Gene Technology

Question 1

What is an organism called that receives a new gene?

Answer 1

Transgenic organism.

Question 2

What are the main stages involved in genetic engineering?

Answer 2

1) Identifying and removing the desired gene from one organism
2) Cutting open the DNA in another organism using restriction enzymes that leave several unpaired bases on the cut end to act as the sticky end
3) Inserting the new gene into the DNA using ligase enzymes which join DNA together because the sticky ends on each cut section of DNA can join by complementary base pairing
4) Making sure the gene works in the transgenic organism

Question 3

How can bacteria be used to produce human insulin?

Answer 3

1) Cutting insulin gene out of human DNA
2) Cutting open a loop in bacteria DNA (plamids, can be used as vectors for genes because they can be taken up by bacteria)
3) Inserting insulin gene into the loop
4) Inserting loop into bacterium
5) Many copies are cultured by cloning and large quantities of insulin are harvested

Question 4

How can we find out if a plasmid has been taken up by the bacteria?

Answer 4

• Assaying technique
• Scientist adds gene to make bacteria resistant to antibiotic
• Bacteria flooded with antibiotic on agar plate
• Choose the bacteria that survives

Question 5

What are the stages of the production of a DNA fingerprint?

Answer 5

• Extracting DNA from a sample
• Fragmenting DNA using restriction enzyme
• Separating fragments using electrophoresis
• Making fragments visible using a radioactive probe