gene technology Flashcards

(52 cards)

1
Q

what is recombinant DNA technology?

A

transfer of fragments of DNA from one organism to another
DNA that contains nucleotides from other organisms

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2
Q

3 ways of producing DNA fragments

A
  1. reverse transcriptase
  2. restriction endonucleases
  3. gene machine
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3
Q

how can reverse transcriptase make DNA fragments?

A
  1. remove mRNA from a cell
  2. add reverse transcriptase and DNA nucleotides
  3. converts the mRNA into DNA (double stranded)
    uses mRNA as template

= cDNA (complementary)

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4
Q

why is mRNA used for reverse transcriptase?

A

easier to isolate from cells than DNA
introns already removed in splicing

cDNA produced is complementary to mRNA, therefore is a copy of original DNA

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5
Q

how can restriction endonucleases make DNA fragments?

A
  1. obtain sample of DNA from a cell
  2. incubated with specific restriction endonuclease
  3. cuts DNA fragment using hydrolysis
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6
Q

how do restriction endonucleases work?

A
  • different endonucleases cut at different base sequences
  • shape of sequence is complementary to enzymes active site
  • used to obtain gene between the sequences to cut it out, hydrolysis
    (gene cant contain specific sequence or it will be cut)
    leaves sticky or blunt ends
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7
Q

what are sticky and blunt ends?

A

when a gene is cut using a restriction endonuclease, leaves:

sticky ends - one strand of fragment longer than the other
- easier to insert gene as hydrogen bonds can form between bases

blunt ends - when both strands are same length
- nucleotides can be added to create sticky ends

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8
Q

how does a gene machine produce DNA fragments?

A
  1. determine amino acid sequence of the protein
  2. first nucleotide fixed to support
  3. nucleotides added step by step in order
  4. creates oligonucleotides (short sections of DNA)
  5. oligonucleotides joined to make longer fragments
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9
Q

ways of amplifying DNA fragments

A

PCR (in vitro)
in vivo

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10
Q

describe PCR as a method to amplify DNA fragments

A
  1. reaction mixture made
  2. heated to 95c
    - hydrogen bonds break, strands separate
  3. cooled to 55c
    - allows primers to bind
  4. heated to 72c
    - allows complementary nucleotides to attach (optimum)
  5. heat stable (taq) DNA polymerase joins nucleotides together
    - with phosphodiester bonds

repeats
- each PCR cycle doubles amount of DNA

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11
Q

what does the reaction mixture for PCR contain?

A
  • DNA sample
  • free DNA nucleotides
  • primers
  • DNA polymerase (taq)
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12
Q

in vivo method of amplifying DNA fragments

A
  1. use restriction endonuclease to obtain desired gene from DNA
  2. use same RE to cut open a plasmid
    - leaves sticky ends complementary to sticky ends of fragment
  3. join desired gene to plasmid using DNA ligase
    - joins sticky ends

creates recombinant DNA (vector and fragment)

  1. vector (plasmid) inserted into a bacteria cell
  2. plasmid replicated during binary fission to create more recombinant DNA (and therefore gene)
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13
Q

what are transformed cells and how can you identify them?

A

cells that have taken up the vectors, contain plasmids with recombinant DNA

  • marker genes
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14
Q

how do marker genes identify transformed cells?

A

used to identify which cells contain the plasmid with the desired gene

  1. another gene (for an identifiable characteristic) is inserted with the desired gene
  2. means transformed cells also contain that gene
    - eg antibiotic resistance, so only transformed and resistant cells survive

or gene inserted within a gene for antibiotic resistance
tranformed are killed

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15
Q

benefits of recombinant DNA tech in agriculture

A

crops can be transformed to be:
- more nutritious
- higher yields
reduce risk of famine

  • pest resistant (fewer pesticides needed, cheaper)
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16
Q

benefits of recombinant DNA tech in industry

A

industrial process often use enzymes
- can be made from transformed organisms
- made in large quantities and cheaper

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17
Q

benefits of recombinant DNA tech in medicine

A

transformed organisms used to make drugs and vaccines
- can be made cheaper and quicker
eg insulin

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18
Q

issues of recombinant DNA tech in agriculture

A

monoculture of transformed crops - genetically identical
- makes whole crop vulnerable to same disease - famine risk
- reduces biodiversity

long term effects of GM food on health unknown

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19
Q

issues of recombinant DNA tech in industry

A

some consumer markets wonโ€™t import genetically modified food - producers suffer economically

no labelling - no choice over eating GM food or not, unethical

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20
Q

issues of recombinant DNA tech in medicine

A

could lead to unethical uses
eg designer babies - modifying and choosing characteristics

can be used to save lives but companies may limit use for economic reasons

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21
Q

humanitarian benefits of recombinant DNA tech

A
  • agricultural crops made that can reduce risk of famine and malnutrition
    eg drought resistant crops
  • used to make vaccines and drugs available to more people
    eg made chpear so more people can afford them
  • can be used in gene therapy to treat diseases
22
Q

environmentalists issues with recombinant DNA tech

A

monocultures (of transformed crops crops) reduce biodiversity

23
Q

anti-globalisation activists issues with recombinant DNA tech

A

oppose globalisation (growth of large multinational companies)

few large companies control forms of genetic engineering
as use increases, these companies get bigger and more powerful
- smaller companies unable to compete

24
Q

what does gene therapy do?

A

used to treat genetic disorders

it alters the defective genes (mutated allele causing disease)

done by inserting DNA fragment into persons original DNA

25
how does gene therapy work to change the mutated gene?
if the mutated alleles are: 2 recessive - add dominant to supplement them 1 dominant - silence it (add DNA to middle of allele so it doesn't work anymore)
26
2 types of gene therapy
somatic - altering alles in body cells particularly those affected by disease - eg epithelial cells in lungs for cystic fibrosis (doesn't affect sex cells, could be inherited) germ line - altering alleles in sex cells disease can't be inherited as every sex cell has been altered
27
how is gene therapy done?
working allele inserted into cells using vectors vectors include: - altered viruses - plasmids - liposomes (spheres of lipids)
28
what is a DNA probe?
short strands of DNA have a specific base sequence complementary to the target allele means they will bind (hybridise) to the target allele if present has a label attached so it can be detected - fluorescence (use UV light) - radioactive (use x ray film)
29
how does a DNA probe work?
DNA fragment obtained (restriction endonucleases and separated using electrophoresis) - transferred onto a nylon membrane sample of DNA incubated with DNA probe (with label) if target allele present, DNA probe will bind to it - probe not removed when washed use UV light or x-ray film to detect DNA probe, if present DNA in sample must be single stranded to allow the probe to bind
30
what is a DNA probe used for?
locating specific alleles of genes see if persons DNA contains mutated alleles that causes genetic disorders used for screening
31
uses of screening with DNA probes
1. identify heritable conditions screened to identify mutated allele - means treatment can be started earlier eg in cystic fibrosis 2. determine how patients will respond to drugs screening for a specific mutated allele can show if someone has it so if a specific drugs will work 3. identify health risks inheriting a particular mutated allele can increase risk of developing certain cancers - allow them to make life choices to reduce their risk however could lead to discrimination by insurance companies or employers if some people have a higher risk of disease
32
uses of DNA probes (3)
locate specific alleles can screen for: - heritable conditions - responses to drugs - health risks
33
what is genetic counselling?
advising patients and families about the risk of genetic disorders advise on screening and the results - the risks of it being passed on to offspring - advice on future steps eg most effective prevention or treatments - explain potential consequences of disease eg economically screening can help identify if someone is a carrier of a mutated allele and what type (showing what genetic disorder it causes)
34
what is personalised medicine?
medicines that are tailored to an individuals DNA genes mean different people respond to drugs in different ways - makes them more effective for some than others can be used in prevention if mutated allele detected if doctors have genetic information it can be used to predict responses to drugs therefore prescribe the most effective
35
benefits of genetic screening
can identify people with allele who are at risk of developing specific diseases - can make lifestyle choices to reduce their risk eg diet can help potential parents chose to have children or not - may not want to risk passing on harmful alleles
36
limitations of genetic screening
designer babies - unethical could lead to discrimination in workplaces or for insurance - for people who have a higher risk of developing certain diseases
37
why are peoples genetic fingerprints different?
genome contains variable number tandem repeats - base sequences that don't code for proteins and repeat next to each other number of times the sequences are repeated = length in nucleotides - this varies between people repeats also occur at different places in the genome - varies between people probability of 2 people having same genetic fingerprint is very low - need same number of VNTRs at same place in genome
38
how are the fragments obtained for electrophoresis?
restriction endonucleases used to at specific base sequences to cut VNTRs out results in fragments of varying lengths - depending on number of repeats apified using PCR = many copies
39
why are the fragments negatively charged?
DNA contains a phosphate group = negative so attracted to positive electrode at end of gel
40
describe electrophoresis (how a genetic fingerprint is made)
sample of DNA obtained (blood, saliva etc) PCR used to make copies of area of DNA fragment containing VNTRs electrophoresis used to separate them fluorescent tag added - visible in UV 1. DNA mixture placed in well in gel covered in a buffer solution that conducts electricity 2. electric current passed through gel DNA fragments negatively charged move towards positive electrode at far end of gel 3. small DNA fragments move faster so travel further larger ones don't travel as far - DNA fragments separate according to size viewed as bands under UV light (fragments had fluorescent tag)
41
How to view a genetic fingerprint
Fragments transferred from gel to nylon membrane Membrane incubated with fluorescently labelled DNA probe Viewed as bands under UV light
42
what is genetic fingerprinting?
method used to determine an organisms genetic identity done by electrophoresis depends on number of VNTRs in the organisms DNA - shown as bands under UV or radioactive light
43
interpretation of a genetic fingerprint
multiple fingerprints can be compared remember fragments separate based on length (in nucleotides) and therefore VNTRs shorter move further if both fingerprints have a band at the same location, they have the same number of nucleotides (so same number of VNTRs) they match
44
uses of genetic fingerprinting in forensic science
compare samples of DNA collected from crime scenes to samples from suspects 1. DNA isolated from crime scene and suspects 2. each sample replicated using PCR 3. samples run on electrophoresis gel to produce genetic fingerprints 4. compared to find a match - if samples match, it can link a suspect to a crime scene
45
uses of genetic fingerprinting in medical diagnosis
genetic fingerprint refers to a unique pattern of alleles can be used to diagnose genetic disorders and cancer useful when specific mutation isn't known or when caused by multiple mutations because it identifies a broader genetic pattern
46
uses of genetic fingerprinting in animal and plant breeding
used to prevent interbreeding - decreases gene pool - increased risk of genetic disorders - heath and productivity issues used to identify how closely related two individuals are so they won't be bred together (less related bred) more similar fingerprints means more closely related
47
how is genetic fingerprinting used to determine genetic relationships?
VNTR sequences inherited from parents - roughly half from each parent more bands that match = more closely related eg paternity tests - more matches = more likely to be father
48
how is genetic fingerprinting used to determine genetic variability? (in a population)
the more bands that don't match = less related (more genetically different) can find out how genetically varied a population is the more the number of repeats varies at different places = more genetic variability
49
uses of genetic fingerprinting (5)
- determining genetic relationships - determining genetic variability - forensic science - medical diagnosis - plant and animal breeding
50
what is a primer?
short sections of single stranded DNA base sequence is complementary to DNA fragment so it binds allows polymerase to bind and produce the new fragments
51
why is mRNA used/ bacterial DNA better
mRNA and bacterial have introns removed means bacterial DNA easier to study fewer non-coding regions (introns) so knowledge of genome more easily related to proteome - less non-coding to get in the way
52
promotor region
tells RNA polymers where to start transcription of DNA means gene transcribed