U4L5 - Genetic tech Flashcards
What is genetic eng?
The modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.
What is a GMO?
a Genetically Modified Organism
What are the uses of Restriction Enzymes (a.k.a DNA-cutting enzymes)
To make recombinant DNA (a ‘mixture’ of DNA from different sources) and make therapeutic drugs (e.g. mass produce artificial human proteins/hormones like insulin)
What are Endonucleases?
Enzymes purified from bacteria that protect bacterial cell from viruses by degrading viral DNA. Each endonuclease recognizes a specific sequence of 4-8 nucleotides, cleaves between deoxyribose and phosphate, and thus the Bacterial DNA is protected from degradation by methylating an A or C
Explain the Types of Restriction Endonucleases
- Some produce staggered cuts, creating sticky ends and exposing the gene of interest
- Sticky ends allow two DNA fragments to be joined together (with ligase) as long as those fragments are generated by the same endonuclease (Result: recombinant DNA –> rDNA)
What are plasmids?
They are naturally occurring, circular, extra-chromosomal DNA found in bacteria and can be used as cloning vectors (make identical copies) of genes of interest
What is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Normally to replicate DNA, we use an organism (like bacteria) to replicate a gene of interest
- PCR allows specific genes to be replicated without the use of an organism (‘in-vitro’)
What are the steps to PCR?
1) denaturation (break the double helix)
2) annealing (cooling to allow primers to stick)
3) addition of Taq polymerase (from bacteria) to synthesize DNA
What is the point of PCR?
to amplify a gene of interest (to diagnose diseases, identify bacteria/viruses, crime scene analysis)
What is Gel Electrophoresis?
a procedure used to separate DNA fragments
