WLHS / AP Bio / Monson Name
Date
CHAPTER 20 STUDY QUESTIONS: DNA Technology and Genomics
Per
1) Define the following terms:
• Recombinant DNA:
• Biotechnology:
• Restriction endonucleases:
• Restriction site:
• Restriction fragments:
• Sticky ends:
• DNA ligase:
2) Using the diagram – label the steps to cloning a human gene in a bacterial plasmid
3) What is ELECTROPORATION ?
4) What is PCR – the polymerase chain reaction ? Why is it important in many aspects of biotechnology?

5) Label the diagram of PCR shown here:
(see figure 20.8)
6) What is the purpose and general process of GEL ELECTROPHORESIS ?
7) Define and explain the significance of RFLP’s – restriction length polymorphisms.
8) What is in situ hybridization and how is it used in the study of gene expression?
9) What is in vitro mutagenesis and what does it help the scientist understand?
10) What are some of the examples of the medical and/or pharmaceutical applications of biotechnology?
(describe at least 3)
11) What are the basic steps in human gene therapy with a retroviral vector ? (HINT: see figure 20.23)
Have there been problems with this procedure?

12) What is a genetic profile (a.k.
a. “ DNA fingerprint ”)?
13) What is a genetically modified (GM) organism (a.k.a. “ transgenic organism ”)? Describe at least
3 examples of genetically modified organisms . Do you think you’ve ever eaten any genetically modified
(GM) foods?
14) A) What is a stem cell ?
B) Why are embryonic stem (ES) cells preferred in research?
C) How are adult stem cells different from embryonic stem cells?
D) Distinguish between the following terms as they are applied to stem cells & stem cell research:
● totipotent :
● pluripotent :
● induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells :
15) Summarize at least 2 useful applications of DNA technology in each of the following areas:
● Medical / Pharmaceutical:
● Environmental:
● Agricultural:
● Forensics: