria to use glucose under low cellular density and switch to succinate or pyruvate at high density?

A

Any of the following:

Have a quorum sensing molecule that prevents transport or utilization of glucose at high density

Have a quorum sensing molecule that induces transport or utilization of succinate/pyruvate at high density

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How do bacteria acquire genetic diversity?

A

Evolution & adaptation

New mutations (Vertical)

Gene Exchange (Horizontal)

Gene Acquisition (Horizontal)

Selfish genetic elements (horizontal)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are mutations?

A

Change in the nucleotide sequence.

They are heritable (Passed down)

They can be wild-type - isolated from nature (parent = starting strain)

The mutant (Child)
carries change and has a different genotype

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the results of mutations?

A

Neutral - No observable change

Beneficial - Gain function

Detrimental - Lost function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Does the change in genotype result in a change of phenotype?

A

Not always

the phenotype might stay the same or it may result in a change of behaviour/protein activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are spontaneous mutations?

A

happen for unknown reasons

For every million to 10 million base pair replications, there will be 1 error at 1 base pair resulting in a silent mutation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is an induced mutation?

A

Caused by stresses
- nutrition, oxygen, etc.

Caused by mutagens
- Naturally or in the laboratory
- Example, UV light

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do we isolate gain of function mutants?

A

Selection

Change is beneficial

Select by phenotype
ie. antibiotic resistance

If the mutation is selectable you can find the mutation fairly quickly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How do we isolate non-selectable mutations? Those that are neutral or detrimental?

A

Screening
- a slower and tedious process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Following mutagenesis, you need to isolate antibiotic-resistant bacteria. What type of procedure(s) will you use?

A. Selection

B. Screening

C. Selection & Screening

D. Screening then Selection

A

A. Selection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How do we determine mutagenic potential?

A

Ames test

The ability of chemical to induce revertant in an auxotroph

The higher the number of colonies, the higher the potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

After an Ames test, you have the following revertants on the plate:

2 for the control
100 on treatment #1
1000 on treatment #2
2 on treatment #3

Which treatment has the lowest mutagenic potential?

A

Treatment #3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the types of effects of single-point mutations?

A

Silent

Missense

Nonsense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the molecular basis of point mutation?

A

substitution of a single base pair

Affects protein function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a silent mutation?

A

Substitution of a 3rd base codon (wobble position)

No change in the amino acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a Missense Mutation?

A

Substitution of 1st and 2nd base of codon

Amino acid change in protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a Nonsense Mutation?

A

Amino Acid change to a stop codon

Incomplete/truncated protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the molecular basis of a frameshift mutation?

A

deletion or insertion of nucleotide(s)

If it’s 1 or 2 nucleotides you get a shift
If it’s 3 nucleotides you get an additional or a deleted amino acid

Changes the mRNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

To engineer your favorite protein, you are creating point mutations and targeting one base pair. What type of mutation would you do to change the codon and keep the same amino acid?

A. Silent mutation

B. Missense mutation

C. Nonsense mutation

D. Deletion

E. Insertion

A

A. Silent Mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a mutation reversion?

A

a second mutation that can reverse that effect of a mutation.

It fixes the previous mutation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When a mutation occurs, the result is a mutant. What is the result of a reversion?

A

a revertant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is a true revertant?

A

when the reversion happens at the same site as the original mutation. Results in a wild type genotype

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

When a reversion occurs at a second site (not the original site) what are the possible results?

A

Suppressor mutation
- it compensates for the original mutation

Suppressor tRNA
- if you have a stop codon, the mutation happens in the tRNA gene = fixes the nonsense mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

A second round of mutation was done to restore the phenotype to wild type. The sequencing data revealed that a new mutation restores the original phenotype of your gene. What type of mutant do you have?

A. true revertant

B. revertant

C. suppressor

D. suppressor tRNA

A

A. true revertant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

By which methods do bacteria get new genes?

A

Transformation

Transduction

Conjugation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is transformation?

A

Genetic transfer of free DNA
- from cell lysis or small DNA fragments

Competent cells
- able to take up DNA

Natural Transformation
- happens in nature

DNA uptake
- from some species pili

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is Conjugation?

A

Genetic transfer requiring cell-cell contact
- plasmid encoded or conjugating pili

Donor (plasmid +) and Recipient (plasmid -)

Fertility (F-) and Plasmid (F+)
-tra region - conjugative pili + type IV secretion system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How does conjugation happen?

A

You do not need to remember these steps.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is transduction?

A

Phages can pick up host DNA and transfer it to a new host

(viral infections)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is generalized transduction vs specialized transduction?

A

Generalized Transduction
-lytic phage
-packaging of host DNA
-defective phage

Specialized Transduction
-temperate phages (lysogen/lysogeny)
-host DNA near site of insertion is excised

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

You need to introduce new genetic material into your favorite bacterium. However, your bacterium is resistant to phage infection and is F+ what methods can you use?

A. conjugation

B. Transduction

C. Transformation

D. All of the above

A

C. Transformation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is phage conversion?

A

Alteration of phenotype by prophages

Gene in the phage genome might confer other functions in the host

Harmless bacteria can become pathogens
ex. Vibrio cholera
-(Prophage + = pathogenic |Prophage - = harmless)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How do prokaryotes defend against phages?

A

Mutation in receptors

Restriction enzymes

Phage exclusion

Programmed cell death

CRISPR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

How do prokaryotes defend themselves from phages by mutations in the receptors?

A

The phage needs to bind to a receptor. If there is a mutation on the receptor it’s not able to infect that bacterial cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

How do prokaryotes defend themselves from phages by restriction enzymes?

A

Endonucleases
- specfic sequence

Host protected by methylation

Molecular biology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

How do prokaryotes defend themselves from phages by phage exclusion?

A

Modified DNA, prevent replication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

How do prokaryotes defend themselves from phages by programmed cell death?

A

suicide initiated by toxin-antitoxin system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is CRISPR?

A

Cluster Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats

Seek and destroy foreign nucleic acid

Adaptive immunity - resistance based on previous infection

  1. Repeat host sequence
  2. Spacer - memory of previous invation
  3. Cas Protein - endonuclease that degrades foreign DNA & integrate new spacers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Your favorite bacterium is sensitive to phages, what protective mechanism could you introduce in your favorite bacterium?

A
  1. Infect your bacterium with a defective phage to create a prophage
  2. Introduce mutations in the phage receptor
  3. Add a restriction enzyme and a DNA methyltransferase
  4. Engineer a programmed cell death controlled by a toxin-antitoxin system
  5. Introduce a CRISPR-cas system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

When and why would you induce reversion/suppressor mutations to study bacterial physiology?

A

redundancies in pathways

metabolic shunt (bypass, alternative routes)

Antibiotic resistance mechanism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is evolution?

A

Change in heritable characteristics (ie. DNA) in a population (over time)

42
Q

Which statement about evolution is true?

A. Evolution is a slow process that improves an individual

B. Evolution is not currently happening in humans

C. Evolution occurs at the population level not at an individual level

D. All mutations are harmful

A

C. Evolution occurs at the population level not at an individual level

43
Q

What do you need for evolution to occur?

A

Change in the genome: mutations, acquisition of new genetic material or genome rearrangement (deletion or duplication)

A process that changes the frequency
- neutral (genetic drift)
- selection (population reduction and “fittest” individuals survive
- bottle-neck (non-selective population decrease)
- founders effect
- co-evolution

44
Q

Which of the following changes the genotype but will have no effect on the phenotype?

A. silent mutation
B. non-sense mutation
C. missense mutation
D. a 2 base pair deletion

A

A. Silent mutation

45
Q

What are recombination events?

A

events where genes get swapped or rearranged or duplicated or deleted

Enzymes & Homologous recombination
Rearrangement: change of location
ex. 12345 -> 23145
ex. phase variation
ex. antigenic variation

Deletion - can be deleted for no reason
ex. 12345 -> 1345

Duplication - you get a new copy of the gene
ex. 12345 -> 112345

46
Q

What does homologue mean?

A

Genes share a common ancestor or origin

47
Q

What does paralogue mean?

A

Genes share a common ancestor but have different function

48
Q

What does orthologue mean?

A

Genes share a common ancestor and have the same function

49
Q

What does analogue mean?

A

No common ancestor or origin but similar function

50
Q

What is an example of an analogue feature?

A

wings on birds vs wings on bats

Similarities can arise due to:
- convergent evolution (specific activity)
- gene fusion - partial homology

51
Q

You are analyzing the sequence and phenotype of two different bacterial species and found a gene with a similar function but not sequence similarity you have?

A. a homologue
B. an orthologue
C. a paralogue
D. an analogue

A

D. an analogue

52
Q

Horizontal gene transfer is mediated by:

A. Phages
B. Natural transformation
C. Conjugation
D. All of the above

A

D. all of the above

53
Q

How do bacterial cells get new genes?

A

Conjugation
-bacterial sex

Transduction
- mediated by phages
- phage conversion

Transformation
-Picking DNA up from the environment

54
Q

What is a genomic island?

A

a nucleotide sequence that looks completely different than the rest of the genome

55
Q

How are genomic islands acquired?

A

Horizontally acquired gene cluster

-different GC content
-different codon usage (codon bias)
-evidence for being part of mobile DNA elements
- may or may not be mobilizable

56
Q

What is a pathogenicity island?

A

genome cluster that plays a role in pathogenicity that is absent in non-pathogenic members

57
Q

Genomic plasticity in bacteria

A

Genomes are alterable
Fluid exchange of DNA
Rapid adaptation
Survival

Genomic plasticity increases the genetic diversity of the species

58
Q

What is meant by pangenome?

A

Collection of genes in 1 species

59
Q

What is meant by core genome?

A

genes that are present in all members of the species

typically the genes that are essential for function

60
Q

What is meant by accessory genome?

A

genes that are not present in all members of a species.

61
Q

Expansion of the accessory genomes is mediated by:

A. Mutation
B. Horizontal Gene Transfer
C. Vertical Gene Transfer
D. Genome Rearrangement

A

B. Horizontal Gene Transfer

62
Q

What are the co-evolution Hypotheses for the competition modelz?

A

Red-Queen hypothesis

Evolutionary “arms-race”

Court jester hypothesis

63
Q

What are the co-evolution hypotheses for the cooperation models?

A

Green-Beard Effect

Black-queen hypothesis

64
Q

Which statement about evolution is true?

A. Evolutionary mechanism serve a purpose or stive for perfection

B. Natural selection and genetic drift require variation, which arises from mutation and gene flow

C. “Fitness” refers to the strength, size, or speed of an individual

D. Natural selection and evolution are the same thing

A

B. Natural selection and genetic drift require variation, which arises from mutation and gene flow

65
Q

how long does it take for 1 generation of bacteria?

A

between 10 mins to 24 hours

66
Q

Which of the following is an application of biotechnologies?

A. Artificial selection of domesticated plants

B. Transgenic plants

C. Bt insecticides (Thuricide)

D. Production of insulin

E. All of the above

A

E. All of the above

67
Q

What is biotechnology?

A

The science of using living systems to benefit humankind

genetic engineering

68
Q

What are some examples of humans using biotechnology to their advantage?

A

Cheese, bread, wine, beer, yogurt

plant and animal domestication and artificial selection

transgenic plants

organic and biological insecticides

bio-fertilization

genetic diagnosis and gene therapy

production of vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones

69
Q

What is recombinant DNA?

A

the artificial recombination of DNA from two organisms

genetic engineering
- the creation of DNA molecules in the lab by breaking pieces and creating a brand new piece of DNA that would normally not be visible or seen in nature

DNA molecules formed in the laboratory
- genetic recombination
- molecular cloning

Glue genetic material from multiple sources
- creating sequences

70
Q

To produce insulin using E. Coli, you would need:

A. cDNA of the insulin gene

B. an expression vector

C. Ligase

D. All of the above

A

D. All of the above

71
Q

How do we use recombinant DNA?

A

Get a copy of the gene and put it into a plasmid to obtain a recombinant piece of DNA that we put into E. Coli to eventually produce insulin that we can use for treatment

72
Q

What is a cloning plasmid?

A

small pieces of typically circular, double-stranded DNA that replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome

used as vectors to carry DNA fragments

73
Q

What components make up a cloning plasmid?

A

Multicloning site
- sequence recognized by a restriction enzyme

Selection marker
- antibiotic resistance

Reporter gene
- lacZ - blue-white screening

74
Q

What is the role of the restriction enzyme?

A

restriction endonucleases

restriction enzyme cuts DNA at a characteristic recognition site, a specific, usually palindromic, DNA sequence typically between four to six base pairs in length.

A palindrome is a sequence of letters that reads the same forward as backward.

75
Q

What is the role of the reporter gene?
blue-white screening

A

most common reporter gene used in plasmid vectors is the bacterial lacZ gene encoding beta-galactosidase

Blue colonies have a functional beta-galactosidase enzyme because the lacZ gene is uninterrupted, with no foreign DNA inserted into the polylinker site.

white colonies lack a functional beta-galactosidase enzyme, indicating the insertion of foreign DNA within the polylinker site of the plasmid vector, thus disrupting the lacZ gene.

76
Q

What is an expression plasmid?

A

Used to express gene and produce protein

Contains a:
Multicloning site
- sequence recognized by restriction enzyme

Selection marker
- Antibiotic resistance

An inducible promoter
- strong repression

A tag for purification
- allows you to fish out that protein using column chromatography or affinity purification

77
Q

What would you need to replicate DNA in a test tube?

A. Ligase
B. Primers
C. DNA Polymerase
D. Helicase
E. Topoisomerase
F. DNA Polymerase & Primers

A

F. DNA Polymerase & Primers

78
Q

How do we amplify DNA?

A

Dentauring
Reverse transcriptase PCR
- enzyme from viruses
- 5’ to 3’

Annealing
Random DNA primer & dNTPs

Extension
Complimentary DNA (cDNA)

79
Q

What is the 1st step in amplifying DNA?

A

always denaturing at 95 degrees C

You need to break and pull the strands apart.

Use a thermal stable polymerase to isolate it from the thermophiles

80
Q

What happens after you denature the DNA in amplification?

A

Annealing at -50 degrees C

Need 2 primers that will fix in a specific area in the sequence

reverse complementary to the DNA sequence

81
Q

What happens after denaturing and annealing in DNA amplification?

A

Extension at 72 degrees C

Polymerase will bind and initiate the synthesis of a complementary DNA strand resulting in 2 copies of DNA

82
Q

What enzyme(s) could you use to cut and give DNA in a test tube?

A. DNA Polymerase
B. Ligase
C. Restriction Enzyme
D. Restriction Enzyme & Ligase
E. Helicase

A

D. Restriction Enzymes & Ligase

Restriction enzyme cuts DNA. It is there as a defense mechanism. Ligase is there to include 2 fragments during the DNA replication step

83
Q

How can we induce precise mutations?

A

Site-Directed mutagenesis
- PCR Variant

CRISPR gene editing

84
Q

How do we cut DNA and glue DNA?

A

Sticky End Cutting

Blunt End Cutting

85
Q

How does sticky end cutting work?

A

A restriction enzyme will recognize a palindrome. an exonuclease will cut the DNA so it has overhangs that are complementary.

86
Q

How does blunt end cutting work?

A

A restriction enzyme will recognize a palindrome. An endonuclease will cut the DNA so it has blunt ends.

Blunt ends attach together less efficiently than sticky ends due to the lack of complementary overhangs facilitating the process.

87
Q

What is the net charge of DNA?

A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral
D. pH-dependent (pka value)

A

B. Negative

88
Q

What the benefit to DNA having a negative charge?

A

We can make it migrate in a mix of agarose or any other polymer without modifying it.

89
Q

What is agarose?

A

a purified version of agar?

90
Q

What is gel electrophoresis?

A

A process that allows us to visualize DNA

  1. load the sample
  2. Add an electric field
    - DNA moves based on size. Bulkier fragments take longer to migrate
  3. Add an agent that is fluorescent. It binds to DNA and then fluoresces when viewed under UV light.
91
Q

What are DNA probes?

A

Probes can be used to identify different bacterial species in the environment and many DNA probes are now available to detect pathogens clinically.

the DNA probe must be labeled with a molecular tag or beacon, such as a radioactive phosphorus atom or a fluorescent dye so that the probe and the DNA it binds to can be seen

92
Q

What is the solid blot method of visualizing DNA?

A

Divide and separate the DNA fragments and see if there is a specific sequence in the sample

Separate by gel electrophoresis, blot it onto a nylon membrane and then add a probe to see if the sequence is present.

93
Q

what are microarrays?

A

Microarray analysis is useful for the comparison of gene-expression patterns between different cell types.

Typically, DNA or cDNA from an experimental sample is deposited on a glass slide alongside known DNA sequences.

Once deposited on the slide, genomic DNA or mRNA can be isolated from the two samples for comparison.

Then the two samples of genomic DNA or cDNA are labeled with different fluorescent dyes (typically red and green)

94
Q

How do bacterial cells acquire new DNA molecules?

A.Transduction (viruses)
B. Natural competence
C. Conjugation (mating)
D. Artificial Competence
E. Natural and artificial competence
F. Viruses, Competence and mating

A

F. Viruses, competence and mating

95
Q

How do we transform bacterial cells?

A

In the lab

Chemically competent or electrocompetent bacteria.

96
Q

How do we transform eukaryotic cells using electricity?

A

Make them electro competent.

97
Q

How do we transform eukaryotic cells using a gold gun?

A

inject directly using gold particles

98
Q

How do we transform plants?

A

use bacteria to transform plants

bacteria will transfer DNA directly into the plant and modify it.

99
Q

What do white colonies represent?
blue-white screening

A. cells that contain empty vector/plasmid (uncut or self-ligation)

B. Cells that contain a vector/plasmid with an insert in the MCS

C. Cells that have no plasmid/vector

D. Cells with a functional lacZ gene

A

B. Cells that contain a vector/plasmid with an insert in the MCS

White colony doesn’t have a functional lacZ. The lacZ is the reporter gene that will cleave a lactose analogue that will give you a blue color. So if it is lacZ that is not functional there’s no blue color. If it is white it does have a plasmid if you grow it.

Blue colony = empty vector plasmid or a functional lacZ

100
Q

Why would you add an antibiotic such as ampicillin into your agar medium when cloning a gene into E. Coli?

A. To prevent the growth of contaminants

B. To prevent the growth of E. Coli that do not have the plasmid

C. To select for E. Coli that have the plasmid with the correct gene

D. To select for E. Coli with a plasmid and prevent growth of E. Coli without the plasmid

A

D. To select for E. Coli with a plasmid and prevent growth of E. Coli without the plasmid

101
Q
A