Biotechnology Flashcards
(33 cards)
Gel electrophoresis
Separate DNA fragments by size using electric charge
- repels DNA, + attracts DNA
larger fragments slower, smaller fragments faster
Gel is agarose or polyacrylamide
Gel is submersed in buffer to carry electric current
DNA visualized using fluorescent dye
Gel electrophoresis blotting
Southern: DNA sample
Northern: RNA a sample
Western: proteins detected using antibodies
Polyamerase chain reaction
Amplify small DNA fragment
Kary Mullis
Uses deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate and Rx buffer for enzyme function

Polyamerase chain reaction steps
1) Denaturation: high temp
2) Annealing primers: low temp
3) DNA synthesis: medium temp. Taq polymerase
What is a primer used in PCR?
Short DNA fragments complementary to both ends of a target sequence
What is used in DNA synthesis used in polymerase chain reaction?
The DNA polymerase Taq polymerase isolated from bacteria
Polyamerase chain reaction applications
1) multiply minute DNA samples to be analyzed
2) forensics ex. blood and hair follicle cells
3) detection of genetic defects in embryo using a small single cell sample
4) Analysis of mitochondrial DNA
Clone
Genetically identical copy
Protein coding/Gene coding
Isolation of specific DNA sequence
Vector
Carries DNA in host and can replicate
Ex. Bacteria, virus, or yeast
Most versatile and common host
E. coli bacteria
Small insert size used for cloning small DNA fragments
Plasmids
Small circular chromosomes
Large chromosomes with larger insert size for cloning larger DNA segments
Yeast artificial chromosomes
Bacterial artificial chromosomes
DNA library
DNA in a vector represents complex DNA mixture
Genomic library
Representation of entire genome in vector
1) Genome is randomly fragmented
2) inserted into vector
3) introduced into host cell
4) Constructed in bacterial artificial chromosome
Complementary DNA
cDNA
DNA copies of mRNA
1) mRNA isolated
2) reverse transcriptase makes cDNA
3) cDNA used to make library 
All genome libraries from one cell are the same, but cDNA libraries from one cell are what?
Different
Reproductive cloning
Dolly the sheep what is the first vertebrate mammal cloned
Dying young due to aged DNA

Medically important proteins
Can be produced in bacteria, but it’s difficult to purify desired proteins from other bacterial proteins
ex. Human insulin, interferon, arterial peptides, tissue plasminogen activator, and human growth hormone
Vaccines
Subunit vaccines: genes in coding protein coat spliced into genome fragment.
DNA vaccines: Depend on cellular immune response (not antibodies)
Gene therapy
Add functional copy of gene to correct hereditary disorder
Some successes and failures
ex. Severe combined immunodeficiency disease gene therapy gave some children leukemia
Transgenic animals
Contain recombinant DNA
used to express human genome
ex. Mice, sheep, and goats
Transgenic plants
Genetically modified organics
Genes resistant to disease herbicides and pesticides
ex. Bacterial toxin (bt toxin): Natural insecticide Gene
Flavr savr tomato
Study of genomes a DNA level
Genomics