L36. Molecular Biology 3

Question 1

Name the 3 types of mutation substitutions.

Answer 1

Conservative mutation
Non-conservative mutation
No mutation

Question 2

Describe :
Conservative mutation
Non-conservative mutation
No mutation

Answer 2

Conservative - amino acid is replaced with one of similar properties
Non-conservative - amino acid is replaced with one of different properties
No mutation - the amino acid coded for is still the same

Question 3

What does insertion/deletion cause? Give an example.

Answer 3

Frame-shift
premature/delayed termination
eg. sickle cell anaemia (abnormal haemoglobin)

Question 4

Describe the process of gene cloning.

Answer 4

Gene section is isolated using restriction enzyme. Plasmid is cut at one point by restriction enzyme.
Gene section undergoes gel electrophoresis.
Plasmid and gene’s “sticky ends” anneal due to base pairing with the help of DNA ligase.
The plasmid is introduced to host bacterium

Question 5

What do restriction enzymes do?

Answer 5

Cut DNA at specific sequences. They are often cut in a staggered way to create “sticky ends”

Question 6

What does gel electrophoresis do?

Answer 6

Separated DNA fragments based on size.

Question 7

What happens during gel electrophoresis?

Answer 7

Negatively changed DNA moves to positive electrode at the bottom, positively charged DNA moves to negative electrode at the top.

Question 8

How is migration in gel electrophoresis affected by DNA size?

Answer 8

Larger DNA fragments move migrate more slowly