Tutorial 6

Question 1

Why would you not put a plasmid with a new gene straight into a human?
What could be used instead?

Answer 1

Plasmid DNA too unstable
Won’t be taken up into host cells
Will be lost overtime as cells divide

Use a viral vector instead
Target to specific cell types by altering viral envelope

Question 2

What are the most critical elements in recombinant DNA technologies?

Answer 2

Plasmid
Circular pieces dsDNA
Replicate independently of host cell genome
Can insert gene sequences of interest into plasmids

Question 3

What is recombinant DNA technology?

Answer 3

Joining together of DNA molecules from 2 different species.

Recombined DNA molecule is inserted into a host organism to produce new genetic combinations that are of value to science, medicine, agriculture, and industry

Question 4

Recombinant protein production methods

Prokaryote example

Eukaryote example

Whole animal example

Answer 4

Bacteria: Insulin

CHO cells: EPO

Goat: Antithrombin

Question 5

Prokaryote example

Bacteria: Insulin Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 5

Benefits:
Inexpensive, pathogen free, fast

Disadvantages:
Proteins often partially fold, inability to perform PTMs

Question 6

Eukaryote example

CHO cells: EPO Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 6

Benefits:
Perform simple PTMs, correctly process polypeptides

Disadvantages:
Expensive, high risk of pathogens

Question 7

Whole animal

Example goat: Antithrombin Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 7

Benefits:
Perform complex PTM

disadvantages:
Slow, most expensive

Question 8

What is gene therapy?

Answer 8

Introduction of DNA into a patient to treat / cure a genetic disease

The introduced DNA contains a functioning gene to correct the effect of a disease causing mutation

Has the potential to allow a one off treatment to cure disease