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Questions and Answers
What is the process referred to when creating a genetically identical copy of an organism?
What is the process referred to when creating a genetically identical copy of an organism?
What notable development arose from the technique of molecular cloning?
What notable development arose from the technique of molecular cloning?
What is the role of a plasmid in molecular cloning?
What is the role of a plasmid in molecular cloning?
In molecular cloning, the term 'foreign DNA' usually refers to what?
In molecular cloning, the term 'foreign DNA' usually refers to what?
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What is a primary benefit of molecular cloning as illustrated by the production of synthetic insulin?
What is a primary benefit of molecular cloning as illustrated by the production of synthetic insulin?
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What characteristic do plasmids provide that can benefit the host organism?
What characteristic do plasmids provide that can benefit the host organism?
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What was a significant outcome of early molecular cloning research?
What was a significant outcome of early molecular cloning research?
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Which of the following statements is true about the replication of plasmids in bacterial cells?
Which of the following statements is true about the replication of plasmids in bacterial cells?
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What primary factor contributes to the separation of nucleic acids during gel electrophoresis?
What primary factor contributes to the separation of nucleic acids during gel electrophoresis?
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Why are nucleic acids invisible in the gel matrix until treated?
Why are nucleic acids invisible in the gel matrix until treated?
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Which component is essential for the amplification of specific DNA regions in PCR?
Which component is essential for the amplification of specific DNA regions in PCR?
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What is the result of running uncut genomic DNA through a gel during electrophoresis?
What is the result of running uncut genomic DNA through a gel during electrophoresis?
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Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?
Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?
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What happens to smaller nucleic acid molecules during gel electrophoresis?
What happens to smaller nucleic acid molecules during gel electrophoresis?
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What is a typical visual outcome when a mixture of DNA fragments is analyzed through gel electrophoresis?
What is a typical visual outcome when a mixture of DNA fragments is analyzed through gel electrophoresis?
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What role does the electric current play in gel electrophoresis?
What role does the electric current play in gel electrophoresis?
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What is the primary purpose of messenger RNA (mRNA) in cells?
What is the primary purpose of messenger RNA (mRNA) in cells?
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Which of the following components is NOT part of a nucleotide?
Which of the following components is NOT part of a nucleotide?
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During DNA extraction, what role does alcohol play?
During DNA extraction, what role does alcohol play?
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Why is RNA considered to be naturally unstable?
Why is RNA considered to be naturally unstable?
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What is the first step in isolating nucleic acids from cells?
What is the first step in isolating nucleic acids from cells?
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In gel electrophoresis, why do nucleic acids move when subjected to an electric field?
In gel electrophoresis, why do nucleic acids move when subjected to an electric field?
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What method is commonly used to break open cells during nucleic acid extraction?
What method is commonly used to break open cells during nucleic acid extraction?
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What is the composition of a genome in eukaryotic organisms?
What is the composition of a genome in eukaryotic organisms?
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What characteristic of plasmid vectors makes them valuable for introducing foreign DNA fragments?
What characteristic of plasmid vectors makes them valuable for introducing foreign DNA fragments?
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What is the primary function of restriction enzymes?
What is the primary function of restriction enzymes?
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What defines a palindromic DNA sequence?
What defines a palindromic DNA sequence?
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What are ‘sticky ends’ in the context of DNA manipulation?
What are ‘sticky ends’ in the context of DNA manipulation?
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What role does DNA ligase play in molecular cloning?
What role does DNA ligase play in molecular cloning?
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Why are sticky ends important during the process of cloning?
Why are sticky ends important during the process of cloning?
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What is the outcome of a staggered cut made by a restriction enzyme?
What is the outcome of a staggered cut made by a restriction enzyme?
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What describes the process of annealing in DNA molecular cloning?
What describes the process of annealing in DNA molecular cloning?
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What is the term for plasmids that contain foreign DNA?
What is the term for plasmids that contain foreign DNA?
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What are proteins produced from recombinant DNA molecules called?
What are proteins produced from recombinant DNA molecules called?
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Which of the following factors can control the expression of recombinant proteins?
Which of the following factors can control the expression of recombinant proteins?
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What is the primary goal of reproductive cloning?
What is the primary goal of reproductive cloning?
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What type of cells are combined during sexual reproduction to create a zygote?
What type of cells are combined during sexual reproduction to create a zygote?
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What is required to produce a viable zygote?
What is required to produce a viable zygote?
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What was the significance of Dolly the sheep in the context of cloning?
What was the significance of Dolly the sheep in the context of cloning?
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What does it indicate if the success rate of reproductive cloning is low?
What does it indicate if the success rate of reproductive cloning is low?
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What is the primary concern regarding the DNA used to create Dolly?
What is the primary concern regarding the DNA used to create Dolly?
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What are embryonic stem cells capable of developing into?
What are embryonic stem cells capable of developing into?
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What benefit does cloning provide for therapeutic applications?
What benefit does cloning provide for therapeutic applications?
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Who independently discovered stem cells in different layers of the skin?
Who independently discovered stem cells in different layers of the skin?
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What is the process used to create genetically modified organisms called?
What is the process used to create genetically modified organisms called?
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Which option best describes the use of recombinant DNA in genetic engineering?
Which option best describes the use of recombinant DNA in genetic engineering?
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Why was Dolly, the cloned sheep, not a Scottish Blackface sheep?
Why was Dolly, the cloned sheep, not a Scottish Blackface sheep?
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What is the primary purpose of creating cloned human embryos?
What is the primary purpose of creating cloned human embryos?
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Study Notes
Biotechnology in Medicine and Agriculture
- Biotechnology uses artificial methods to modify genetic material of living organisms or cells to make new compounds or do new things
- Biotechnology has been improving livestock and crops since early agriculture, by selective breeding
- Since 1953 and especially since the 1970s, biotechnology has involved manipulating DNA at a molecular level
- Key applications of biotechnology are in medicine (vaccines and antibiotics) and agriculture (crop modification)
- Biotechnology has industrial and household applications (fermentation, oil spill treatment, laundry detergents)
Cloning and Genetic Engineering
- Cloning is creating a perfect replica of something, typically genetically identical
- Reproductive cloning recreates a whole organism
- Molecular cloning copies short stretches of DNA
- Basic tools used to work with nucleic acids are macromolecules made of nucleotides
- DNA has two complementary strands linked by hydrogen bonds between paired bases
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) is used to represent protein coding genes
- DNA and RNA isolation involves breaking open cells, destroying undesired molecules, extracting and purifying DNA
Gel Electrophoresis
- Nucleic acids are negatively charged in an alkaline and neutral pH aqueous environment and can be moved via an electric field
- Gel electrophoresis separates fragments based on size and charges
- Nucleic acids can be whole chromosomes or fragments
- Small fragments move faster through the gel pores than larger fragments
- Nucleic acids in the matrix become visible when stained, appearing as bands at specific distances from the gel's top (negative electrode end)
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- PCR increases the number of copies of specific regions of DNA for further analysis
- PCR uses DNA polymerase and short nucleotide sequences called primers that pair with a DNA region to be copied
- PCR is used in laboratories for various purposes such as crime scene investigations, paternity testing, ancient DNA comparisons, and DNA sequencing
Cloning
- Cloning means replication, genetically identical copy; in biology, recreating a whole organism is called reproductive cloning
- Molecular cloning involves copying short stretches of DNA, useful to create new medicines and improve existing ones (e.g. synthetic insulin)
- The use of plasmids (vectors), is useful in cloning to carry DNA fragments into bacterial cells for copying or gene expression
- Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules that replicate independently of the host chromosome
- Recombinant DNA molecules in plasmids contain new genetic combinations and these plasmids can be used to express recombinant proteins
Molecular Cloning
- Molecular cloning involves creating multiple copies of gene regions, expressing genes, and studying specific genes
- DNA fragment insertion into a plasmid (or vector) is used to get the DNA into bacterial cell in a form that can be copied and expressed
- Gene expression control in the plasmid is an additional feature that scientists can exploit
- Recombinant DNA molecules are called those with new combinations of genetic material
Reproductive Cloning
- Reproductive cloning produces a genetically identical copy of an entire multicellular organism
- Sexual reproduction contributes DNA from each parent, making cloning impossible
- Reproductive cloning takes a body cell nucleus from the organism to be cloned, which is introduced into an enucleated egg cell. The egg is stimulated and allowed to divide to develop into an embryo which is then inserted into a surrogate to grow
Biotechnologies in Medicine and Agriculture
- Biotechnology has medicinal purposes. Knowledge of DNA sequence, genetic diseases, and manipulating DNA allow disease treatment
- Biotechnologies in agriculture can enhance disease and pest resistance, and improve crop quality and yield
- Genetic diagnosis (testing for genetic defects prior to treatment) uses genetic testing (e.g., BRCA gene mutations for cancer risk)
- Gene therapy is a genetic engineering technique to cure genetic diseases by replacing mutated genes with non-mutated genes
- Vaccines are made using weakened or inactive forms of microorganisms using modern techniques
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamentals of biotechnology and its applications in medicine and agriculture. It covers topics such as genetic modification, cloning, and the industrial uses of biotechnological methods. Test your knowledge on how biotechnology has evolved and its impact on society.
