L27- Advanced molecular techniques Flashcards
(49 cards)
different molecular techniques must be employed when looking at
micro and macromutations

analysis of DNA can occur at
- nucleotide level
- gene level
- chromosome level
1.Analysis of DNA at nucleotide level
DNA sequencing
PCR plus restriction analysis/ DNA sequencing
Analysis of DNA at the gene level
- Southern hybridisation
- Northern hybridisation
- RT PCR
- Microarray
- DNA fingerprinting
Analysis of DNA at the chromosome level
- Karyotyping
- FISH/ Chromosome painting
DNA sequencing most famous method
sanger sequencing method
Sanger chain termination
dideoxy chain termintation
- allows us to work out the nucleotide sequence of a piece fo DNA (able to find micro-mutations)
sanger chain termination method
- Mixture of dNTPs added
- Deoxynucleotide triphosphate molecules (dNTP) which can be used in DNA replication (normal 3’ hydroxyl group which allows DNA polymerase to add another dNTP)
- Then one at a time different dideoxynucleotide triphosphate (ddNTP- e.g. dATP, dCTP, ddGTP or ddTTP), which contain a H at the 3’ position, are added
- DNA polymerase can use as a substrate, adding it to the growing DNA polymer, it cannot elongate on from it (no more subsequent phosphodiester bonds will form with new dNTPs)
- 4 separate tubes are used each with a unique ddNTP
- e.g. in one tube there will be dNTPs, DNA polymerase, labelled primer and ddCTP
- Incubate at 370C what do we see? Wherever C needs to be added in the sequence there is a chance that:
- i) A dCTP will be used and the chain will continue growing
- ii) A ddCTP will be used and stop further growth
- Because we have lots of the template, overtime we will see a mixture of new DNA molecule produced of different lengths depending on where the ddCTP is incorporated
- After incubation the products of the reaction are run out on a gel sing separate lanes for each reaction tubes
- This will separate the labelled fragments on the basis of size
- We are then able read off the sequence from the bottom of the gel to work out the nucleotide sequence in the newly synthesised strand
- The sequence can then be interpreted e.g. ATGCCTGCA

difference betweend deoxynucleotide triphosphoate (dNTP) and dideoxynucleotide triphosphate (ddNTP)
deoxynucleotide triphosphoate (dNTP) - which can be used in DNA replication (normal 3’ hydroxyl group which allows DNA polymerase to add another dNTP)
dideoxynucleotide triphosphate (ddNTP- e.g. dATP, dCTP, ddGTP or ddTTP) contain a H at the 3’ position
DNA polymerase can use as a substrate, adding it to the growing DNA polymer, it cannot elongate on from it (no more subsequent phosphodiester bonds will form with new dNTPs)

using genome sequencing we can look at
other animal genomes to learn about human disease
e. g. the fact gorillas have very similar genome, but are resistant to malaria
- could be used to develop strategies for humans
DNA sequencing ethical considerations
Who would be interested in your genome info?
- Family
- Potential spouse
- Doctors
- Government
- Police
- Schools
- Insurance company
Can the knowledge help prevent illness in later life?
Does it open up areas for discrimination?
Who owns DNA sequence?
PCR
Amplifies specific segments of DNA
What is needed for PCR?
1) Primers
2) dNTPs (free nucleotides)
3) Taq polymerase
4) DNA template to be copied
5) Buffer
6) Thermocycler
PCR Process
1) Denaturing (90-95)- separate double strands
2) Annealing (50-56)- temp lowered to enable primers to bind
3) Extension (72)- temp raised and new strands synthesised by polymerase
–> Cycle repeated- amount of DNA doubles every time
PCR uses what sort of primers
allele- specific primers- isolates point mutations
allele- specific primers
In this approach, the specific primers are designed to permit amplification by DNA polymerase only if the nucleotide at the 3’-end of the primer perfectly complements the base at the variant or wild-type sequences. After the PCR and electrophoresis, the patterns of specific PCR products permit the differentiation of the SNPs.

Southern blotting uses
uses DNA probes to identify complementary DNA sequences after gel electrophoresis
Northern blotting
uses DNA to detect RNA after gel electrophoresis
western uses
not a DNA hybridisation technique. Involves detection of proteins by antibodies after protein gel electrophoresis
why use soutehrn hydridisation
Investigate gene structure e.g. large deletions or duplications
To investigate gene expansions such as triplet repeats e.g. Huntington’s
To investigate mutations in genetics tests
To investigate variation, genetic relationships e.g. DNA fingerprinting
southern hydridiation allows
visualistion of specific DNA e.g. to see if individual has specific DNA that codes for a disease
southern hydridisation process
Take DNA sample and cleave using endonucleases à smaller pieces of DNA
DNA fragments are run on a gel electrophoresis which separates fragments based on charge and size
Take gel electrophoresis and transfer onto nitrocellulose filter (place on top and the fragments will transfer absorb onto the filter)
Take the filter and expose to radiolabelled / fluorescently labelled probe (ssDNA complementary to gene of interest)- hybridisation
Probe will anneal to gene of interest which has complementary DNA
Then expose filter to x-ray (radiolabelled)- will expose if gene A is present or not

probes in blotttingare either
Radiolabelled or fluorescently labelled










