Exam 3 Study Guide Flashcards
List tools used in genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology
• in silico analysis (bioinformatics), DNA microarray analysis, gel electrophoresis, PCR, blotting, autoradiography, cloning vectors, and RFLP analysis
PCR
(Polymerase Chain Reaction) Rapid amplification of a specific DNA fragment from a complex mixture of DNA and other cellular components
RT
reverse transcriptase; synthesizes double-stranded DNA from an RNA template; used to make cDNA
cDNA
complementary DNA, used when provided an RNA molecule and need the DNA, it is complimentary and not the same because there are posttranscriptional and translation modifications (like the removal of introns)
Gel Electrophoresis
used to separate molecules based on their charge and size; DNA is acidic and wants to go from the negative end of the gel to the positive; the smaller the DNA fragments, the more likely it is able to move
vectors
a DNA molecule that can replicate independently of the host chromosome and maintain a piece of inserted foreign DNA, like a gene, into a recipient cell; they can be a plasmid, phage, cosmid, or artificial chromosome; each vectors has an ORI, selectable marker, and unique restriction sites
restriction enzymes
cut DNA at specific sites, to allow for vectors to insert DNA
blotting
there are three different techniques. Southern, western, and northern. Gel is fragile and can break up, therefore you should transfer the fragments onto paper. This is used to locate specific fragments, southern is used for DNA
What is meant by recombinant DNA?
cloning vectors are used to provide many copies of cloned DNA (via replication in a host organism)
Name the tools used to make a recombinant plasmid, genomic library, or run genomic fingerprinting (RFLP)
• Tools used in recombinant DNA: cloning vector, restriction enzymes, DNA ligase;
- tools in genomic library: vectors and fragments;
- tools in RFLP: restriction enzymes, agarose gel, in silico
What is the purpose (goal) of constructing a genomic library for an organism?
- widely used in DNAsequencing techniques and they have been used in the whole genome sequencing of humans and several model organisms
- used when gene of interest is on a chromosome that has not been sequenced
Define metagenomic and its role in identifying microbes that cannot be cultured (isolated) from the environmental samples such as soil and water samples
- Metagenomic: The study of genomes recovered from environmental samples (including the human body) without first isolating members of the microbial community and growing them in cultures.
- This is an important science because not all bacteria can be cultured in a lab environment
What is meant by autonomous replication? List examples
- Can replicate on their own, have their own ORI
* Examples: plasmids, rolling circle replication
plasmid
replicates independently of microbial chromosome so many copies may be maintained in a single cell (important ones: pBR322 and pUC19)
bacteriphage
packaged into lambda phage particle, single-stranded DNA viruses and can generate either double or single stranded DNA in its host
cosmids
can be packaged into lambda phage particles for efficient introduction into bacteria, then replicates as a plasmid
PAC
(p1 artificial chromosomes) based on bacteriophage P1 packaging mechanism
YAC
(yeast articiial chromosome) Engineered DNA that contains all the elements required to propagate a chromosome in yeast and is used to clone foreign DNA fragments in yeast cells.
BAC
(bacterial artificial chromosome) A cloning vector constructed from the Escherichia coli F-factor plasmid.
what is the significance of the Ti plasmid?
o Used as a cloning vector, all nonessential regions, including tumor-inducing genes have been deleted, it is used as a selectable marker where other site can be added
List the types of genes are carried on plasmids.
bacterial chromosomes
plasmids
transposons
conjugation
The form of gene transfer and recombination in bacteria and archaea that requires direct cell-to-cell contact
transformation
A mode of gene transfer in bacteria and archaea in which a piece of free DNA is taken up by a cell and integrated into its genome.
transduction
The transfer of any part of a bacterial or archaeal genome when the DNA fragment is packaged within a virus’s capsid by mistake