Use of Biological Resources Flashcards
Describe the stages by which a bacterium can be genetically modified to produce large amounts of a human protein
1) restriction enzyme cuts the human DNA at specific sites
2) use same restriction enzyme to cut DNA out of the plasmid
3) ligase joins the human DNA onto the vector (plasmid)
4) the recombinant DNA will now code for the human protein (e.g. insulin)
What is recombinant DNA?
The DNA from two different organisms combined that results from genetic modification
What is a transgenic organism?
An organism which receives a gene from a different species
What are plasmids?
Small pieces of circular DNA found in bacteria
What do restriction enzymes do?
Cut DNA molecules at specific points
What does ligase do?
Joins cut pieces of DNA together
Why are plasmids and viruses called vectors?
Because they are means of transferring the gene as they take up pieces of DNA and then this recombinant DNA can be inserted into other cells
How could genetically modifying plants be advantageous?
1) increased resistance to pests and pathogens
2) increases heat and drought tolerance
3) increases salt tolerance
4) more nutritious crop plants
What are the potential problems with genetically modifying plants?
1) crops are expensive (and most desperately needed in poorer countries)
2) some people are concerned about the effect of investing genetically modified plants
3) concerns about genetically modified plants interbreeding with wild plants
Describe the stages in the production of cloned mammals
1) remove nucleus from egg
2) nucleus from adult cell inserted into enucleated egg cell
3) electricity provides shock to prompt the zygote to start cell division
4) mitosis causes embryo to develop
5) cell implanted into the uterus of a surrogate mother
What is meant by the term selective breeding?
Humans breeding organisms with desired characteristics over many generation
What is an explanat?
A small fragment of plant
Describe how fish waste helps plants to grow
1) bacteria decompose the waste
2) mineral ions are released
3) nitrate provides amino acids/proteins
4) respiration by bacteria releases carbon dioxide which allows the plants to photosynthesise
Explain how adding antibiotics could help to maintain water quality
1) kill bacteria
2) less disease/infection
Explain how the removal of fish waste helps to maintain water quality
1) remove bacteria
2) less decomposition and less respiration
3) maintain oxygen levels
Suggest why fish farming is better than transitional farming
1) control quality of fish
2) can selectively breed
3) reduce overfishing
4) available all year round
5) safer (less risk for fishermen)
How are bottles sterilised in the production of beer?
Steam/radiation/high temperature/disinfectant
Why is it important for bottles used in the production of beer to be sterilised?
Remove pathogens/bacteria
Why does the number of yeast cells decrease towards the end of the bear production process?
1) less glucose
2) increase in ethanol
Describe how the process of micropropagation could be used to produce plants with desirable characteristics
1) explants
2) small pieces of tissue/plant
3) agar jelly
4) contains nutrients/amino acids/glucose
5) plant hormones
6) minerals
7) sterile
8) control light
9) control humidity
Give advantages of using micropropagation rather than using seeds
1) quick
2) many produced
3) any time of year
4) genetically identical
Describe how selective breeding can be used to produce animals with a certain characteristic
1) select animal with desired characteristic
2) breed
3) use offspring with the desires characteristic
4) repeat process
Suggest advantages of using embryo cloning rather than selective breeding
1) offspring are genetically identical
2) faster process
3) more produced
4) no need for mating
Give an example of a desired characteristic in a named plant
Short stem in wheat
How is natural selection different from selective breeding?
1) humans not involved
2) slower process (more generations)
3) involves survival of the fittest
What is a cloned organism?
An organism which is genetically identical
What are the advances of cloning organs as opposed to organ donation?
1) no shortage
2) no rejection (accepted by body)
3) no problems with relatives
What does micropropagation produce?
Large numbers of genetically identical plants
How can microorganisms in the soil increase growth?
1) decomposition
2) minerals
What is a weed?
An unwanted plant
Explain the methods used to produce large numbers of fish in fish farms
1) control intraspecific predation (separate sizes)
2) control interspecific predation (killing predators)
3) control disease (use antibiotics)
4) control oxygen (remove waste products)
5) frequent feeding
6) selective breeding
How can microorganisms in the soil decrease growth?
1) infection
2) pathogen
How can polyethene tunnels and glasshouses increase the yield of certain crops?
1) glass or polyethene gives ‘greenhouse’ effect
2) warms up the growing area
3) increases the rate of photosynthesis
How do fertilisers increase crop yield?
Return nitrates and other minerals to the soil so plants have all the nutrients they need to grow as quickly as possible
What are the advantage and disadvantages of using pesticides?
ADVANTAGES:
1) very effective at killing pests so prevent damage or crops
DISADVANTAGES:
1) expensive
2) pests can become resistant to them
3) can cause environmental damage
4) kill useful insects as well (e.g. pollinating insects)
What are the disadvantages of using biological control?
Never completely gets rid of the pests
What is meant by the term enucleated?
Removal of nucleus (no nucleus)
explain the function of the paddles in a fermenter
1) distribute food/nutrients for growth
2) distribute oxygen for respiration
3) even out temperature/distribute heat for enzymes
explain why the pH in a fermenter needs to be controlled
1) optimum pH for enzymes
2) prevent denaturation of enzymes
what are some useful products which can be made in a fermenter?
1) insulin
2) antibiotics
explain two changes that need to be made to the design of a fermenter so it can be used to produce biogas by anaerobic fermentation
1) stop air supply / stop oxygen supply;
2) open pressure release valve/have exit pipe for biogas
Describe how an acidic pH in a fermentor affects the production of human insulin
1) less insulin/less production
2) fewer bacteria
3) enzymes
4) not optimum pH
5) denatured
Describe and explain the conditions needed to successfully grow large numbers of algae
1) magnesium for chlorophyll
2) nitrate for amino acids/proteins
3) minerals
4) sun light
5) carbon dioxide
6) warmth to provide optimum temperature for enzymes
What is meant by the term transgenic?
Contains a gene from a different species
Suggest the advantages of reproducing an animal via cloning
1) genetically identical offspring
2) more sheep produced faster
Explain how temperature is controlled in a fermentor
1) temperature recorder
2) water cooling jacket
Explain why temperature must be controlled in a fermentor
1) respiration produces heat
2) enzymes become denatured
3) maintain optimum temperature for best growth
4) microorganisms killed of temp is too high
suggest how the tissue samples used in micropropogation are removed and transferred to the agar medium
1) cut with scalpel
2) transfer with tweezers
3) sterile apparatus and samples;
suggest three precautions needed to ensure healthy growth of the plants in micropropogation
1) sterile conditions and apparatus
2) temperature/warmth
3) sunlight
4) humidity/water
5) plant growth regulators
Suggest why milk is cooled before the live yoghurt is added to it
1) prevent killing the bacteria (lactobacillus)
2) prevent enzyme denaturation
What is the substrate used in the production of yoghurt?
Lactose
What is the chemical product of yoghurt production?
Lactic acid
Describe the process of yoghurt production
1) milk is pasteurised for 30 minutes at 90C
2) milk is homogenised
3) milk is cooled to 45C
4) lactobacillus is added to the milk
5) mixture is incubated at this temperature for several hours, while bacteria digest milk proteins and ferment lactose to lactic acid
6) thickened yoghurt is cooled to 5C
Why are microorganisms so useful in industrial processes?
1) they are relatively cheap
2) conditions they need are easy to maintain
3) they reproduce themselves
