Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of DNA ligase?

To synthesize RNA from DNA

To form bonds between DNA strands (correct)

To replicate DNA strands

To cut DNA into fragments

What is a plasmid?

A circular piece of DNA that replicates independently (correct)

A type of enzyme that breaks down DNA

A linear piece of RNA

A protein that helps in DNA replication

Which of the following represents a step in the process of bacterial gene cloning?

All DNA is removed from the plasmid

The plasmid is extracted from the bacteria

Pieces of DNA are ligated into the plasmid (correct)

The bacteria are genetically modified without plasmids

What does a plasmid map display?

The graphical layout of plasmids and landmarks Signup and view all the answers

What occurs after the plasmid is cut with restriction enzymes in the cloning process?

New DNA pieces are ligated into the plasmid Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the transformed E. coli after the plasmid with new DNA is introduced?

It is inoculated in liquid media to grow overnight Signup and view all the answers

What is a recombinant DNA molecule?

Molecules from two different species combined Signup and view all the answers

Which enzyme is primarily used to ligate DNA into the plasmid?

DNA ligase Signup and view all the answers

What year were the first GM crops released?

1996 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four main GM crops?

Rice Signup and view all the answers

What is a function of Bt protein in GM crops?

Kills pests Signup and view all the answers

Which country has implemented biotechnology strategies that mention improving nutrition?

South Africa Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the selectable marker gene in the transformation process?

To identify transformed cells Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the untransformed cells during the selection process?

They remain present with transformed cells Signup and view all the answers

What role does Taq DNA polymerase serve in molecular biology?

Replicates DNA Signup and view all the answers

Which bases are found in DNA?

Adenosine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of hardening off in plant regeneration?

It allows plants to manage water relations Signup and view all the answers

What are chimeras in the context of transformed plants?

Plants containing cells with different genetic makeups Signup and view all the answers

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

DNA is transcribed into RNA which is translated into protein Signup and view all the answers

During which step do transformed cells begin regeneration?

Step Five: Plant Regeneration Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of not using selection during the transformation process?

Increased labor to identify transformed plants Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using selectable marker genes?

Improved growth rate of transgenic plants Signup and view all the answers

What occurs concurrently with the selection process during transformation?

Plant regeneration Signup and view all the answers

What can genomic DNA libraries be used for?

Producing protein hormones like insulin Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of synthesizing DNA via the methods described?

Allows for optimization of DNA sequences Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of DNA synthesis typically involves primers with a specific length?

Oligo synthesis and PCR amplification Signup and view all the answers

What does 'codon optimization' enhance in the context of E. coli?

The synthesis of RNA and protein production Signup and view all the answers

What organism was used to synthesize a large genome in the example provided?

Mycoplasma mycoides Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of extension PCR in DNA synthesis?

To fill gaps between primers Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when a promoter is induced?

Proteins are continually produced Signup and view all the answers

What type of biological reagents can genomic DNA libraries provide?

Molecular biological reagents Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?

To rapidly amplify specific DNA samples Signup and view all the answers

What must be known for PCR to function effectively?

The sequence of the specific DNA Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the PCR process?

Denaturation Signup and view all the answers

At what temperature does the denaturation step occur in PCR?

94℃ Signup and view all the answers

How many cycles does PCR typically undergo?

20-40 cycles Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Taq DNA polymerase in PCR?

To elongate the DNA Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the annealing step in PCR?

To bind primers to specific locations Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the amount of DNA after each cycle of PCR?

It doubles Signup and view all the answers

What must be acquired in a written form from humans before conducting experiments?

Informed consent Signup and view all the answers

What was one unethical experiment involving children?

Testing children with laced oats Signup and view all the answers

Which step involves comparing targets in terms of their association with a specific illness?

Target Validation Signup and view all the answers

What kind of studies are carried out during Lead Optimisation?

Both in vivo and in vitro studies Signup and view all the answers

What does ADME stand for in the context of drug development?

Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of lead generation in drug discovery?

To identify candidate molecules with treatment potential Signup and view all the answers

What often characterizes the discovery of new drugs?

It often occurs accidentally Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the lead validation phase of drug discovery?

Comparison of different leads for effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is the use and manipulation of organisms, or their components, to benefit mankind. This includes the understanding, use and changing of organisms to benefit mankind and their environments.
Hydroponics is the process of growing plants in a medium with added nutrients, rather than soil.
Purple tomatoes contain high levels of anthocyanins. This has been shown to reduce cancer levels in mice.
Sterile mosquitoes can help reduce populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Salmon containing increased growth hormone levels allows for faster farming.
Biotechnology is practiced for the first time in 30,000 BCE artificial food production.
Populations need more food increased to meet the needs of the population.
Artificial corn is easier to peel and steam, and has ~200 varieties and can be grown in 69 countries compared to natural corn, indigenous to central America.
Biotech reduces the need for pesticides, increases crop yields, and increases farmer income.
Amish farmers utilize biotechnology, producing nicotine-free tobacco and blight resistant potatoes, which increases their revenue.
Biofuels can be made from plants such as maize but this can also lead to food shortages if more land is dedicated to biofuels.
Biotechnology is useful to identify humans and plants. It has legal use for DNA analysis.

Types of Biotechnology

Conventional use: natural plant products, breeding improvement, aspects of modern agriculture (including hydroponics), fermentation
In vitro technology: plant tissue culture, embryo rescue, in vitro fertilization, and bioreactors.
Molecular plant biotechnology: molecular markers, cloning, stem cell research, genetic engineering
Different generations of biotechnology have different uses.
First generation biotechnology was established in 1950's with the father being Norman Borlaug and improved crops due to breeding and selection programs.
In the second generation of biotechnology, in vitro techniques are used to make plants and tissues grow in sterile culture.
The third generation includes molecular markers such as linked traits, to predict the phenotypes of individuals.
The third generation also includes genetic manipulation whereby DNA is added to an organism.

GMOs

GMOs are genetically modified organisms. They are engineered with genetic traits, added or removed.
GMO examples include sweet potatoes, which contain genes inserted using bacteria to create GMO's. There are also butterflies containing genes injected by parasitic wasps.
There have been no recorded deaths from GMOs.
In 2017, 17 million farmers in 28 countries planted 190 million hectares of GM crops.

Biotechnology Crops

Biotechnology crops including soybean, maize, cotton and canola.
Bt protein in crops such as maize and cotton reduces the need for pesticides.

South African Biotechnology Strategy

Aims to improve access to, and affordability of, healthcare.
Providing sufficient nutrition at a low cost.
To create jobs in manufacturing.
To protect the environment.
To embrace biotechnology.

Central Dogma

The central dogma is a process in which DNA instructions are converted into functional protein products.
DNA is a double stranded nucleic acid.
This process includes replication, transcription, and translation.
Replication produces identical DNA molecules.
Transcription is when RNA is produced using DNA, which can be used as a template.
Translation is the process of creating a protein from the mRNA template.

DNA Manipulation

Restriction enzymes cut specific DNA sequences.
DNA ligase seals the bonds between restriction fragments.
Plasmids are small, circular DNA pieces that replicate independently of the chromosome and regulate expression of a gene.

DNA Determination - Polymerase Chain Reaction

Used to rapidly make many copies of a specific DNA sample.
Amplifying a small amount of DNA to large enough amounts for study.
It allows for rapid amplification of pieces of DNA but only if the sequence is known or someone else identifies the gene.
Necessary to split DNA into one strand in order for PCR to occur.
This has three steps involved: Denaturation, annealing, and extension.
Denaturation is where the DNA is split using heat
Annealing is where the primers bind to the DNA.
Extension is where DNA polymerase elongates the DNA.
This process is repeated many times to amplify DNA.

Genome Libraries

Used to identify genes based on similarity to other genes.
Genomic libraries contain randomly cut out pieces of DNA from the nucleus. They contain exons and introns.
Metagenomic libraries contain randomly cut pieces of DNA from environmental samples.
cDNA libraries contain DNA produced from RNA using reverse transcriptase. These do not have introns.

Regulatory Domains

Activator: Protein that increases gene transcription
Silencer: DNA sequence for transcription regulation factors
Promoter: DNA sequence that defines location for start of transcription
Terminator: DNA sequence that defines end of transcription

Problem with Cloning

Difficult to identify bacteria containing plasmids with an insert.
This was a limitation to how bacteria were cloned
A beta galactosidase gene (lacZ) and an artificial substrate (eg: X gal) was used; this helped by producing a blue dye that would help determine areas of no insert in the bacteria, and the white sections which contained an insert.

Plant Products

Starch is used as a thickener in food, to make paper feel smooth, to lubricate tight fitting rubber clothing, as main ingredients in producing bioethanol and can be used to create biodegradable plastic.
Oil is used in food, recreational (essential oils) and can be converted into fuel such as biodiesel.

Biodiesel

Plants used for biodiesel production include soybean, corn, and canola. These plants do not produce oil as a major compound, and instead, it is seen as a byproduct.

Protein

Protein is an important plant commodity. Food production can be improved if staples including maize, have the correct amino acid balances, such as lysine and tryptophan.
Children consuming QPM benefit with growth and weight gain.
Plantibodies use the plant as a bioreactor to produce antibodies.

Plant Cells

Plant cell walls cannot produce bioethanol due to lignin.
The cell wall can be genetically engineered to produce less lignin.

Plant Vaccines

Plant cells express an epitope from a disease causing organism. This is an advantage over microorganisms because it has a higher yield.

Example: Taxol

Taxol is a product of secondary metabolism, inhibiting mitosis.
Used in treatments for breast cancer and is found in the bark of the Pacific Yew.
This tree is slow growing and it would take many trees to produce enough taxol for a single patient.

Plant Cell Bioreactors

Used for growing plant cultures quickly.
Cells are isolated and placed into bioreactors then fed with nutrients to mature into plant cells.

GMOs - Genetically Modified Organisms

Organisms modified by changing their genetic information to benefit mankind.

Watermelon Examples

Traditional breeding involves planting and growing existing seeds. There is some possibility for desired mutations.
Genetic modification (GM) involves introducing foreign DNA into the watermelon genome.

Types of GMOs

Herbicide resistant
Insect resistant
Drought resistant
Improved bioethanol production
Non-browning apples

How Plants Are Genetically Modified

Step one: making callus cells which are unspecialized and totipotent
Step two: DNA preparation involves making a construct using bacterial selection and making RNA from the gene.
Step three: plant transformation (direct insertion of DNA)
Step four: selection of the transformed plants.
Step five: plant regeneration.

Selection Genes

Used to identify transformed plant cells.
Can show resistance to certain toxic substances.

GMO Permit Application Process in SA

Applications for GMO testing and field trials, including the results, required toxicity studies, and other details, are presented to authorities.
A report outlining those details is written, reviewed by an advisory committee, and reviewed by the executive council.

Ethical Issues

Utilizing human embryos raises ethical concerns
Alternative solutions to create pluripotent stem cells without harming the embryo.

Artificial Meat

Created in a laboratory
Advantages include efficiency, lower cost, less greenhouse gas production, and no livestock needed.
Disadvantages include taste.

Cloning Animals

Cloning is a process to copy the genetic traits of an animal exactly.
Success rate is extremely low.
This can be used to increase populations of animals with advantageous traits and for conservation purposes.

Somatic Nuclear Cell Transfer

Genetic material from one somatic (body) cell is placed into an egg cell, to reproduce a genetically similar animal.
It is a laboratory technique that is time-consuming.

Embryo Twinning

Identical twins are developed through splitting an embryo into halves, which leads to twins from the same genetic background

Animal Transgenics

Organism that has been genetically modified by placing foreign, or non-native, DNA into their genome.
Used in research to study animal and human diseases, to improve livestock efficiency, and using animals as bioreactors.
Several methods for creating transgenic organisms include retro virus mediated transgenesis, pronuclear microinjection, spermediated transfer, and gene guns.

Transgenic Animal Examples

Glofish: exhibit fluorescent genes from jellyfish (GFP)
Enviropigs that express phytase to digest phosphorus reducing waste.

Gene Targeting

Used to modify organisms by creating a “knockout” (removal of a specific gene) in mice/animals
Used to study specific gene loss in a controlled environment. This helps understand the role that the specific gene plays.

Animal Bioreactors

Organisms modified genetically to produce a desired protein.
The animals milk and egg production are increased to produce the desired protein.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts in biotechnology and genetic engineering. This quiz covers essential topics such as DNA ligase, plasmids, gene cloning processes, and the role of GM crops. Challenge yourself to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive genetic modifications.