how has the bacterium E. coli played a role in the development of biotechnology?
It is genetically modified to produce useful substances (e.g., chemicals, proteins)
Example: engineered to produce indigo dye from tryptophan
Describe one use of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering can be used to produce useful substances, such as inserting a human gene into bacteria to make insulin.
List three ways genetic recombination occurs in bacteria
-two bacterial cells can form a direct connection.
-Viruses can carry bacterial genes from one bacterial cell to another
-bacteria can take up loose pieces of DNA from their surroundings
transduction, transformation, conjugation
What is biotechnology? List two
specific examples
The use of organisms to make useful products is called biotechnology.
For example, micro-organisms are used to produce vaccines, antibiotics, hormones, food products(yeast +beer), and enzymes that are added to detergents
Summarize the process of recombinant
DNA technology
DNA is cut (target gene isolated)
DNA is inserted into a vector (e.g., bacteria)
Host cell replicates and expresses the gene
How does recombination occur naturally
in bacteria?
Transformation, the uptake of exogenous DNA from the surrounding environment.
Transduction, the virus-mediated transfer of DNA between bacteria.
Conjugation, the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another via cell-to-cell contact.
What is a recombinant plasmid?
a combination of the original plasmid and
the new DNA
Why is it useful to have sticky ends on
DNA fragments?
They allow DNA fragments to pair with matching sequences, making it easier to recombine DNA.
What is one way in which genes for antibiotic
resistance spread in a bacterial population?
Through conjugation, where plasmids carrying resistance genes are transferred between bacteria.
What are two uses for recombinant DNA?
Produce useful proteins (e.g., insulin)
Clone genes to make many copies of DNA
What is the difference between cloning a gene
and expressing a gene?
Cloning a gene: making many copies of the DNA
Expressing a gene: producing the gene product (protein or RNA)
What are some features of plasmids that make
them useful in genetic engineering?
Plasmids can be used to move pieces of DNA
Contain additional genes that may help the bacteria to adapt to harsher life conditions.
Because of their size, they are easy to pass on to other bacteria of the same species (this is called bacterial conjugation), thus participating in the survival ability of the bacterial strain
Is genetic engineering the same as
biotechnology? Explain
No. Biotechnology is the use of living organisms or systems for practical purposes, while genetic engineering is a specific technique used to modify DNA. Genetic engineering is a type of biotechnology.
How is bio-indigo produced?
Genetically modified E. coli produce tryptophan, which is converted into indigo using an inserted bacterial gene that codes for the final enzyme.
What are the advantages of bio-indigo
over other sources of indigo?
Making bio-indigo is less energy intensive than standard methods and does not result in harmful by-products.
What could you use as an indicator that
bacterial cells have picked up recombinant
plasmids?
Antibiotic resistance → only transformed cells survive
Color change (e.g., blue-white screening) → shows if gene was inserted
How could you use bacteria to make copies
of a gene?
Gene cloning: process of putting a recombinant plasmid into a bacterial cell to make copies of a particular gene.
How is selective breeding similar to genetic
engineering?
Selective breeding and genetic engineering are two methods used to produce new organisms with desired characteristics.
Both are artificial methods that occur under the influence of humans
example of genetic engineering
blue jeans going green(environmently friendly)
-Change in the fabric dying process
-Traditionally indigo (blue) dye was derived from plants
-Synthetic production involving coal or oil became the new standard, although produces toxic by-products, so…
-NEW environmentally friendly substitute is bio-
indigo from bacteria
Alterations to the genome of E. coli have resulted in a strain that makes high levels of
tryptophan
tryptophan
a molecule that can be converted into indigo through a series of steps
Bio-indigo uses _____ to make and does not result in harmful _____
less energy; by-products
biotechnology
The use of organisms to make useful products
E.g. vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones
genetic engineering
A: The intentional modification of an organism’s DNA by adding, removing, or changing genes.
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1.1 - Importance of Biodiversity44
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1.2 - Science of Classification76
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2.1 - Viruses and Prokaryotes88
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2.2 - Protists38
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2.3 - Fungi65
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3.1 - Exploring Plant Diversity80
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3.2 - Exploring Animal Diversity42
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3.3 - Human Impacts on Biodiversity35
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Biodiversity Unit Review15
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4.1 - DNA Structure & Replication98
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4.2 - Mitosis and Meiosis95
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4.3 - Alterations in Chromosome Structure & Number39
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5.1 - Mendelian Inheritance55
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5.2 - Extending Mendel's Laws50
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5.3 Inheritance Patterns for Linked Genes57
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Ch 5 review18
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6.1 - Studying The Human Genome55
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6.2 - Genetic Engineering47
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6.3 - Applications of Genetic Technologies61
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Genetics Unit Review115
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7.1 (a) Darwin's Research36
