Chapter 20 Flashcards
Genetic Engineering (23 cards)
What is Biotechnology?
It is using living things like bacteria or cells to make helpful products or solve problems.
ex: Making bread, yogurt, insulin and antibiotics.
What is Genetic Modification?
It is changing the DNA of living things to make them have specific traits or do certain things.
- Its removing, changing or inserting individual genes.
What is Genetic Engineering?
This process involves the transfer of genes from one organism to an unrelated species.
Why is Bacteria most used in Biotechnology and Genetic Modification?
Bacteria is most used due to its rapid reproduction rate and the presence of Plasmids (DNA)
- They also have the ability to make complex molecules.
- They have fewer ethical concerns. (they dont feel pain or suffer)
What are ethical concerns?
Ethical means values and beliefs.
- They are questions or worries about whether something is morally right or wrong, based on people’s values, beliefs, and opinions.
What are the Ethical concerns of Biotechnology?
Some concerns is that it allows scientists to alter DNA of living organisms, which seems unnatural to some.
- Others worry biotech products could harm the environment or give large companies too much control over food supply.
What are the Ethical concerns of Genetic Engineering?
There is the fear that modified bacteria might escape and spread genes into the environment can be dangerous.
- Others say altering bacteria and life goes against beliefs.
What are Plasmids?
A plasmid is a small, circular strand/piece of DNA that can easily be manipulated in lab to add or modify specific genes, making it simple to create desired traits.
- These are present naturally in Bacteria.
What are examples of products made with Biotechnology?
- Biofuels
- Bread
- Fruit juice
- Biological washing powders
- Lactose free milk
- Insulin, Penicillin and Mycoprotein
Explain the role of Yeast in Anaerobic respiration and bread making:
Yeast is a micro organism that respires sugar anaerobically:
C6H12O6 -> 2Co2 + 2C2H5OH + 118 KJ
- Yeast produces Ethanol for biofuels and Co2 for rising dough.
What are Biofuels?
Biofuels are a type of fuel made from living things like plants/waste.
Its environmental friendly since its made from renewable sources and theres fewer release of harmful chemicals.
- Plants + yeast -> Ethanol (by Anaerobic respiration)
What is Pectin?
Pectin is a protein present in plant cell walls which gives fruits thickness and makes them difficult to squeeze.
What is the role of Pectinase in fruit juice production?
Pectinase is an enzyme that breaks down Pectin.
- They also clarify fruit juices.
- During breakdown process, many polysaccharides release, making juice cloudy.
- So Pectinase breaks these down to make juice clearer.
What is the role of enzymes in Biological washing powders?
The enzymes Protease and Lipase help break down stains from:
- Proteins (egg, blood stains)
- Fats and oils (butter or grease stains)
What are the benefits of biological washing powders?
- They save energy because clothes can be washed at lower temperatures. (no need to boil water)
- They can remove stubborn stains. (They breakdown large insoluble stains into smaller soluble ones)
What is the role of Lactase to produce Lactose-free milk?
Lactose is a natural disaccharide found in milk, but some people cant digest it, so theyre lactose intolerant.
- Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down Lactose into Glucose and Glacatose.
- This makes it easier to digest by the intestine.
What are Fermenters?
Fermenters are big containers used by bacteria and fungi that make useful products on a large scale.
- These provide a controlled environment to ensure the right conditions for the micro organisms to grow and produce high yields of product.
What are products made in Fermenters?
- Insulin ( Made using bacteria. Helps those with diabetes to regulate blood glucose levels.)
- Penicillin ( Made using Fugus Penicillium. Its an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It stops bacteria from growing/kills them.)
- Mycoproteins ( Made using Fungi. Its a protein rich food source used as an alt for meat)
What are the conditions of a Fermenter?
- Temperature (affects reactions and microbe growth).
- PH (Ensures microbes grow and produce well)
- Oxygen (some microorganisms need and some dont. Right levels help them grow and produce them well)
- Nutrient supply (Sugars, proteins, minerals to grow and make things.)
- Waste products (Too much can stop them from growing. Its important to get rid of waste)
What is the process of Genetic Modification? (ex: insulin)
1) Isolation of the Human gene, where insulin is cut from its original DNA sequence by restriction enzymes, leaving sticky ends.
2) The same restriction enzymes are used to cut the bacterial plasmid DNA. This results in complementary sticky ends.
3) Join the human gene piece with the bacterial plasmid DNA using enzyme Ligase (acts like a glue).
4) This forms Recombinant DNA Plasmid.
5) Insert this recombinant Plasmid back into the bacterium.
6) The bacteria will multiply by Mitosis, reproducing identical cells.
7) The bacteria will use the inserted human insulin to create the protein. This is Protein Expression.
What are some examples of Genetic Modification?
1) Insertion of human genes into bacteria to produce human proteins.
2) Insertion of genes into crop plants to give Herbicide resistance.
3) Insertion of genes into crop plants to give insect pest resistance.
4) Insertion of genes into crop plants to improve nutritional qualities.
What are the Advantages of GM crops?
- Improved yield (more produced)
- Healthier food (made with more nutrients like vitamins)
- Better to earth (less chemicals needed since plants are resistant)
What are the Disadvantages of GM crops?
- Loss of Biodiversity
- Mixing genes (GM crops may crossbreed with regular ones and spread changes)
- Cost (they can be expensive)
