Lesson 11: The Genome

Question 1

what is the human genome project

Answer 1

a project that wanted to determine the complete 3 billion nitrogenous base sequence of human DNA- it started in 1990

Question 2

which groups announced the deciphering of the human genome sequence in 2000?

Answer 2

both celera genomics and the HGP

Question 3

what is the human genome made up of

Answer 3

3 billion base pairs; this means that about 98% of your DNA does not code for a gene so is called a non-coding or junk DNA

Question 4

what are the parts of our DNA that don’t code for a gene called? what percent of our DNA is this?

Answer 4

98% of our DNA does not code for a gene which is called non-coding or junk DNA

Question 5

what happens once the genome was sequenced?

Answer 5

research could then be conducted to isolate genes and determine their function

Question 6

what is functional genomics + an example

Answer 6

when research is conducted to isolate genes and determine their function
- ex: our ability to identify genes are a sign of increased risk for diseases like cancer (product of functional genomics)

Question 7

how does DNA identification work

Answer 7

people in labs take a blood sample, extract it, and freeze it (for a specific duration of time)

Question 8

what tools are used during DNA identification processes

Answer 8

swabs, petri dishes, tweezers, PPE

Question 9

benefits of DNA identification

Answer 9

• DNA can screen for genetic disorders (ex: cystic fibrosis, huntington disease..)
• DNA identification is personal and private
• can possibly invent technology to bring back extinct organisms in the future by storing their DNA
• can develop more “workable” species

Question 10

controversies in DNA identifications

Answer 10

• they are storing the blood of extinct animals or organism
• scientists may use this DNA identification in the future that may bring back extinct species
• scientists are holding an organism’s DNA for however long they want, thus leading to the potential of organisms being duplicated

Question 11

what is DNA fingerprinting and DNA data bank and how does it work

Answer 11

• a judge can request hair, blood, or other organic samples to help identify convicts- the info is then stored on a national DNA database, where the police can use it to help identify people
• DNA fingerprinting uses a gel to create a pattern of bands, whih displays the characteristics of individuals

Question 12

what is DNA fingerprinting and DNA data bank used in

Answer 12

• commonly used in paternity cases
• used to solve issues around ancestry/family information

Question 13

benefits of DNA fingerprinting and DNA data bank

Answer 13

can result in less convicts being around and help police catch them to protect society from any potential crimes they may commit

Question 14

issues or controversies surrounding DNA fingerprinting and DNA data bank

Answer 14

if the national database contains too many samples, it may increase the probability of innocent people being prosecuted for crimes they didnt commit

Question 15

what are restriction enzymes and what are they used for

Answer 15

• type of enzyme that has the ability to cut DNA at specific locations on the genome
• there are multiple variations of restriction enzymes that each cut at different sites; they are like chemical scissors that can cut DNA at specific sequences

Question 16

what is restriction enzymes a vital part in?

Answer 16

vital part in the formation of recombinant DNA

Question 17

what is restriction enzymes used for

Answer 17

used in DNA fingerprinting for forensic purposes

Question 18

what are benefits of restriction enzymes

Answer 18

• advances in medicine and gene therapies
• biotechnological applications for modified organisms
• crucial in forensic science for DNA identification

Question 19

issues/controversies surrounding restriction enzymes

Answer 19

• the process of restriction enzymes (cutting DNA) can be easily affected by temperature, composition, and concentration of buffers and other chemicals
• there is controversy around recombinant DNA as there are people arguing that manipulating DNA goes against the code of life

Question 20

what is spider silk and what can it be used for

Answer 20

spider silk is strong, waterproof, and stretchy- it can be used to manufacture things like biomaterials for the aerospace industry, strings for tennis rackets, etc.

Question 21

benefits of spider silk

Answer 21

• the silk stretches about 30% more than any elastic nylon
• the spider silk gene has been isolated and inserted into the goat genome; as a result, the goats produce spider silk protein in their milk which can be purified for materials

Question 22

controversies surrounding spider silk

Answer 22

• there aren’t any major controversies, but the process of genetically modifying goats and using their milk to replicate it could be controversial and unethical

Question 23

what is bt corn and how does it work (what does it help with)

Answer 23

bt corn is a genetically modified food; the use of recombinant DNA technology helps make food less susceptible to rotting- it enhances nutritional value and helps make crops resistant to pests and herbicides

Question 24

what is “BT” from BT corn? what does it do

Answer 24

bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is a bacterium found in soil; it produces a natural pesticide of crystal proteins that kill certain insects
- the genes in the proteins have been inserted into many plants like corn through the use of DNA technology

Question 25

issues/controversies with BT corn

Answer 25

• concerns with new allergic responses when producing food with built-in natural pesticide
• if farmers switch to this new GM variety, the genetic diversity of corn will be lower
• there is a fear of what happens if/when the BT gene would ever escape into wild plant populations

Question 26

some benefits of BT corn

Answer 26

DNA recombinant provides for the BT corn to be able to produce on its own pesticides against insects such as the european corn borer
- pesticides reduce the need to spray crops with synthetic pesticides and as they may be health hazards and produce runoff that contaminates lakes, rivers, and groundwater