Genetic Engineering Flashcards
(37 cards)
1
Q
List the different types of cloning:
A
- DNA cloning
- Therapeutic cloning
- Reproductive cloning
2
Q
What is cloning?
A
- When a genetically identical replica of a cell, molecule or entire organism is created.
3
Q
What is step 1 in therapeutic cloning?
A
- a somatic cell nucleus is removed and transferred into a enucleated donor egg (a cell with its nucleus removed)
4
Q
What is reproductive cloning?
A
- reproductive cloning is to produce an animal with the same DNA as another animal
5
Q
What are the two types of reproductive cloning?
A
- Embryonic Splitting -> mechanically producing identical twins
- Embryonic nuclear transfer -> cells extracted from young embryos.
6
Q
What are the pros of Cloning?
A
- it can help prevent extinction of a species
- increase food production
- treat injuries or develop new organs (therapeutic cloning)
- synthesis of medication (DNA cloning)
7
Q
What are the cons of cloning?
A
- regarded as unethical, the probability of abuse is high.
- the process is not entirely safe and accurate.
- the offspring lack genetic uniqueness -> has implications for natural selection.
8
Q
Why is gene modification done?
A
- it is done to replace faulty or missing genes that cause disorders/diseases and ensures that correct protein is synthesised.
9
Q
What is gene engineering?
A
- gene engineering aka gene modification is the direct manipulation of the gene in an organism -> to obtain a desired characteristic.
10
Q
What is a vector?
A
- vectors are living organisms that transmit diseases between individuals.
11
Q
Define Aneuploidy
A
- a numerical change in part of a chromosomes set
12
Q
Define polyploidy:
A
- a numerical change in the whole chromosome set.
13
Q
What is a GMO?
A
GMO -> genetically modified organism
- an organism that had its genetic info modified.
e.g: deletion of a gene
14
Q
What is a transgenic organism.
A
- a transgenic organism is an organism that received a gene from another organism.
15
Q
What is recombinant DNA?
A
Recombinant DNA -> a new DNA sequence that has formed as a result of genetic engineering.
16
Q
How do you obtain a desired characteristic during genetic modification?
A
- a relevant gene from a cell in one organism is transmitted to a cell in another organism.
17
Q
What are the steps in gene Modification?
A
- identify relevant gene
- extract gene by using restriction and ligase enzymes.
- vectors transfer a gene into a host cell
- it becomes integrated into the organisms genome
- the correct protein is synthesised and that desired trait is expressed in the phenotype.
18
Q
Genetic Engineering in medicine refers to…
A
Genetic engineering in medicine refers to the production of artificial hormones.
e.g: insulin
19
Q
Genetic engineering and GMO‘s play a role in:
A
- synthesis of medical drugs
- production of new crops
- cloning
- stem cell research
20
Q
Type 1 diabetes can be treated with…
A
Type 1 diabetes can be treated with daily insulin injections.
21
Q
What is diabetes?
A
- a disease where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or when the body becomes resistant to insulin.
22
Q
What is the importance of insulin?
A
- insulin regulates the concentration of glucose in the blood.
23
Q
Why is insulin no longer extracted from animals?
A
- small quantities can only be extracted from a slaughtered pig/cow at a great cost.
- animal insulin is not as effective at controlling blood sugar levels as human insulin is.
24
Q
How is human insulin produced synthetically?
A
- DNA with gene code for production of insulin is extracted from healthy human pancreas
- restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA segments to isolate the specific gene.
25
What is E.Coli?
E.Coli -> Escherichia coli is the bacterium found in the human intestine that is used to produce insulin.
26
List human stem cell applications (6)
- cardiovascular cells
- liver cells
- muscle cells
- intestinal cells
- blood cells
- nerve cells
27
How are spinal chord injuries treated?
- Treated with bone marrow containing stem cells which is injected into cerebrospinal fluid in spine.
- stem cells will divide to form more stem cells and differential cells
28
List obstacles in Stem Cell research:
- ethicality of using embryonic stem cells
- stem cells could develop skin/ bone in brain
- more than one type of tissue must be replaced
29
Muscle cells are _\_ _\_ _\_ _\_ to form meat = _\_ _\_ _\_ _\_
Muscle cells are grown in tissue culture to form meat -> future source of protein.
30
Humans deliberately _\_ _\_ to form _\_
Humans deliver manipulate chromosomes to form hybrids (in plants)
31
Farmers make use of….. -> and why?
- Farmers make use of artificial selection to control reproduction.
- this is to ensure the next generation has the most desirable traits
32
How are GM crops Produced?
- genes for desired traits are identified.
- genes are artificially inserted by using a gene gun or vectors.
33
Advantages of polyploidic plants?
- larger flowers
- larger storage organs
- larger seeds
- seedless fruit
- larger fruit
34
Advantages of GMO‘s:
- cheaper -> pesticide resistant
- resistant to herbicides
- survive in unfavourable conditions
- larger better yields and stronger crops
- improved crops (quality and quantity)
- production of medicines using bacteria is more ethically acceptable.
35
Disadvantage of GMO‘s
- ethical issues
- decreases biodiversity
- negative effects on human -> allergies
- undesirable effect
- stronger chemicals need to be used to dispose of crops that are toxic to humans
- cost of biotechnology equipment is expensive.
- prices of GM seeds are more
36
What is step 2 in therapeutic cloning?
2. the egg is stimulated and starts to divide.
37
What is step 3 in therapeutic cloning?
3. when it reaches blastocyst phase it is made up of embryonic stem cells which can be harvested.
(IT DOES NOT DEVELOP INTO A FOETUS)
