Biotechnology Overview

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Questions and Answers

What characteristic of Bt corn allows it to prevent insect predation?

It produces its own insecticide. (correct)

It has been treated with chemical pesticides.

It contains genes from daffodils.

It is resistant to herbicides.

Why was beta-carotene added to white rice to create golden rice?

To increase the plant's resistance to pests.

To improve the taste of the rice.

To enhance its vitamin A content. (correct)

To allow it to grow faster.

Which of the following is a common reason for creating genetically modified crops?

To produce more aesthetically pleasing plants.

To enhance insect resistance. (correct)

To create crops that are more expensive.

To increase the genetic diversity among plants.

What is the primary goal of gene therapy?

To repair genetic disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential downside of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

They can lead to loss of genetic diversity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of biotechnology in agriculture?

Pest and disease resistant crops Signup and view all the answers

Which process is used to amplify small samples of DNA?

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of genetic engineering?

Manipulation of a species' genome Signup and view all the answers

Which tool of biotechnology is used primarily to cut DNA?

Restriction enzymes Signup and view all the answers

One of the key impacts of biotechnology on human health is?

Improved treatment of diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation currently observed in the field of biotechnology?

Limited success despite the potential benefits Signup and view all the answers

In forensic science, biotechnology contributes to which aspect?

Enhanced investigative techniques Signup and view all the answers

How does bioengineering primarily differ from genetic engineering?

Bioengineering involves the mass production of substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is the success rate of transplanting an embryo into a surrogate mother sheep?

0.1% - 3% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the roles of the trachea and esophagus?

The trachea is for breathing and leads to the lungs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of cloning in sheep?

Cloned sheep often show reduced kidney function. Signup and view all the answers

What role do primers serve in DNA synthesis?

They initiate the process of DNA synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary factor in the evolution of brain size due to predation?

The development of systems for energy balance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of restriction enzymes?

They cut DNA at specific sequences. Signup and view all the answers

How does starvation impact metabolism according to the content?

Metabolism slows down in response to starvation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes CRISPR technology?

A system for precisely editing DNA. Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the variation in homeostasis among individuals?

Genetic and environmental differences. Signup and view all the answers

What misconception about the ideal body image is highlighted in the content?

Individuals have evolved to see themselves differently than they are. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant risk associated with using CRISPR?

Legal and ethical disputes surrounding its use. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Cas9 enzyme function in the CRISPR system?

It cuts DNA at targeted locations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a plasmid?

A small, circular DNA molecule that replicates independently. Signup and view all the answers

What dictates the genotype of an individual based on STR regions?

The number of repeats within an STR region Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about telomeres?

They protect the ends of linear chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the centromere during cell division?

To keep sister chromatids together Signup and view all the answers

In prokaryotic cell division, what is the process called?

Binary fission Signup and view all the answers

Which phase of the cell cycle involves DNA synthesis?

S phase Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the G1/S checkpoint?

To assess DNA damage and cell growth Signup and view all the answers

If a cell is in the G0 phase, what is it primarily doing?

Resting outside the cell cycle Signup and view all the answers

What must occur for the cell cycle to continue past the G2/M checkpoint?

Spindle fibers must be correctly set up Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biotechnology

Biotechnology uses technology to modify organisms, cells, and molecules for practical benefits.
It has applications in agriculture, human health, and forensic science.

Agriculture

Biotechnology results in pest and disease-resistant crops.
It leads to dramatically higher crop yields.
It produces foods with enhanced nutrition.

Human Health

Biotechnology improves disease treatment through more effective medicine.
It improves the diagnosis and screening of genetic diseases.
It has tremendous potential, but limited success so far.

Forensic Science

Biotechnology improves the capabilities of law enforcement.
It contributes to important reforms in the criminal justice system.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering manipulates a species' genetic material by adding, deleting, or transplanting genes.
These modifications do not typically occur in nature.

Bioengineering

Bioengineering involves the mass production of hormones and other materials.

Tools of Biotechnology

Restriction enzymes are used to chop up DNA from a donor species.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifies small samples of DNA.
DNA pieces are inserted into bacterial cells or viruses.
Separate colonies of bacteria or viruses are grown, each containing some donor DNA.
Not all tools are always used, sometimes only one or a few are used.

Restriction Enzymes in Detail

A gene of interest is located on a section of DNA from the donor species.
Restriction enzymes target a specific base-pair sequence on either side of the gene.
Restriction enzymes bind to the target sequence and cut the strand of DNA, separating the gene of interest from the donor's DNA.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in Detail

A solution containing isolated DNA is heated, separating the double-stranded DNA.
DNA polymerase, primers, and free nucleotides are added, and the solution is cooled.
This process creates a large number of copies of the DNA segment.

Primers

Short, single-stranded nucleic acid sequences that act as starting points for DNA synthesis.
They 'prime' the process by providing a location for DNA polymerase to begin adding nucleotides.
Primers are short stretches of DNA that target unique sequences and help identify specific parts of the genome.

Plasmid

A small, circular DNA molecule found outside the main chromosome in bacteria.
It can replicate independently.

Restriction Enzymes

Restriction enzymes recognize and bind to specific sequences in DNA and cut the DNA at that point.
They allow cutting of short lengths of DNA for insertion into other chromosomes or other uses.
They isolate specific pieces of DNA.
They produce DNA fragments with known sequences at each end.

CRISPR

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
It's a system for editing DNA with high precision and efficiency.
It enables researchers to modify almost any gene in any organism.
It occurs naturally in almost half of all bacteria as a defense mechanism against viral DNA.

How CRISPR Works

Researchers synthesize an RNA “guide” molecule that matches the target gene to be sliced.
The CRISPR RNA and Cas9 enzyme sequences are introduced to target cells using a plasmid.
The RNA guides the Cas9 enzyme to the desired location on the DNA.
Cas9 cuts the DNA, allowing for insertion of a sequence to repair or alter the host cell's DNA.

Golden Rice

Golden rice is white rice with added beta-carotene-producing genes.
It contains genes from daffodils and bacteria, resulting in increased vitamin A content.
This was developed to address vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness in over 250,000 children annually in Southeast Asia.

Bt Corn

Bt corn contains spores of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which kill insect pests.
It's engineered to grow its own insecticide.
Bacterial genes coding for Bt crystals, poisonous to caterpillars, are inserted into the corn plant's DNA.
Bt corn prevents insect predation and eliminates the need for pesticides.

Genetically Modified Crops (GMOs)

GMOs are plants with engineered traits for insect resistance or herbicide resistance.
Common GMO crops include corn (36%), cotton, and soybeans (93%).

GMOs

GMOs are organisms with desirable traits engineered into their genes.
These traits include:
- Insect resistance
- Herbicide resistance
- Enhanced nutrition
- Faster growth
- Larger size and quantity
GMOs have led to a loss of genetic diversity among crop plants.

Cloning

Cloning means creating genetically identical cells, organisms, or DNA molecules.
It involves making an exact copy with the same genome as the donor individual.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy screens for genetic disorders.
It focuses on three main scenarios:
1. Predicting the likelihood of a baby inheriting a genetic disease.
2. Detecting genetic diseases in newborns.
3. Identifying individuals at risk of developing genetic diseases later in life.

Chromosome

A chromosome is a piece of unique DNA, varying in length.
It can consist of hundreds of millions of base pairs.
Prokaryotic cells have circular, smaller chromosomes attached to the cell membrane.
Eukaryotic cells have linear, longer chromosomes located in the nucleus.
Humans have 23 chromosomes from each parent.

Telomeres

Telomeres are noncoding, repetitive DNA sequences that act as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes.
They are short repeats that protect the ends and control aging.
Telomeres shorten with each cell division.
They determine when cells die.
Some cells, like single-celled eukaryotes and gamete-producing cells, rebuild their telomeres.

Centromere

The centromere is the region of contact between sister chromatids, located near the center of two strands.
It keeps two identical strands/chromosomes connected during replication.

Binary Fission

Binary fission is the splitting of a prokaryotic cell through replication.
It creates an exact copy of DNA and divides the parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells.
This is also known as asexual reproduction.
The process involves cell elongation followed by pinching in two.

Cell Cycle

The cell cycle has four stages:
- Gap 1 (G1): The primary growth phase where normal cellular functions occur.
- G0: A resting phase outside the cell cycle where cells may pause in G1 for days or years.
- DNA Synthesis/S Phase: The phase where each chromosome creates an exact duplicate in a process called replication.
- Gap 2 (G2): A second period of growth and preparation for cell division.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Cell cycle checkpoints regulate the cell cycle in eukaryotes.
These checkpoints prevent the process from continuing until specific signals are received.
The checkpoints are:
- G1/S Checkpoint: Assesses DNA damage and cell growth.
- G2/M Checkpoint: Assesses DNA synthesis.
- Spindle Assembly Checkpoint: Assesses anaphase readiness.

DNA Replication

DNA replication involves unwinding and separating the DNA strands.

Choking

The trachea is the airway for breathing, leading to the lungs.
The esophagus is the passage for food and drinks, leading to the stomach.

Evolution of Brain Size Due to Predation

The decision not to eat is controlled by higher-order brain functions.
Predation significantly increased brain size, especially in prey animals.
Brains evolved to register large amounts of information to maintain energy balance.
This was necessary for avoiding predators, finding food, and regulating the body's response to food.

Norm of Starvation for Metabolism

Starvation has been a normal part of human history for many people.
Our bodies are programmed to crave excess, especially sweets and fat.
We have evolved to adapt to starvation, slowing down metabolism during prolonged starvation or extreme dieting.

Homeostasis

Hormones regulate bone mass, immune function, body temperature, and activity levels.
Homeostasis is not the same in every individual because of genetic and environmental differences.

Why Being Thin is Ideal in Our Society

The idea of comparing ourselves to others is relatively new.
We evolved to see ourselves differently from how we actually appear.
We strive for an ideal image, but the opposite sex does not always share the same ideal.

Fibonacci Numbers and Golden Ratio

These mathematical concepts are found in many natural structures, including human bodies.

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Description

This quiz explores the multifaceted world of biotechnology, including its applications in agriculture, human health, and forensic science. It delves into the principles of genetic engineering and bioengineering, highlighting their impact on improving crop yields, disease treatment, and law enforcement. Test your knowledge on how technology modifies living organisms for practical benefits.