DNA Technology

Question 1

Biotechnology

Answer 1

the use of natural biological systems to achieve a purpose desired by humans for which the system did not specifically evolve to accomplish

Question 2

What are some examples of biotechnology?

Answer 2

GMOs
Stem cells

Question 3

Genetic Engineering

Answer 3

the purposeful modification of the genomes of organisms to either improve the characteristics of the organism or make a biotechnology product

Question 4

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Answer 4

a laboratory process by which a targeted DNA segment can be amplified(copied)

Question 5

What does PCR use to artificially run DNA replication in a test tube?

Answer 5

DNA Polymerase enzyme

Question 6

What is the first step in PCR?

Answer 6

Denaturation: DNA is separated into two separate strands with heat

Question 7

What is the second step in PCR?

Answer 7

Annealing: when the temperature is lowered, oligonucleotide primers hybridize to each DNA strand

Question 8

What is the third step in PCR?

Answer 8

Extension: when the temperature is raised again, an engineered polymerase adds complementary base pairs to each of the single DNA strands, creating double-stranded DNA

Question 9

How many cycles of PCR must be completed to yield 1 million copies of DNA?

Answer 9

30-35

Question 10

Why is PCR called a “chain reaction”?

Answer 10

because the same DNA sample is repeatedly replicated

Question 11

Taq Polymerase

Answer 11

discovered in bacteria that lives in hot springs; evolved polymerase so it will not denature at 95 degrees C

Question 12

What is DNA profiling?

Answer 12

when DNA is taken from a particular location, a non-coding section is identified and the number of repeated segments in that section are determined

Question 13

STRs

Answer 13

Short Tandem Repeats: the repeated segments in the non-coding section of DNA obtained

Question 14

Where does the number of copies of STRs come from?

Answer 14

Inherited from parents

Question 15

How can we establish a specific genomic pattern using DNA profiling?

Answer 15

by looking at multiple STRs

Question 16

How many STRs does the FBI CODIS use?

Answer 16

13 + a marker for sex

Question 17

After PCR is run on the crime scene sample and the suspects, the resulting DNA is …

Answer 17

put into wells on the electrophorsis gel

Question 18

The same technique used for DNA profiling is used in …

Answer 18

home paternity kits

Question 19

Cloning

Answer 19

the production of identical copies of DNA, cells, or organisms through an asexual means

Question 20

Gene Cloning

Answer 20

can be done to produce many identical copies of the same gene

Question 21

Recombinant DNA (rDNA)

Answer 21

DNA that contains genes from more than one source organism

Question 22

What does a technician require in order to create rDNA?

Answer 22

a vector: a means by which the genes of interest can be inserted into a host cell

Question 23

Plasmid

Answer 23

a small accessory ring of DNA found in bacteria that often holds genes for antibiotic resistance

Question 24

Plasmids are not a part of what?

Answer 24

bacterial chromosomes so they replicate on their own

Question 25

What are plasmids usually used for?

Answer 25

vectors to make rDNA

Question 26

Restriction Enzymes

Answer 26

an enzyme used to cut a DNA molecule at a specific DNA sequence

Question 27

Why are they called “restriction” enzymes?

Answer 27

because bacteria use them to restrict the growth of viruses

Question 28

DNA Ligase

Answer 28

an enzyme used to seal breaks in the DNA backbone

Question 29

In order for a human gene to express itself in a bacteria, …

Answer 29

the gene has to be accompanied by regulation regions that are unique to bacteria

Question 30

What don’t bacterial genes have?

Answer 30

Introns, so if a human gene is inserted into bacteria, they have to have their introns removed

Question 31

How do you make a human gene without introns?

Answer 31

reverse transcriptase enzyme

Question 32

Complementary DNA (cDNA)

Answer 32

a DNA molecule that has had the introns removed

Question 33

Genome Editing

Answer 33

targeting specific sequences in the DNA for removal or replacement

Question 34

CRISPER

Answer 34

clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats

Question 35

How is CRISPER used in bacteria?

Answer 35

immune defense against viruses

Question 36

How does CRISPER work?

Answer 36

breaks DNA at a specific point, but it breaks both strands of the DNA at that point

Question 37

What kinds of medical products do genetically modified bacteria produce?

Answer 37

insulin, clotting factor, human growth hormone, hepatitis B vaccine

Question 38

What kinds of agricultural products do genetically modified bacteria produce?

Answer 38

Frost (bacteria that prevent fruits from freezing)
Toxins harmful to insects

Question 39

What kinds of environmental products do genetically modified bacteria produce?

Answer 39

bacteria that metabolizes oil
bacteria that can remove the sulfur from coal before it is burned

Question 40

What kinds of agricultural products do genetically modified plants produce?

Answer 40

insect-resistant everything
herbicide-resistant everything
fruits with an increased shelf life
crops with higher yield
heat & drought resistant crops

Question 41

What kinds of medical products do genetically modified animals produce?

Answer 41

salmon that grow faster
sterile mosquitoes
cattle with health products in their milk
non-human animal research models
xenotransplantation: the use of nonhuman animal organs for transplant into humans