Producing New Cells

Question 1

What is a cell with two sets of chromosomes called

Answer 1

Diploid

Question 2

What is the diploid chromosome complement?

Answer 2

Total number of of chromosomes in two complete sets

Question 3

Name 4 uses of cell division

Answer 3

Growth, repair, reproduction, embryo development

Question 4

Describe the process of mitosis

Answer 4

Chromosomes thicken and appear as double thread.
Nuclear membrane disappears and chromosomes line up at the equator
Spindle fibres attach to each chromosome and pull chromatids apart
Spindle fibres pull chromosomes to opposite poles
Nuclear membranes form, cytoplasm divides
2 daughter cells have been produced

Question 5

What are the 5 stages of cell culture?

The 5 I’s

Answer 5

Inoculation - growing a sample
Incubation - heating to optimum growth temperature
Isolation - separate out each species
Inspection - looking for characteristics
Identification - determine the species

Question 6

Name 3 growth medias for cell culture

Answer 6

Agar jelly, nutrient broth, fermenter (large scale)

Question 7

Give examples of aseptic technique

Answer 7

• disinfect hands to remove unwanted microbes
• disinfect work surface
• only open petri dish lid very slightly while inoculating to prevent unwanted microbes from entering
• keep dish sealed
• put glassware and equipment into autoclave to sterilise it

Question 8

How was penicillin discovered

Answer 8

Fungus growing on an agar plate prevented the growth of bacteria, Alexander Fleming discovered it

Question 9

What are some uses of large scale cell culture?

Answer 9

Yeast grown in fertilisers for brewing or in the bread making industry 
Plant tissue culture for food or propagating rare plants
Therapeutic uses-
•cancer research 
•virology
•manufacturing new cells
•genetic counselling
•gene therapy

Question 10

What conditions are needed for cell culture

Answer 10

Optimum temperature
Nutrients
Moisture
Optimum pH

Question 11

Describe the process of genetic engineering

Answer 11

The required gene is isolated and extracted. The plasmid from bacterial cell is extracted, and split open. The gene is inserted into the space in the plasmid, and sealed. The plasmid is inserted back into the host cell, which multiplies. The product is extracted and purified.

Question 12

Name some of the uses of genetic engineering

Answer 12

Insulin
Hunan growth hormones
Factor VII
Interferon