microbial bitechnology

Question 1

places we should look to mine for microbes

Answer 1

hydro vents

Question 2

how can we extract compounds

Answer 2

chromatography, structural characteristics, high-throughput activity screens

Question 3

how does CRISPR-Cas9

Answer 3

1. target a sequence
2. guide RNA is compliemetary to DNA target sequence
3. Cas-9 enzyme binds to guide RNA
4. Cas9 cuts both strands of DNA
5. the cut is repaired introducing a mutation

Question 4

what are the steps in Gibsons assembly:

Answer 4

1. DNA fragment
2. create overhangs with PCR
3. add to the assembly at 50 degrees c
4. exonuclease chews back 5” end
5. fragments anneal
6. DNA polymerase closes gap
7. ligase seals the backbone

Question 5

what is synthetic biology

Answer 5

formalise biology as an engineering discipline making it more anneable and predictable

Question 6

what are the advantages of making microbes at scale

Answer 6

• substrates are cheap
• high yields can be obtained
• viewable

Question 7

what are the limitations of microbes

Answer 7

• lack of post-translational modifications
• can not form dilsulfide bridges
• can form inclusion bodies during folding

Question 8

what is gendicine

Answer 8

gene therapy, carrying and expressing p53 encourages apoptosis of cancer cells.