UNIT 3 3B: DNA Manipulation techniques and their applications

Question 1

DNA Profiling

Answer 1

A method of DNA analysis in which regions of DNA from different individuals are analysed and compared

Question 2

Variable number tandem repeats (VNTRS)

Answer 2

A region of a chromosome that shows variation between individuals in length and number of repeats of nucleotide sequences;

also refferred to as short tandem repeats (STRs) when 2-6 base pairs long

Question 3

Allele

Answer 3

An alternative form of a gene

Question 4

Homologous chromosomes

Answer 4

Chromosomes that have matching structural features (size, banding pattern, centromere location) and gene loci

Question 5

Genetic Screening

Answer 5

DNA profiling to determine whether an individual is carrying a particular gene for a disorder

Question 6

Ethics

Answer 6

Moral principles that guide our beliefs about what is right or wrong conduct

Question 7

Stakeholder

Answer 7

An individual or organisation who will be affected by the factor under consideration

Question 8

Vector (DNA manipulation techniques)

Answer 8

vehicle used to carry foreign material from one organism to another

Question 9

Recombinant DNA

Answer 9

DNA that has been artificially formed by combining DNA from different organisms

Question 10

Gene cloning

Answer 10

The production of exact copies of a gene using various DNA manipulation techniques

Question 11

Autoimmune Disease

Answer 11

A disease in which the immune system acts abnormally and begins to attack the body’s own cells(self cells)

Question 12

Genetic transformation

Answer 12

The genetic alteration of a cell

Question 13

transformed bacteria

Answer 13

bacteria that have taken up foreign DNA; In gene cloning the foreign DNA is in the recombinant plasmid

Question 14

Antibiotic

Answer 14

A substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria

Question 15

4 types of implications

Answer 15

Ethical
Social
Economic
Biological

Question 16

Define the Ethical implication

Answer 16

A sense of right or wrong in producing or obtaining the technology, based on morals and beliefs

Question 17

Define the Social implication

Answer 17

The influence of the technology on society, rather than just one or two individuals

Question 18

Define the Economic implication

Answer 18

The availability of funds to obtain or produce the technology

Question 19

Define the Biological implication

Answer 19

The effect of a technology on other living organisms in a particular environment.

Question 20

What are the steps for cloning the human insulin gene for type 1 diabetes

Answer 20

1. Plasmid is cut using specific endonuclease to create sticky ends.
2. Gene of interest is cut using same specific endonuclease to create complementary stick ends. Two genes express the two distinct polypeptide chains that form human insulin
3. Plasmid, gene of interest and B galactosidase gene are mixed together with the enzyme DNA ligase that joins the phosphodiester bonds to create a recombinant plasmid
4. Recombinant (and non-recombinant) plasmids are put in a calcium ion solution with bacteria and then heat shocked to increase chances of bacteria taking up the recombinant plasmid, to achieve genetic transformation
5. Bacteria are spread onto nutrient agar plate containing antibiotic. Transformed bacteria with recombinant plasmid will survive due to presence of antibiotic resistance gene in recombinant plasmid. Thus, bacteria without recombinant plasmid (and therefore resistance gene) will die.
6. The two fused proteins produced by each bacteria culture are purified. Two types of insulin polypeptides are removed and then combined together to produce functional insulin