GENOMICS Flashcards
(68 cards)
Why use DNA polymerase for enzyme restriction?
PCR
Generate probes
Blunt endings of DNA
Why use polynucleotide kinase for enzyme restrictions?
Used to phosphorylate chemically synthesised DNA - can be ligated to another fragment.
Used to sensitively label DNA so that is can be traced using - radioactively labelled ATP or fluorescently labelled ATP
Features of plasmid vectors
Can be linearised at 1 or more sites in non-essential stretches of DNA
Can have DNA inserted into them
Can be re-circularised without loss of the ability to replicate
Often modified to replicate at high multiplicity within a host cell
Contain selectable markers
Most are relatively small 4-5kb in size
How are bacterial plasmids used as a vector
The vector and the PCR amplicon of the gene must be cut with restriction enzymes to produce compatible ends
Then joined by ligation using DNA ligase
Functionality of Plasmids
Express the recombinant gene in a living organism of choice
add or modify control elements
alter the properties of the gene product
Why are plasmids an essential part of the tool kit?
Discrete circular dsDNA molecules
Are a means by which genetic information is maintained in bacteria
Genetic elements that exist replicate independently of the bacterial chromosomes and therefore extra-chromosomal
Normally exchanged between bacteria within a restricted host range
The reaction for DNA sequencing
Sequencing reaction Strand separation Annealing primer Extension Chain termination
Describe the steps for DNA sequencing, strand separation and annealing primer
DNA is mixed with dideoxy and deoxy nucleotides
Oligonucleotide primer binds to template
polymerase recognises the primer and creates an initiation complex and start elongation.
How does dideoxy chain termination work?
The steps in dideoxy chain termination
- Have a produce template – done by PCR
- Enzymatic sequencing reaction – DNA polymerase make multiple copies of DNA
- Size separation of products by capillary electrophoresis – sorting by size
- Detection of reaction products – sequential detection of the terminating nucleotide to identify the base
- Readout of sequence – reconstructing the sequence
Principles of genetic linkage
Genetic linkage - tendency to alleles at neighbouring loci to segregate together at meiosis
Cross overs are more likely to occur between loci separated by distance than between loci close together on chroomosome
What is linkage analysis?
Method used to map the location of a disease gene in the genome
Genetic markers that are close to our disease gene will be co-inherited together
Ideal genetic markers
Polymorphic Randomly distributed across the genome Fixed location in genome Frequent in population Stable with time Easy to assay
Mechanism for X-inactivation
The Xist gene is transcribed as a long non-coding RNA from the X-inactivation centre and binds all over the X-chromosome
Histone acetylation removed and histone and DNA methylation occur
Inactive X-chromosome is heterochromatic – Barr body
Tsix is derived by transcription in the opposite direction and antagonises Xist RNA to keep 1 X active
What does transcriptomics do
Discovers the biology of your samples
Classify samples
Predict which class a sample belongs to
Data analysis work flow
1) Feature extraction
2) Quality control
3) Normalisation
4) Differential expression analysis
5) Biological analysis
6) Submit data to public repository
Expression analysis
1) Normalisation
2) Hierarchial clustering
3) Gene filtering
4) Statistical tests
5) Generate gene list
6) Biological interpretation
How do SNP microarrays work
Microarrays hybridise with genomic DNA adjacent to SNPs
The SNP is extended by 1 base that is fluorescently labelled and detected using a high definition scanner
Steps in next generation sequencing
1) DNA library construction
2) Cluster generation
3) Sequencing by synthesis
4) Data analysis
Describe the process of DNA library construction
Shearing - DNA chopped into small fragments
Must repair the ends of fragments - Adapters added
Describe the process of cluster generation
Hybridise DNA library fragment to flow cell - is random.
Must amplify fragments. - bridge amplification to make clusters
Describe the process of sequencing by synthesis
Modified 4 bases with chain terminators, different fluorescent colour dye.
Sequence each single nucleotide 1 cycle at a time in a controlled manner.
Single nucleotide incorporation (DNA polymerase)
Flow cell wash
Image the 4 bases
Repeat for full length sequence
How is RNA sequenced in NGS
RNA first converted to cDNA before library construction.
NGS of RNA samples - show which genes are actively expressed.
Number of sequencing reads = measure gene abundance
RNA seq can discover distinct isoforms of genes
Metagenomics
Study of genetic material covered directly from environmental or biological systems/compartments
Microbiome
Characteristic microbial community occupying a reasonably well defined habitat which has distinct physio chemical properties