UNIT 3 - AOS 1 - CH 2.6 - Recombinant DNA technologies

Question 1

Plasmids

Answer 1

Small, circular, dsDNA molecule, that naturally occurs in bacterial cells.
- will replicate independently of the main chromosome (self-replicate)

*Humans can genetically modify plasmids in bacteria to synthesise large amounts of protein.

Question 2

The parts of a plasmid

Answer 2

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTENCE

RESTRICTION SITE:
- Site on plasmid that can be recognised & cut by restriction endonucleases.

REPORTER GENE:
- easily identifiable phenotype used if the plasmid has taken the gene of interest

ORIGIN OF REPLICATION (ORI)
- sequence that signals the start for DNA replications.

PROMOTOR

Question 3

Steps for creating recombinant plasmid

Answer 3

STEP ONE:
Plasmid DNA cut with a specific restriction enzyme (endonuclease)

STEP TWO:
Foreign DNA fragments (e.g. insulin) -> creates sticky ends on plasmid & foreign DNA)

STEP THREE:
Ligase joins the foreign DNA and plasmids forming a recombinant plasmid.

Question 4

GMO

Answer 4

Using genetic engineering to alter an organisms genome using genetic recombination technologies.