Week 10 - DNA Technologies Flashcards
What is a genome?
An organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.
What are the two types of cells in the human body?
- Somatic cells * Germ cells
What is the difference between somatic cells and germ cells?
Somatic cells have two genome copies; germ cells have one genome copy after meiosis.
What are purines and pyrimidines?
- Purines: Adenine, Guanine * Pyrimidines: Cytosine, Thymine
What is the role of Helicase in DNA replication?
It unwinds/unzips the double helix structure of DNA.
What is a replication fork?
The ‘Y’ shaped structure formed during DNA replication.
What are the leading and lagging strands in DNA replication?
- Leading strand: 3’ to 5’ direction * Lagging strand: 5’ to 3’ direction
What is the function of DNA polymerase?
It adds new complementary nucleotide bases during DNA synthesis.
What are Okazaki fragments?
Chunks of DNA added to the lagging strand during replication.
What is PCR?
A laboratory technique for making millions to billions of copies of a specific segment of DNA.
What is the purpose of primers in PCR?
To select a segment of the genome to be amplified.
What is gel electrophoresis used for?
To separate DNA fragments based on their size and charge.
What is recombinant DNA technology?
A technique created by combining DNA from different sources.
What are restriction enzymes?
DNA-cutting enzymes that cut DNA at or near specific sequences.
What is transformation in DNA cloning?
The process in which DNA is introduced into a cell.
What is the Human Genome Project?
A project aimed to identify and map all the genes in the human genome.
When was the Human Genome Project completed?
In 2003.
What are the four stages of Next Generation Sequencing?
- DNA fragmentation
- Adapter ligation
- Amplification on flow cells
- Detection of fluorescent signals
What is Sanger sequencing?
Uses chain terminating nucleotides to create dna fragments of different lengths
What is the significance of dideoxynucleotides in Sanger sequencing?
They block further polymerization, resulting in strands of different lengths.
What is semi-conservative DNA replication?
Each new DNA molecule consists of one old and one new chain of nucleotides.
Fill in the blank: DNA is synthesized in the ______ direction.
5’ to 3’ direction.
True or False: The end product of purine catabolism is ammonia.
False.
What is the primary site for purine synthesis?
The liver.
What is the first stage of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)?
DNA fragmentation
What is the second stage of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)?
Adapter ligation
What is the third stage of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)?
Amplification on flow cells
What is the fourth stage of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)?
Detection of fluorescent signals
What is short read sequencing?
Sequencing where DNA is fragmented and amplified in clones of between 75 base pairs and 400 base pairs
What are adapters used for in DNA sequencing?
Adapters are ligated to the fragments of sequences
How are DNA fragments processed in NGS?
DNA fragments are attached to the Flow cells and grow due to bridge amplification
What technology uses electrical signals to produce real-time sequences?
Oxford Nanopore sequencing
What is the maximum sequencing speed of Oxford Nanopore technology?
10,000 bases per second
What is a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)?
A difference at one base position in DNA
What year was the Human Genome Project completed?
2003
Fill in the blank: The first human chromosome (22) was sequenced in _______.
1999
What is the purpose of the 100,000 genomes project?
To incorporate whole genome sequencing into national healthcare systems
What are the three core pillars of Genome UK?
- Diagnosis and personalized medicine
- Prevention
- Research
What is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?
A technique used to amplify a specific DNA sequence
What is gel electrophoresis used for?
Separating and analyzing macromolecules, including DNA and RNA
True or False: Illumina sequencing technology sequences several million clusters simultaneously.
True
What is the significance of the year 1953 in genomics?
The DNA double helix structure is identified
What is the main function of an ultra-high-resolution digital camera in Illumina sequencing?
To collect images of the flow cell showing the fluorescence around each cluster
Which sequencing technology uses zero-mode waveguides for long reads?
Pacific Biosciences sequencing
What is the role of a powerful computer in the Human Genome Project?
To assemble short sequences into longer reads
Fill in the blank: The first multi-gene sequencing diagnostic test for tumour profiling in the NHS was developed in _______.
2013
What is the relationship between base pairs and electrical signals in Nanopore sequencing?
A correlation of base and electrical signal means sequences are produced in real time
