Unit 1 KA 1.1 ✓

Question 1

What is a Hazard?

Answer 1

A hazard is anything that could cause you harm

e.g. Toxic/corrosive chemicals, flammable substances, pathogens etc

Question 2

What is a Risk?

Answer 2

A risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm

Question 3

What is a Risk assesment?

Answer 3

A risk assesment is an assesment that outlines all hazards and possible control methods to minimise their risk

Question 4

What is Linear dilution?

Answer 4

Linear dilution is when the dilutions differ by equal intervals, they are made up to the same overall volume. This produces different concentrations of the stock solution

e.g. 0.1, 0.2, 0.3…

Question 5

What is Log (serial) dilution?

Answer 5

Log dilution is when the dilutions differ by constant proportion

Question 6

What is Colorimetry?

Answer 6

Colorimetry is used to estimate the concentration of a know solute, the density of cells in a culture or the turbidity of a liquid using a colorimeter.

Question 7

What is a Standard curve?

Answer 7

A standard curve is a graph that is made using linear dilutions and a colorimeter. It can be used to estimate the concentration of a known solution using its absorbance

Question 8

What is a Buffer?

Answer 8

A buffer is a solution where adding acid, alkali or water will have a very small effect on its pH, allowing the pH in a reaction to be kept constant

Question 9

What is Centrifugation?

Answer 9

Centrifugation is used to seperate molecules based on density, it involves spinning samples at very high speeds causing materials of different densities to seperate into a pellet and supernatant

Question 10

What is Chromatography?

(Paper and thin layer)

Answer 10

Paper and thin layer chromotography is used to seperate amino acids and sugars depending on their solubility

Paper - cellulose based paper
Thin layer - Silica gel/solid cellulose

Question 11

What is Chromatography?

(Affinity)

Answer 11

Affinity chromatography is used to seperate one specific protein from a mixture based on the proteins affinity

NOTE: Affinity is based on the R-groups within the protein

Question 12

What is Gel Electrophoresis?

Answer 12

Gel electrophoresis seperates charged molecules by running an electric current through an agrose gel matrix

e.g. DNA, nucleic acids and proteins

Question 13

In Gel Electrophoresis:

Whats the difference between Native and SDS-PAGE gels?

Answer 13

Native gels seperate proteins based on their size, shape and charge.
SDS-PAGE gels denature proteins and all proteins are equally negatively charged so seperates by size alone

Question 14

What is an Isoelectric point?

Answer 14

An isoelectric point (IEP) of a protein is the pH at which it has no net charge and will precipitate out of solution. This can be used to seperate soluble proteins

Question 15

What are Immunoassay techniques?

Answer 15

Immunoassay techniques are used to detect and identify different proteins using antibodies

NOTE: immuno - antibodies assay - test

Question 16

What are Monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 16

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies all derived from a single line of cells so they are all identical, this ensures all the antibodies are specific to the same antigen

NOTE: mono - one clonal - the same

Question 17

In terms of antibodies -

What is a Chemical label?

(Give three examples -)

Answer 17

A chemical label is attached to an antibody. It detects when that antibody has bound to a protein and produces a colour change

(reporter enzyme, chemiluminescence or flurescence)

Question 18

What is Western blotting?

Answer 18

Western blotting takes place after SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. It involves transferring (blotting) the seperate proteins on the gel onto a solid medium

NOTE: This is useful as gel is fragile!

Question 19

What is Bright field microscopy?

Answer 19

Bright field microscopy is used to observe whole organisms, parts of organisms, thin sections of dissected tissue or individual cells

Question 20

What is Fluorescent microscopy?

Answer 20

Fluorescent microscopy is used to visualise specific structures or molecules within cells and tissue

NOTE: Fluorecent labels bind to certain molecules/structures so they can be seen

Question 21

What is Aseptic technique?

Answer 21

Aseptic technique is the sterilisation of equipment/culture media by heat or chemical means to eliminate unwanted microbial contaminants

Question 22

In terms of types of culture media -

What is Agar medium?

Answer 22

Agar medium is a solid media

NOTE: Think of a petri dish, agar is the jelly

Question 23

In terms of types of culture media -

What is Broth?

Answer 23

Broth is liquid media which contains nutrients

Question 24

In terms of types of culture media -

What is Animal cell medium?

Answer 24

Animal cell medium contains growth factors like proteins, that promotes cell growth and proliferation

Question 25

What are **Primary** and **Tumour** cell lines?

Answer 25

Primary cell lines divide a limited number of times Tumour cell lines divide an unlimited number of times | NOTE: Remember, cancer tumours divide uncontrollably - unlimited

Question 26

What is a **Haemocytometer**?

Answer 26

A haemocytometer is a piece of equipment used to estimate the concentration of cells in a *liquid* culture | e.g. In Broth medium

Question 27

What is a **Vital stain**?

Answer 27

A vital stain is used to distinguish if cells are viable (living) or dead. They often stain the dead cells