Biotechnology and genetic modification

Question 1

Bacteria are useful in biotechnology and genetic modification due to their

Answer 1

rapid reproduction rate
ability to make complex molecules
few ethical concerns over their manipulation and growth
the presence of plasmids

Question 2

Anaerobic respiration in yeast is used to make

Answer 2

ethanol for biofuel.

Question 3

Anaerobic respiration in yeast is used in bread making because it

Answer 3

produces carbon
dioxide and makes the dough/ bread rise.

Question 4

Pectinase digest the cell

Answer 4

wall of the fruits. This release more juice from the fruit. It
also helps to make the cloudy juice clear.

Question 5

Milk contains

Answer 5

a sugar, lactose, which many people are intolerant to. Enzyme lactase is added to milk to breakdown lactose. This results in formation of lactose-free milk.

Question 6

Bacteria and fungi can reproduce exponentially inside

Answer 6

fermenters, where they are provided with optimum temperature, pH, nutrients supply, and removal of waste
product.

Question 7

Genetic modification

Answer 7

is changing the genetic material of an organism by removing,
changing or inserting individual genes

Question 8

Process of genetic modification using bacteria:

Answer 8

isolation of the DNA making up a human gene using restriction enzymes, forming sticky ends .cutting of bacterial plasmid DNA with the same restriction enzymes, forming complementary sticky ends insertion of human DNA into bacterial plasmid DNA using DNA ligase to form a recombinant plasmid insertion of recombinant plasmids into bacteria multiplication of bacteria containing recombinant plasmids inside a fermenter expression in bacteria of the human gene to make the human protein

Question 9

Examples of genetic modification:

Answer 9

the insertion of human genes into bacteria to produce human proteins
the insertion of genes into crop plants to confer resistance to herbicides
the insertion of genes into crop plants to confer resistance to insect pests
the insertion of genes into crop plants to improve nutritional qualities

Question 10

Advantages of genetically modifying crops.

Answer 10

disease resistance ;
large(r) / fast(er), yield ;
drought resistance ;
herbicide resistance ;
pest/insect, resistance ;
salt resistance ;
frost resistance