Study Guide-Exam II (Chapters correspond to 4th edition)
Chapter 9
Be familiar with ELISAs; how they are performed and what they tell you
Explain how a monoclonal antibody is made
Know antibody structure and the differences between a polyclonal and monoclonal antibody
Explain how DNA can be used for molecular diagnostics (e.g., DNA fingerprinting or diagnosis of a genetic disease
using PCR and/or restriction enzyme mapping)
-What is DNA fingerprinting? How is it done? What are the uses of this technology?
Chapters 10 and 11
Know which recombinant proteins are approved for human use and what they are used for
Know how to genetically engineer bacteria for expression of your favorite gene (YFG)
Antibody structure and function with respect to disease therapy (eg., Herceptin)
Compare and contrast: Ribozymes, antisense RNA, and RNAi (especially RNAi)
Know the mechanism of action of RNAi
Know the two types of gene therapy and the vectors used for gene therapy
Explain how to treat cystic fibrosis and SCID using human gene therapy
What are stem cells (embryonic and adult) and why are they of interest to the medical community?
Compare and contrast human therapeutic cloning and mammalian cloning
Chapter 12
Know how traditional vaccines are made (2 approaches); advantages and disadvantages of traditional vs rVaccines
Know the structure of a typical animal virus
Compare and contrast: subunit vaccine, peptide vaccine, DNA vaccine, vector vaccine
Be able to explain how to make a subunit vaccine, peptide vaccine, DNA vaccine, and vector vaccine
Chapter 13
Realize that genetically engineering the gene encoding an enzyme can alter a naturally occurring pathway; give 2
examples
Chapter 14
Be able to define bioremediation and xenobiotics.
What bacteria is widely used in bioremediation?
Explain Dr. Charkrbarty’s “superbug” research and know why it was significant.
How can enzymes be expressed on bacterial cell surfaces?
How would you go about bioremediating a radioactive dump contaminated with xylene?
Name the key enzymes involved with alcohol and fructose production and explain how they might be produced
more cheaply or with enhanced properties.
What is cellulosic ethanol and how can it be produced?
Chapter 16
Know the biology of the Bt toxin (its synthesis, mode of action, and variants)
What is a baculovirus and how can it be used a biocontrol agent?
Sample essay questions
1. Explain how you would go about creating a traditional vaccine for the H1N1 virus, and then explain how you
could produce an effective recombinant subunit vaccine for this H1N1 virus in yeast. What are the
advantages/disadvantages of each of these vaccines?
2. What is RNAi and what enzymes/proteins are involved with the production of RNAi molecules?
3. Explain how Xanthomonas compestris can be genetically engineered to grow on whey. Why would you want to
do this?
4. What is cellulosic ethanol and how can it be produced? How is this different from ethanol produced from corn
kernels?
Hints: Review the lectures and study guide, understand the homework answers, and read the Chapter boxes and
summaries.