DNA Tools and Biotechnology Quiz

DNA Tools and Biotechnology

• Biotechnology is the manipulation of organisms or their components to make useful products.
• Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes.
• DNA technology includes techniques for sequencing and manipulating DNA.

DNA Sequencing

• Dideoxyribonucleotide chain termination sequencing is a method for determining the order of nucleotides in a DNA fragment.
• In this method, one strand of a DNA fragment serves as a template for synthesizing complementary fragments.
• Frederick Sanger developed this technique and won the Nobel Prize in 1980.
• Sequencing by synthesis is another method that yields enormous numbers of identical fragments.
• In this method, a single strand synthesizes a complementary strand, one base at a time, sequencing thousands to hundreds of thousands of fragments at once.

DNA Cloning

• Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria.
• Recombinant DNA contains DNA from two different sources.
• Recombinant organisms contain DNA from different sources.

Gene Cloning

• Gene cloning produces multiple copies of a single gene.
• A cloning vector is a DNA molecule that carries foreign DNA into a host cell, where it replicates.
• Uses include amplifying a gene of interest and producing the protein product.

Making a Recombinant Plasmid

• Restriction enzymes cut foreign DNA from other organisms.
• Restriction sites are the precise locations within DNA that restriction enzymes cut.
• Restriction fragments are DNA fragments produced by restriction enzymes.
• Base pairing of sticky ends produces various combinations.
• DNA ligase seals the strands.

Gel Electrophoresis

• Polymer gel acts as a molecular sieve, separating DNA molecules based on size and electrical charge.
• Shorter DNA molecules move faster through the gel than longer ones.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

• PCR isolates a desired gene from an entire genome.
• PCR produces billions of copies of a target DNA sequence.
• PCR involves a three-step cycle: denaturation, annealing, and extension.

CRISPR-Cas9

• CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing tool.
• It involves matching genomic sequence, PAM sequence, and guide RNA.
• It is used for targeted genome editing in human cells.

Cloning Organisms

• Totipotent cells can dedifferentiate and give rise to all specialized cell types in an organism.
• Animal cloning involves nuclear transplantation.
• Reproductive cloning of mammals involves steps like the obtaining cultured mammary cells, extracting egg cells, fusing the cells, growing in culture, implanting in the surrogate mother, and embryonic development.

Stem Cells

• Stem cells are relatively unspecialized cells that reproduce indefinitely and differentiate into specialized cells of one or more types.
• Embryonic stem cells can generate all embryonic cell types, while adult stem cells generate a limited number of cell types.
• Embryonic stem cells are derived from donated embryos from IVF treatments or long-term cell cultures.
• Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are dedifferentiated fully differentiated cells that act like embryonic stem cells. iPS cells can be used for modeling diseases and regenerative medicine.

Practical Applications of DNA Biotechnology

• Human gene therapy introduces genes into an afflicted person for therapeutic purposes.
• It's used to treat disorders traced to a single gene defect.
• Methods include using viruses to deliver working copies of genes to stem cells.
• Pharmaceutical products like insulin and human growth hormone (HGH) can be produced in cultured cells.
• "Pharm" animals produce pharmaceuticals in their milk, like spider silk producing goats.

Forensic Evidence and Genetic Profiles

• A genetic profile is a unique set of genetic markers.
• Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) are 2-5 nucleotide sequences that vary widely from person to person in specific regions.
• Forensic tests compare STR markers from multiple samples, like semen, on a victim, and suspects.

Agricultural Applications

• Biotechnology can insert the Bt gene into crops to kill pests like the European corn borer.

Safety and Ethical Questions

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have one or more genes from another species introduced artificially.

This quiz tests your knowledge on DNA tools and biotechnology concepts, including genetic engineering, DNA sequencing methods, and DNA cloning processes. Examine key techniques such as Sanger sequencing and the role of plasmids in cloning. Enhance your understanding of how biotechnology manipulates DNA for practical applications.