Potentially added to Unit Exam 1 - lesson 7

Question 1

Recognize the role of microorganisms in biotechnological applications

Question 2

Identify specific examples of microbial products that are used in health care or technological processes

Question 3

Understand what vaccines are and how they are formulated

Question 4

Identify the health and socioeconomic benefits and risks associated with vaccines

Question 5

Understand that microbes can be dangerous and can potentially be significant bio-weapons

Question 6

What is Biotechnology?

Answer 6

The use of microbial organisms and
biological processes to efficiently advance industrial and technological
activity

Question 7

How does the purified Botulinum toxin work? (Botox)

Answer 7

• Isolated from C. botulinum (the causative agent of botulism)
• Paralysing neurotoxin that affects nerve cells by blocking the release of neurotransmitters

Question 8

What are Streptomyces?

Answer 8

Secondary metabolic products* that
demonstrate anti-biotic properties

*bacterium produces secondary products, not necessary to survival

Question 9

Explain the way(s) in which Insulin was produced? +/- of production?

Answer 9

1. Produced from porcine source
   (pig) and dogs.
   - Expensive and hard to control market costs
2. Cloning the gene for human insulin in a plasmid and then expressing the encoded protein in E. coli (bacteria) or yeast.
   - Major savings in production cost, easier to control batches and higher output

Question 10

What are attenuated strain vaccines and whole cell vaccines (often heat killed)?

Answer 10

A weakened form of the pathogen is used to illicit an immune response [e.g. heat inactivated or genetically altered]

Overall
- use whole pathogen, deactivate it or make it inert
- harmful for those with immunocompromised systems

Question 11

What are acellular vaccines

Answer 11

A vaccine containing partial cellular material as opposed to complete cells

Question 12

What do you know about HPV

Answer 12

• administered to young girls
• causes cervical cancer
• readily available vax and preventable ahead of time
• wasn’t forced on boys as they do not have cervix’s (yet they are transmitters)

Question 13

What do Methanogenic Archaea do? What were they considered to help with?

Answer 13

• Produce CH4 (methane) from CO2 and H2 while forming ATP
• thought to be solution to energy process but costly and slow process (4 ATP invested to get only 6 ATP)
• enzymes cannot work in presence of O2 (anaerobic)

Question 14

What is Bioleaching? Give example.

Answer 14

• extraction of metals from their ores through the use of living organisms.
• involves the use of microorganisms to catalyze the oxidation of iron sulfides to create ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid

ex:
- Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (metal oxidizing chemolithotrophic bacteria)
- Used to oxidize low quality Copper ore to generate pure Copper ($$)

Question 15

What are clinical and scientific applications of bacteria/enzymes?

Answer 15

1. PCR
   - Genetically engineering faster, more reliable polymerases (proof reading and processivity)
2. Diagnostic tests
   - Crime and law (PCR)
   - 23&Me
   - Detection of pathogens in patient samples (urine, blood, sputum)

Generally..
- chemical, fermentation, agricultural, pharmaceuticals, and food production

Question 16

Define next generation sequencing. Who gets this information and what
does it mean?

Answer 16

• Accessing information within your own genetic code (ie: 23&Me)
• sequencing technology is faster, cheaper, and more comprehensive
• genetic info is inputted into a database, good in medical contexts or crime (solving cold cases or making informed choice if your family has history of a disease)

Question 17

What is Bioterrorism?

Answer 17

• The use of biological agents in terrorist
  activities.
• can be spread easily and can create massive disruptive effects
• ex: anthrax, ebola, etc