General Biology Biotechnology Study Guide
Vocabulary
Study the following vocab. Place a next to each word when you can define it from
memory.
____ Gene
____ GMO (genetically modified
____ Biotechnology
organism)
____ Transgenic Organism
____ Gene therapy
____ DNA Ligase
____ DNA fingerprint
____ Restriction Enzyme
____ The Human Genome
____ Recombinant DNA
____ Sticky Ends
____ Plasmid
____ Genetic Engineering
____ Gel Electrophoresis
____ Palindrome
____ Vector
If you did not put a check mark next to some of these terms, define them below.
1. Gene: segment of DNA that controls the production of a protein
2. Biotechnology: term that describes genetic engineering & other techniques that make use of living
things to create a product that benefits humans
3. Transgenic Organism: organisms that contain functional recombinant DNA from a different
organism
4. DNA Ligase: enzyme used to seal/glue the sticky ends together
5. Restriction enzyme: enzymes that cut DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence
6. Recombinant DNA: DNA that contains genes from two or more different living organisms
7. Plasmid: circular ring of DNA found in bacteria that replicates independently of the bacteria
chromosome
8. Gel Electrophoresis: a technique used to separate DNA fragments based on their size
9. Vector: something that is used to transfer genes of one organism into a host cell
10. GMO: organism that contains genes from another living thing
11. Gene therapy: insertion of normal genes into human cells to correct genetic disorders
12. DNA Fingerprint: analysis of DNA fragments produced by cutting of DNA by restriction enzymes
13. Human Genome: map of the thousands of gene on the human chromosomes to provide
information on the treatment of diseases
14. Genetic Engineering: method of cutting DNA from one organism and inserting the DNA fragments
into a host organism or the same species
15. Palindrome: sequence of nitrogen bases that are read the same way forwards and backwards
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REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. What is a vector and what are three examples?
• Vector is something that is used to transfer genes of one organism into a host cell
• Examples: Bacterial plasmid, Viruses, and Gene Gun
2. How are the following terms related?
Transgenic Organism
Recombinant DNA
•
3.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a term used to describe genetic engineering & other techniques that make
use of living things to create a product that benefits humans. Recombinant DNA is one of the
specific biotechnology techniques that describe a piece of DNA that contains genes from two
or more different living organisms. Once you insert this recombinant DNA into a host organism,
the organism is now called a transgenic organism.
What is a plasmid? How are they useful in biotechnology?
•
•
A plasmid is a circular ring of DNA found in bacteria that replicates independently of the
bacteria chromosome
These are useful because they replicate independently of the other bacterial DNA and
bacteria replicate very quickly
4. What is DNA fingerprinting/gel electrophoresis used for?
•
DNA Fingerprinting and Gel Electrophoresis are used for two main purposes:
1. Used in forensics to analyze DNA from a crime scene and compare it to a suspect’s
DNA
2. Used in paternity cases when the father is unknown
5. What is the role of restriction enzymes in gel electrophoresis?
•
A restriction enzyme is an enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence, so the
restriction enzymes cut the DNA into fragments that can be put into a gel electrophoresis
6. What is the role of restriction enzymes in making recombinant DNA?
•
A restriction enzyme is an enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence, so is
you use the same restriction enzymes to cut the plasmid and the gene of interest, then the
“sticky ends” will match up
7. What enzyme is used to attach sticky ends of DNA? DNA Ligase
8. What is the human genome?
• The Human Genome is a map of the thousands of gene on the human chromosomes to
provide information on the treatment of diseases
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9. What is the difference between genetic engineering and gene therapy?
•
•
Genetic engineering is a method of cutting DNA from one organism and inserting the DNA
fragments into a host organism or the same species. This process would happen in order to
create the recombinant DNA/treatments used in gene therapy
Gene therapy is insertion of normal genes into human cells to correct genetic disorders
10. Which of the following DNA sequences would most likely be a restriction enzyme site?
Why?
a. CTCAC
b. CCGGAC
c. GAATTC
d. CTGCAG
GTGAG
GGCTTG
CTTAAA
GACGTC
•
This is correct because it is a palindrome. It would be cut between the C-T on each half of the
DNA
11. Look at the DNA fingerprints below. Who’s the father of this child? How do you know?
#1
#2
This father is Father # 1
We know this because every fragment the child has comes
from either the mother or Father # 1
•
•
Use the gel to the right to answer the questions.
12. At which of these lettered bands would you find the
longest piece of DNA? How do you know?
A
D
•
A, because it is closest to the wells and would not be able to
travel far
13. At which of these lettered bands are there many fragments
of that size? How do you know?
•
B
C
C, because it is a thicker line that the others meaning that lots of fragments that were the
same size accumulated there
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14. Jake and Emma's four children were grown and had
families of their own. Jake was unfortunately murdered and
the police suspected his oldest child (# 1) as the culprit,
who had unexplained scratches on his arms and face. DNA
was extracted from under the victim's fingernails. This was
compared with those of the other members of the family.
Be a real Sherlock Holmes: Was the culprit really the oldest
child? How do you know?
•
No, it was child # 2 because the bands from the finger
nails did not match the bands for the oldest child. They
matched the bands from child # 2
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