Topic 7 - Modern Genetics Flashcards
Recombinant DNA
DNA that has been formed artificially by combining DNA from different organisms
How can recombinant DNA be produced
1) Isolate required gene
2) Insert gene in a ‘vector’
3) Transformation- gene is delivered into the required cell for protein growth
4) Identify host cells that have taken up the gene
5) grow cells with new genes on a large scale
Gene technology
The manipulation of genes in living organisms
Three ways to isolate the gene of interest
1) Using reverse transcriptase
2) Using restriction endonucleases
3) The Gene Machine
What does detergent do?
- Isolates the DNA from a sample
- Breaks down cell membranes
- Protein may then be removed using digestive enzymes
Reverse transcriptase method of isolation
- RNA taken from a cell that produces required protein
- Reverse transcriptase found in retroviruses like HIV. This catalyses reaction where cDNA is made from mRNA & DNA nucleotides (results in a single strand of cDNA)
- DNA polymerase and free nucleotides used to produce double strand of cDNA
Restriction endonuclease method of isolation
- Gene can be removed from the chromosome using restriction enzymes (restriction endonucleases)
- Different restriction enzymes cut the DNA at a different base sequence (called recognition sequence)
- Restriction enzymes made by bacteria, used to destroy DNA of bacteriophages
Gene machine method
- Examine amino acid sequencing in primary structure of desired protein then work backwards to work out mRNA sequence required to produce this and then the DNA sequence
- Computer can create small section of overlapping DNA called oligonucleotides which are joined to create desored gene
- PCR then used to amplify this copy
Host cells that take up the vector are said to be…
Transformed
How does transformation occur
- Place the host cells in ice cold calcium chloride solution to make cell walls more permeable
- Plasmids then added and the mixture is heat shocked which encourages cells to take up the plasmids
Three types of vectors
1) Gene gun
2) Liposome wrapping
3) Microinjection
What is a gene gun
- Used to produce recombinant DNA by shooting the desired DNA into the cell at high speed on minute gold or tungsten pellets
What is liposome wrapping
- technique involving wrapping the gene in liposomes which fuse with the cell membrane & pass throught to the cytoplasm
What is microinjection
- Technique involving injecting DNA into a cell through a very fine micropipette.
How to check if the cell has been transformed?
1) Marker genes can be inserted into the vectors at the same time as the DNA fragment
2) Host cells are grown on agar and each cell divides replicating the DNA, creating a colony of clones
3) the marker gene can either code for antibiotic resistance or can code for fluorescence by using the GFP gene
4) When under UV light only the transformed cells with fluoresce
How are GM plants made?
- Agrobacterium tumerfaciens (usually) which causes tumours in plants
- It contains a plasmid called Ti plasmid which transfers genetic material into plants
- Plants remain totipotent, GM plant tissue can then be grown through tissue culture
- Tissue culture transferred to a gel with different hormones to trigger development of roots and shoots
- Then clone the plants
Uses of GM crops?
- Improve yield
- Improve disease resistance
- Improve production (balance of fatty acids to prevent oxidation of soya products)
GM soya beans
- made resistant to herbicides
- Fatty acid balance