Genetic Technologies Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the genome
All the generic information in an organism or cell
What do genome projects do
Use technology to determine the complete sequence of bases that make up the DNA of an organism
Why do we compare sequenced genomes within a species
Highlight disease risk
identify mutations which can cause disease
Why do we compare genomes between species
Explain evolutionary relationships
Build phylogenetic trees
What is a proteome
The sequence of proteins coded for by DNA base sequence of genome
Why is identifying the proteome useful
Can identify antigens of viruses - useful in vaccination production
Monitor mutations and variations of pathogens as they evolve
Identify antibiotics resistance mechanisms
What percentage of the human genome are introns/ don’t code for proteins
98.5%
Past vs present sequencing methods
Past - labour intensive, expensive, limited to small scale
Present/ future- automated, cheaper, efficient, powerful, cost effective
Who developed first method for sequencing DNA fragments
Fred Sanger
What was Sangers method for sequencing dna
Sequence fragments up for 900 base pairs
Align fragments based on overlapping portions to assemble larger pieces
Uses radioactive nucleotides
What is cycle sequencing
Modified automated version of Sanger method
Can sequence 12000 bases per minute
Uses fluorescent dye rather than radioactive label so all chains can run in same by a laser beam
What is pyrosequencing
Light emitting reaction linked to DNA polymerase detected by a computer
Involves synthesising complimentary single strand of DNA to the strand being sequenced one base at a time
Detecting light emission used to determine which base added at which step
1 million reads occur at one time
What is genetic engineering
Process where a gene from one organism is inserted in to the genome of another so that it has a desired characteristic
How is the desired gene cut out of DNA and inserted into the genome of another in genetic engineering
Enzyme cuts it out
Inserted into a plasmid vector, replaced inserted back into so it can multiply
Bacteria replicates with desired gene
Benefits of gm bacteria
Produces useful substances as human insulin to treat diabetes
Benefits of gm crops
Improve yield and resistance to pests and disease
What is golden rice
Gene taken from tomatoes to make beta carotene pigment - converted into vitamin A in the body
Used to prevent vitamin A deficiency and blindness in Africa and Asia
Benefits of gm sheep
Engineered to produce useful things in milk (drugs to treat human disease)
Benefits of gm in medicine
Produce large quantities of proteins such as insulin and other drugs very fast
Human insulin won’t be rejected when made this way
Allow treatment in for some human genetic disorders in the future
Disadvantage of gm in medicine
Genetic engineering is expensive
