Use of Biological Resources

Question 1

Describe the stages by which a bacterium can be genetically modified to produce large amounts of a human protein

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

What is recombinant DNA?

Answer 2

The DNA from two different organisms combined that results from genetic modification

Question 3

What is a transgenic organism?

Answer 3

An organism which receives a gene from a different species

Question 4

What are plasmids?

Answer 4

Small pieces of circular DNA found in bacteria

Question 5

What do restriction enzymes do?

Answer 5

Cut DNA molecules at specific points

Question 6

What does ligase do?

Answer 6

Joins cut pieces of DNA together

Question 7

Why are plasmids and viruses called vectors?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

How could genetically modifying plants be advantageous?

Answer 8

1) increased resistance to pests and pathogens
2) increases heat and drought tolerance
3) increases salt tolerance
4) more nutritious crop plants

Question 9

What are the potential problems with genetically modifying plants?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Describe the stages in the production of cloned mammals

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is meant by the term selective breeding?

Answer 11

Humans breeding organisms with desired characteristics over many generation

Question 12

What is an explanat?

Answer 12

A small fragment of plant

Question 13

Describe how fish waste helps plants to grow

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Explain how adding antibiotics could help to maintain water quality

Answer 14

1) kill bacteria

2) less disease/infection

Question 15

Explain how the removal of fish waste helps to maintain water quality

Answer 15

1) remove bacteria
2) less decomposition and less respiration
3) maintain oxygen levels

Question 16

Suggest why fish farming is better than transitional farming

Answer 16

1) control quality of fish
2) can selectively breed
3) reduce overfishing
4) available all year round
5) safer (less risk for fishermen)

Question 17

How are bottles sterilised in the production of beer?

Answer 17

Steam/radiation/high temperature/disinfectant

Question 18

Why is it important for bottles used in the production of beer to be sterilised?

Answer 18

Remove pathogens/bacteria

Question 19

Why does the number of yeast cells decrease towards the end of the bear production process?

Answer 19

1) less glucose

2) increase in ethanol

Question 20

Describe how the process of micropropagation could be used to produce plants with desirable characteristics

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Give advantages of using micropropagation rather than using seeds

Answer 21

1) quick
2) many produced
3) any time of year
4) genetically identical

Question 22

Describe how selective breeding can be used to produce animals with a certain characteristic

Answer 22

1) select animal with desired characteristic
2) breed
3) use offspring with the desires characteristic
4) repeat process

Question 23

Suggest advantages of using embryo cloning rather than selective breeding

Answer 23

1) offspring are genetically identical
2) faster process
3) more produced
4) no need for mating

Question 24

Give an example of a desired characteristic in a named plant

Answer 24

Short stem in wheat

Question 25

How is natural selection different from selective breeding?

Answer 25

1) humans not involved
2) slower process (more generations)
3) involves survival of the fittest

Question 26

What is a cloned organism?

Answer 26

An organism which is genetically identical

Question 27

What are the advances of cloning organs as opposed to organ donation?

Answer 27

1) no shortage
2) no rejection (accepted by body)
3) no problems with relatives

Question 28

What does micropropagation produce?

Answer 28

Large numbers of genetically identical plants

Question 29

How can microorganisms in the soil increase growth?

Answer 29

1) decomposition

2) minerals

Question 30

What is a weed?

Answer 30

An unwanted plant

Question 31

Explain the methods used to produce large numbers of fish in fish farms

Answer 31

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

Question 32

How can microorganisms in the soil decrease growth?

Answer 32

1) infection

2) pathogen

Question 33

How can polyethene tunnels and glasshouses increase the yield of certain crops?

Answer 33

1) glass or polyethene gives ‘greenhouse’ effect
2) warms up the growing area
3) increases the rate of photosynthesis

Question 34

How do fertilisers increase crop yield?

Answer 34

Return nitrates and other minerals to the soil so plants have all the nutrients they need to grow as quickly as possible

Question 35

What are the advantage and disadvantages of using pesticides?

Answer 35

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)

Question 36

What are the disadvantages of using biological control?

Answer 36

Never completely gets rid of the pests

Question 37

What is meant by the term enucleated?

Answer 37

Removal of nucleus (no nucleus)

Question 38

explain the function of the paddles in a fermenter

Answer 38

1) distribute food/nutrients for growth
2) distribute oxygen for respiration
3) even out temperature/distribute heat for enzymes

Question 39

explain why the pH in a fermenter needs to be controlled

Answer 39

1) optimum pH for enzymes

2) prevent denaturation of enzymes

Question 40

what are some useful products which can be made in a fermenter?

Answer 40

1) insulin

2) antibiotics

Question 41

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

Answer 41

1) stop air supply / stop oxygen supply;

2) open pressure release valve/have exit pipe for biogas

Question 42

Describe how an acidic pH in a fermentor affects the production of human insulin

Answer 42

1) less insulin/less production
2) fewer bacteria
3) enzymes
4) not optimum pH
5) denatured

Question 43

Describe and explain the conditions needed to successfully grow large numbers of algae

Answer 43

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

Question 44

What is meant by the term transgenic?

Answer 44

Contains a gene from a different species

Question 45

Suggest the advantages of reproducing an animal via cloning

Answer 45

1) genetically identical offspring

2) more sheep produced faster

Question 46

Explain how temperature is controlled in a fermentor

Answer 46

1) temperature recorder

2) water cooling jacket

Question 47

Explain why temperature must be controlled in a fermentor

Answer 47

1) respiration produces heat
2) enzymes become denatured
3) maintain optimum temperature for best growth
4) microorganisms killed of temp is too high

Question 48

suggest how the tissue samples used in micropropogation are removed and transferred to the agar medium

Answer 48

1) cut with scalpel
2) transfer with tweezers
3) sterile apparatus and samples;

Question 49

suggest three precautions needed to ensure healthy growth of the plants in micropropogation

Answer 49

1) sterile conditions and apparatus
2) temperature/warmth
3) sunlight
4) humidity/water
5) plant growth regulators

Question 50

Suggest why milk is cooled before the live yoghurt is added to it

Answer 50

1) prevent killing the bacteria (lactobacillus)

2) prevent enzyme denaturation

Question 51

What is the substrate used in the production of yoghurt?

Answer 51

Lactose

Question 52

What is the chemical product of yoghurt production?

Answer 52

Lactic acid

Question 53

Describe the process of yoghurt production

Answer 53

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

Question 54

Why are microorganisms so useful in industrial processes?

Answer 54

1) they are relatively cheap
2) conditions they need are easy to maintain
3) they reproduce themselves