3.5 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is a polymerase chain reaction?
It is a technique that is used to make many copies of DNA
What does electrophoresis do?
It is a process that separates DNA fragments of different lengths so that we can create a profile of that DNA
What is the process of electrophoresis?
- Enzymes cut DNA into different sized fragments.
- The DNA sample is placed at one end of the porous gel
- The end of the Jo, with the DNA sample is exposed to a negative electrical current
- The DNA fragments move through the Joe and stop at different points, creating a band.
- The bands are died so that we can see them.
What two factors determine the movement of DNA through electrophoresis gel?
The negative charge of DNA and the size
What does a perfect match of the banding pattern mean in electrophoresis?
The DNA is identical
When can electrophoresis be utilised?
Establishing paternity
To compare DNA at crime scenes with potential suspects
Releasing prisoners that are wrongly convicted
Establishing relationships in populations to determine migrating patterns or evolutionary relationships
What is gene transfer?
Taking a gene from one organism, and placing it into another organism
Why is gene transfer possible?
Because the genetic code is universal-the same. Codons are translated into the same amino acid and all organisms.
How is gene transfer used in the production of insulin?
The human gene for insulin production is inserted into an E. coli bacterium
The bacteria produce, and the colony of bacteria produces human insulin, which can be used for diabetics
What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?
An organism with a gene that has been artificially inserted into its genome
What does transgenic mean?
Any organism that has a gene from a different species inserted into its genome
What is an example of a transgenic plant?
Corn
Corn had the gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringeiesis added. The gene added this allowed corn to produce a protein that kills insect larvae.
What is a clone?
Offspring that is an exact copy of its parent
What organisms are always clones?
Organisms that reproduce asexually
What is a disadvantage to all members of a population being clones?
If the environment changes and all of its individuals are the same, it is likely the entire population will be wiped out
How were the first animals cloned?
When an embryo was, artificially separated, causing two identical twins to develop
What is reproductive cloning?
Using an already differentiated cells to make a new individual, so that is a clone of the original parent.
How are animal cells cloned from adult cells? Dolly the sheep
- A somatic cell from the original shape was collected, and the nucleus was removed.
- I don’t to egg from another sheep was collected, and all of the DNA was removed from the egg.
- The DNA from the donor ship was placed in the empty egg.
- The embryo was placed in the uterus of a surrogate shape.
- The embryo develops and dolly, the sheep was born.
What is therapeutic cloning?
When there is no interest in making a whole individual, but rather in making one type of cell to replace damage cells
What are the benefits of therapeutic cloning?
Replaces damage tissues
Reduces the need for organ transplants
Reduces the need for medicine
What are the ethical concerns surrounding therapeutic cloning?
Whether it is ethical to produce a human embryo solely for the purpose of medicinal research, and is the use of an embryo the same thing as taking a life
