Biotechnology and Its Impacts
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Questions and Answers

What is one application of genomic DNA libraries?

  • Production of filamentous fungi
  • Creation of RNA silencing technologies
  • Recombinant protein production (correct)
  • Enhancing cellular respiration

    • What is the primary advantage of creating DNA without template DNA?

  • It speeds up the DNA synthesis process.
  • It allows for optimization of DNA sequence for specific organisms. (correct)
  • It requires fewer resources for DNA synthesis.
  • It increases the accuracy of DNA replication.

    • What is one of the main benefits of Amish farmers growing biotech tobacco?

  • They grow traditional tobacco.
  • They do not use any form of biotechnology.
  • They rely solely on fossil fuels.
  • They earn twice as much compared to conventional methods. (correct)

    • What does extension PCR do in the DNA synthesis process?

    <p>It fills in gaps between the primers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organism's genome was synthesized and transplanted into another organism?

    <p>Mycoplasma mycoides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the primary components used for PCR amplification?

    <p>DNA polymerase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a consequence of biofuels being produced from crops?

    <p>Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which technique is associated with in vitro technology in biotechnology?

    <p>In vitro fertilization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key purpose of DNA technology?

    <p>To identify both humans and plants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is conventional use in biotechnology primarily focused on?

    <p>Natural plant products and traditional breeding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long are primers typically used in DNA synthesis?

    <p>50 base pairs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of molecular plant biotechnology?

    <p>Plant tissue culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is considered the father of the Green Revolution?

    <p>Norman Borlaug</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor increases the RNA production in E. coli when a gene is optimized?

    <p>Codon optimization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic of a promoter leads to no production of protein beta?

    <p>Chemical induction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'Green Revolution' refer to?

    <p>The increase in agricultural yields through biotechnological methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of herbicide-resistant GMOs?

    <p>To make farming more efficient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which transformation technique uses Agrobacterium for genetic modification?

    <p>Agrobacterium-mediated transformation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do selectable markers play in the trans DNA preparation process?

    <p>They help identify transformed cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation?

    <p>To help introduce foreign DNA into the plant cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method is used in biolistics for plant transformation?

    <p>Shooting trans-DNA into the cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does altering the rate of cytokinin to auxin have during the callus formation step?

    <p>It influences how the plant reacts during regeneration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following types of GMOs can help overcome the impacts of climate change?

    <p>Drought-resistant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a callus in the context of plant genetic modification?

    <p>An unspecialized cell capable of regenerating into any plant cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long does the drug development process typically take?

    <p>10-15 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a vaccine?

    <p>To prevent infection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following treatments is specifically mentioned as ineffective?

    <p>Hydroxychloroquine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does organ rejection refer to?

    <p>The immune system attacking a donor organ</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many vaccines currently in human trials are in phase 3?

    <p>5</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of stem cells?

    <p>They can develop into specialized cell types</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the current record for the fastest vaccine development?

    <p>4 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanism is used by the Russian Sputnik 5 vaccine?

    <p>Adenovirus vector with coronavirus genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major ethical concern regarding the use of human embryonic stem cells?

    <p>Their use can result in the destruction of potential human life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one advantage of artificial meat production?

    <p>It is generally cheaper to produce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common livestock species that has been successfully cloned?

    <p>Sheep</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a disadvantage of cloning animals?

    <p>Cloning can lead to higher mortality rates in young clones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method have scientists developed to address ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cells?

    <p>Converting somatic stem cells into pluripotent ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential downside to the production of artificial meat?

    <p>It may not be as tasty as traditional meat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main goals of cloning in agriculture?

    <p>To improve animal herds by multiplying advantageous traits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of totipotent stem cells?

    <p>They can differentiate into any cell type, including embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Amish Farmers and Biotechnology

    • Amish farmers grow nicotine-free tobacco and blight-resistant potatoes, earning twice as much with their biotech tobacco due to their unconventional methods.
    • Biotech crops are controversial, leading to debates about their impact on the environment and food security.

    Biofuels and Their Impact

    • Biofuels are produced from substances like maize.
    • The production of biofuels may exacerbate the food crisis as crops are used for fuel instead of food.

    Stem Cells and DNA Technology

    • Biotechnology advancements are responsible for stem cell development.
    • DNA technology is used to identify both humans and plants, aiding in legal investigations.

    Types of Biotechnology

    • Conventional use: Utilizes natural plant products, breeding/improvement, aspects of modern agriculture (hydroponics), and fermentation.
    • Use of in vitro technology: Involves plant tissue culture, embryo rescue (plants), in vitro fertilization (animals), and bioreactors.
    • Molecular plant biotechnology (DNA): Employs molecular markers, cloning and stem cell research, and genetic engineering.

    First Generations: Breeding and the Green Revolution

    • Breeding and selection are traditional practices used to utilize genetic variation selectively.
    • The Green Revolution, spearheaded by Norman Borlaug, began in the 1950s and focused on increasing crop yields through dedicated breeding programs and improved agricultural practices.

    DNA Library Uses

    • Genomic DNA libraries are used for recombinant protein production, including:
      • Protein hormones (e.g., insulin).
      • Enzymes for washing powders.
      • Vaccine epitopes.
      • Molecular biological reagents.

    DNA Synthesis

    • Biotechnology allows for DNA replication on command, unlike natural synthesis within cells.
    • Primers are typically 50bp long with a 20bp overlap.
    • Extension PCR fills in the gaps between primers, enabling the assembly of larger DNA molecules.
    • This method allows researchers to optimize DNA sequences for particular organisms, enhancing expression.

    Advantages of Creating DNA with This Method

    • No template DNA is required, which is an advantage over PCR.
    • DNA sequences can be optimized for specific organisms to enhance gene expression.

    Artificial Life

    • Artificial life is created through biotechnology.
    • The 1,000,000bp genome of Mycoplasma mycoides was synthesized and transplanted into Mycoplasma capricolum, demonstrating the potential of artificial life.

    Types of GMOs

    • Herbicide resistant: Makes farming more efficient by reducing the need for herbicides.
    • Insect resistant: Reduces the use of toxic insecticides.
    • Drought resistant: Helps overcome the impacts of climate change.
    • Improved bioethanol production: Increases efficiency.
    • Non-browning apples: Decreases food wastage.
    • Plantibody production:

    How Plants are Genetically Modified

    • Step One: Make Callus:

      • A callus is an unspecialized cell that is totipotent, meaning it can regenerate into any plant cell.
      • Sterilized plant material is placed onto media containing hormones. The ratio of cytokinin to auxin influences the plant's reaction.

    • Step Two: Trans DNA Preparation:

      • Bacterial selection is used to identify transformed cells.
      • Selectable markers help identify transformed cells.
      • Promoters express the trans genes.
      • The trans gene is converted into RNA, introducing a new activity or repressing gene activity.

    • Step Three: Plant Transformation:

      • This involves the direct transfer of genetic material into a living cell.

    • Transformation Techniques:

      • Agrobacterium mediated transformation: Uses the Ti plasmid, restriction enzymes cut out genes causing gall disease, and introduce multiple cloning sites for insertion of DNA.
      • Direct Transformation Techniques: For intact plant cells, biolistics shoot trans-DNA into the cell using tungsten or gold bullets as carriers.

    Pharmaceutical Pipeline of Drug Development

    • The pharmaceutical pipeline takes approximately 10-15 years for a new drug to be developed and approved.
    • This lengthy and rigorous process explains why new drugs are costly and expensive to create.

    Differences Between a Treatment and a Vaccine

    • Treatment: Helps cure a disease once infected.
    • Vaccine: Prevents infection.

    Coronavirus Treatments

    • Dexamethasone: An anti-inflammatory used to treat patients on ventilators.
    • Blood plasma: Taken from recovered individuals and contains antibodies that bind to the coronavirus.
    • Hydroxychloroquine: Evidence suggests it is ineffective against COVID-19.

    Coronavirus Vaccines

    • The fastest recorded vaccine development took 4 years.
    • There are currently 24 vaccines undergoing human trials, with some in phase 3, phase 2, and phase 1.

    Russian Sputnik 5 Vaccine

    • Two coronavirus genes were transferred to an adenovirus.
    • The adenovirus produces coronavirus proteins, leading to the development of immunity.
    • The vaccine has been expedited to phase 3 trials.

    Stem Cells

    • A cell with the unique ability to develop into specialized cell types in the body.

    Organ Rejection

    • When the patient's immune system recognizes the donor organ as foreign and attempts to eliminate it.

    Ethical Issues with Stem Cell Research

    • The use of cells from human embryos posed ethical concerns as they could potentially become human life.
    • Solution: Scientists have developed methods to convert somatic stem cells into pluripotent ones.

    Artificial Meat

    • Artificial meat is produced efficiently in laboratories.
    • Start-up companies are working to commercialize artificial meat production.

    Advantages of Artificial Meat

    • Less effort required.
    • No livestock needed.
    • Cheaper production.
    • Lower greenhouse gas production.

    Disadvantages of Artificial Meat

    • May not be as tasty.

    Cloning Animals

    • Cloning is a process that replicates the genetic traits of an animal exactly.
    • Successfully cloned livestock species include cattle, swine, sheep, and goats.
    • Mortality rates of young cloned animals are extremely high during pregnancy and infancy.

    Advantages of Cloning Animals

    • Improvement of animal herds by increasing the number of animals with desirable traits.

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    Biotechnology Notes Finished PDF

    Description

    Explore the multifaceted world of biotechnology, including its applications in agriculture, biofuels, and medical advancements. This quiz addresses the benefits and controversies surrounding biotech crops, the role of stem cells, and various biotechnological techniques. Test your knowledge on how these innovations are shaping our environment and food security.

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