Biotechnology Flashcards

1
Q

What is biotech?

A

Refers to the artificial tools and techniques used on organisms or products to solve a problem or make a product for human benifit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is selective breeding?

A

When humans use animal and plant breeding to selectively develop particular characteristics by choosing which parents reproduce

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is genetic engineering?

A

Involves changing the genetic sequence of an organism with the use of biotechnology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are GMO’s?

A

Genetically modified organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Explain DNA based biotechnology

A

Involves processing and manipulating DNA, genetic engineering involves changing the genetic sequence of an organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 4 tools needed for biotechnology

A
  • Restriction enzymes
  • Ligase
  • Polymerase
  • Primers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are restriction enzymes

A

Enzymes that cut DNA molecules at recognition sites. Bacteria are the main sources of restriction enzymes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the 2 results that occur from restriction enzyme cuts

A
  • Blunt ends
  • Sticky ends
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is special about the base sequence at a recognition site of a restriction enzyme?

A

Site is a palindrome, the same when read 5’ to 3’ on either strand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the first step in splicing recombinant DNA?

A
  • Isolate required gene and cut it out using restriction enzyme at the recognition site. Restriction enzyme cuts DNA either side of the gene required
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the second step in splicing recombinant DNA?

A

Isolate the plasmid from a bacterial cell and cut it with the same type of restriction enzyme in step 1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are 4 biotech techniques?

A
  • Amplification
  • Annealing
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  • Gel Electrophoresis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is amplification? (biotech technique)

A

Used to increase the number of copies of a DNA sequence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is annealing? (biotech technique)

A

Process of joining 2 pieces of DNA by complementary base pairing (joining of sticky ends)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is PCR? (biotech technique)

A

An artificial technique where DNA segments are multiplied through a series of cycles using the DNA polymerase enzyme

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is gel electrophoresis? (biotech technique)

A

Separates large charged molecules (DNA) according to size and charge. They can be visualised and identified by comparison with a standard

17
Q

What are the 4 main steps in gel electrophoresis?

A
  1. Agarose is melted, poured into a mould, and cooled, forming a sponge-like structure with microscopic holes.
  2. Wells are formed at one end of the gel using a comb, DNA samples into them.
  3. A current is applied and the negatively charged DNA moves through the gel towards the positive electrode.
  4. The larger DNA fragments move slower in the gel than the smaller ones, and the results are compared to a standard
18
Q

What are 2 errors that can occur in gel electrophoresis?

A
  • Gel consistency affects DNA travel. Thick or thin gel causes unwanted variation.
  • Voltage variation, too much or to little voltage causes unwanted variation.
19
Q

What is DNA sequencing?

A

Determines the precise order of DNA nucleotides in a DNA sample, refers to the methods and technologies used to determine the order of nucleotide bases.

20
Q

What can DNA sequencing do?

A
  • Identify hereditary diseases
  • Test the relatedness between 2 people (paternity/maternity)
21
Q

What does knowing genetic sequences enable scientists to do?

A
  • Determine the genetic code for particular phenotypes
  • Determine genetic relatedness & evolutionary links
  • Map a species’ genomes
22
Q

What is a genetic marker and what are they used for?

A

A gene or sequence on a chromosome with a known location that is associated with a specific trait. Used on a genome map to look at a specific section of DNA in a pool of unknown DNA

23
Q

What are the 2 methods of DNA sequencing?

A

Sanger sequencing method
- Slow and outdated
- Manual and prone to errors

Next-gen sequencing
- Faster and more accurate
- Computerised

24
Q

What is DNA profiling?

A

A technique that can identify individuals by comparing DNA samples

25
Q

What are 4 reasons for using DNA profiling?

A
  • ID of corpses, people etc.
  • Relatedness or humans/organisms
  • Identify gene disorders
  • Criminal investigations
26
Q

What is satellite DNA?

A

Long stretches of DNA made up of repeating elements or short tandem repeats (STR’s)

27
Q

What are 4 uses of biotech in agriculture?

A
  • Increase yield
  • Increase quality
  • Increase resistance to disease
  • Increased tolerance to changes/extremes
28
Q

What is conservation biology?

A

The study of ecology, physiology, evolution, molecular biology, and genetics to preserve biological diversity, by protecting the remaining resources and determining the necessary care for future life.