Genetic Control Flashcards
Three main types of genetic control
Mutagenesis
Selective breeding
Recombinant DNA technology
What is strain improvement?
When scientists need to improve the microorganism so that they have particular features
It alters the DNA so that the genome includes genetic material for desired characteristics
What is mutagenesis?
Creation of mutations
How to artificially increase the rate of mutagenesis?
Expose the organisms to mutagenic agents like UV radiation
What can happen due to instability in mutagenesis?
They sometimes undergo a reverse mutation and revert back to the less useful wild type state
Regular monitoring can help prevent this
What is site-specific mutagenesis?
Making a change to the specific target region of the DNA chain
Selective breeding
Most eukaryotic microorganisms can reproduce asexually and sexually, by deliberately crossbreeding different strains scientists are able to produce new strains
What is Transfer of genetic material in bacteria?
Bacteria reproduce asexually
New strains of bacteria are produced by horizontal transfer of genetic material
What are the three types of horizontal transfer in bacteria reproduction?
Transformation
Transduction
Conjugation
What is transformation in bacteria reproduction?
Occurs naturally
Happens when a cell takes up a piece of naked foreign DNA from the remains of a sale which has been destroyed
What is transduction in bacteria reproduction?
Sometimes viruses which multiply in bacteria host cells take up some of the bacterial DNA, if this virus injects the DNA into another bacteria cell DNA can be transferred in
What is conjugation in bacteria reproduction?
A bridge (conjugation tube) forms between two cells allowing transfer of genetic information from one to the other
Steps of genetic engineering
1) DNA coding for human insulin is isolated
2) plasmid is removed from a bacterial cell and cut open
3) human insulin gene is inserted into the plasmid
4) plasmid containing insulin gene is inserted back into bacteria
5) Bacteria is cultured
6) human insulin is produced and accumulates in the culture medium
Why would eukaryotic cells be better suited to genetic transformation involving DNA from other eukaryotes?
In prokaryotic cells proteins may not be folded correctly so will be in active
In prokaryotic cells the protein molecule may not go through certain post translational modifications essential for it to function
