Genetics

Question 1

Bioinformatics

Answer 1

Using computer software to organise and analyse raw biological data

Question 2

Computational biology

Answer 2

Use of data from bioinformatics to build theoretical models

Question 3

Advantages of bioinformatics

Answer 3

Can process large pieces of data quickly
Helps us look at disease causing genes, protein structure, function and ancestors links

Question 4

Pathogen genome sequencing and uses

Answer 4

Can map pathogens genomes

Uses:
Can make drugs to target specific parts on pathogen
Identify pathogens in patients
Identify antibiotic resistance
Track infection spread

Question 5

Uses of bioinformatics

Answer 5

Identify genetic mutations that cause disease
Understand evolutionary relationship
Predict protein structure and identify drug targets
Track infection spread
Can predict bio processes such as protein folding
Visualise data making it to easier to interpret

Question 6

Genetic engineering

Answer 6

Use restriction endonuclease enzymes to cleave DNA at specific restriction points
Use terminal transferase to add nucleotides to end and create sticky ends
Use same restriction endonuclease to cut open plasmid at marker gene so it will have complementary sticky ends
DNA ligase will then form Phosphodiester bonds between desired gene and plasmid forming recombinant plasmid
Transformation- heat shock by repeatbably making hot and cold with calcium chloride to increase permeability of membrane

Question 7

Artificial twinning

Answer 7

Select organism with desired characteristics
Harvest sperm and eggs
Undertake IVF
Stim cells to divide and form a zygote using electric shock
Divide zygote into individual cells and stim to divide by mitosis
Forms genetically identical embryos
Implant embryos into surrogates

Question 8

Synthetic biology

Answer 8

Can predict protein shape
Allows us to make drugs specific to glycoproteins to increase the effectiveness
Can synthesise new bacteria by manipulating genomes to make advancement in biology and medicine

Question 9

Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Answer 9

Remove somatic cell from adult clone and remove nucleus
Remove egg cell from another organism
Endonuclease the egg cell
Insert nucleus from somatic cell into nucleus
Stim cells to divide using electric shock to form embryo
Embryo is implanted into surrogate

Question 10

Two improvements to improve accuracy of a bacteria population estimate

Answer 10

Repeat method at least three times with the same solutions to identify anomalous data and calculate a mean

Reduce the number of dilutions to reduce the % error

Question 11

How can bacterial cells be screened to check if they have taken up the recombinant plasmid

Answer 11

Use a marker gene or gene for antibiotic resistance