Recombinant DNA, Bacteria And Insulin

Question 1

What is insulin used for

Answer 1

Managing blood sugar levels

Question 2

What is insulin produced by

Answer 2

The islets of Langerhans in the pancreas

Question 3

What happens to glucose without insulin

Answer 3

Glucose builds up in the blood and cells are starved of energy

Question 4

What year was insulin successfully purified to use in humans

Answer 4

1921

Question 5

When was insulin first genetically modified

Answer 5

1980’s

Question 6

What are restriction enzymes

Answer 6

Enzymes that cut DNA at specific sites along the DNA molecule

Question 7

What are DNA vectors

Answer 7

Vectors take pieces of DNA and insert them into other cells e.g. viruses and plasmids

Question 8

What are ligase enzymes

Answer 8

Enzymes that join pieces of DNA together at specific sites

Question 9

What bacteria is used to produce human insulin in labs

Answer 9

Escherichia coli. (E-Coli)

Question 10

List the steps in the genetic engineering of bacteria

Answer 10

1. Selection of characteristics
2. Isolation from the gene
3. Insertion
4. Replication

Question 11

List 3 positives of producing insulin

Answer 11

1. Can be made in very large amounts
2. Absorbed more rapidly than mammal insulin
3. Overcomes ethical concerns

Question 12

List 3 negatives of producing insulin artificially

Answer 12

1. Production costs can be high
2. Slight difference in structure so not all diabetics can use it
3. Risk of harm to health and the environment using genetically modified materials

Question 13

Where can we extract DNA from

Answer 13

-Blood
-Semen
-Tissue cells
-Saliva
-Mucus
-Teeth
-Bones
-Body hair