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
