Genome projects

Question 1

What is the complete map of all the genetic material of an organism?

Answer 1

A genome

Question 2

How is a genome achieved?

Answer 2

By mapping the DNA base sequences that make up the genes of organisms and then mapping them onto individual chromosomes.

Question 3

What are bioinformatics?

Answer 3

A science of collecting and analysing biological data using genetic codes. Uses computers to organise biological data at a faster rate.

Question 4

What is the whole genome shotgun?

Answer 4

The process of researchers cutting DNA into small, easily sequenced sections and then using computer algorithms to align overlapping segments to assemble the entire genome.

Question 5

What are SNPs?

Answer 5

Single base variations in the genome that are associated with disease and other disorders.

Question 6

How many SNPs have been found?

Answer 6

Over 1.4 million

Question 7

What do SNPs stand for?

Answer 7

Single nucleotide polymorphisms

Question 8

What has the sequencing of DNA of different organisms allowed for?

Answer 8

The establishment of evolutionary links between species.

Question 9

What is the simple definition of a proteome?

Answer 9

All the proteins produced by the genome.

Question 10

What is the specific definition of a proteome when some genes are switched on or off?

Answer 10

All the proteins produced in a given type of cell or organism at a given time under specified conditions.

Question 11

Which project is currently sequencing single celled eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes?

Answer 11

The Human Microbiome Project

Question 12

Why is determining the proteome of prokaryotes easy?

Answer 12

Many prokaryotes have just one circular piece of DNA.
There are no introns in the DNA

Question 13

When was the Human Genome Project?

Answer 13

1990-2003

Question 14

What type of screening does the Human Genome Project use?

Answer 14

Sanger screening where DNA fragments are read one at a time to create a static reference map of the base sequences of the human genome.

Question 15

What does the static reference map allow us to learn?

Answer 15

Where the genes are but not how they behave

Question 16

What does a microarray do?

Answer 16

It screens the entire genome simultaneously for known mutations or expression patterns.

Question 17

Does microarray show gene expression?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

What does personalised medicine do?

Answer 18

It identifies SNPs

Question 19

What does genetic screening do?

Answer 19

It identifies if patients carry a mutated allele or mutated tumour suppressor genes.

Question 20

What does pharmocogenetics do?

Answer 20

It predicts how a patient will react to a certain drug

Question 21

What is genetic counselling?

Answer 21

Data driven risk assessments for heritable conditions.

Question 22

What is a DNA probe?

Answer 22

A short single stranded length of DNA with an ID tag attached

Question 23

What is the ID tag usually?

Answer 23

A radioactive isotope or a fluorescent label

Question 24

What are the DNA base sequences complementary to on the DNA probe?

Answer 24

They are complementary to the sequence of bases on the allele they want to find

Question 25

Step 1 of DNA probes?

Answer 25

Denaturation where the DNA is heated to separate a strand

Question 26

Step 2 of DNA probes?

Answer 26

Annealing where the probe is added and it binds to the allele. This is called DNA hybridisation.

Question 27

Step 3 of DNA probes?

Answer 27

Detection where unbound probes are washed away. If the probe did bind fluorescence or radioactivity can be detected by X-ray or UV light.

Question 28

Why do we remove excess probes?

Answer 28

To prevent a false positive

Question 29

Why do we need to eliminate background noise by washing the sample?

Answer 29

So that any fluorescence or radioactivity only come from the DNA hybridisation.

Question 30

How does washing away help test bond strength?

Answer 30

It breaks weak, mismatched hydrogen bonds

Question 31

Positives of genetic screening?

Answer 31

Economic efficiency. Informed reproductive choices. Personalised medicine. Early treatment

Question 32

Negatives of genetic screening?

Answer 32

Individuals may be denied care or jobs due to possible disease. Biological determinism. Insurance. Right not to know. Can be seen as eugenics.

Question 33

How much of our DNA does not code for proteins but has repeating sequences?

Answer 33

95%

Question 34

What is VNTR probability?

Answer 34

The length and number of sequence repeats that vary between each individual.

Question 35

What do VNTR inheritance allow for?

Answer 35

Familial identification and paternity testing.