Biology 111B Study Questions14: Biotechnology II
1. What does the term "genetic engineering" mean?
2. What is meant by the term "staggered" or "sticky" ends"? How are sticky ends important in the making of recombinant DNA?
3. What is a plasmid? Where are plasmids found? What do plasmids do in the organisms in which they occur?
4. What characteristics must a plasmid have to be a suitable vector for use in genetic engineering?
5. How are genes inserted into plasmids?
6. What is transformation and why is it used in cloning a gene?
7. What are the potential applications of cloning genes?
8. What are transgenic organisms?
9. Describe a few examples of how transgenic bacteria, plants, and animals are used.
10. How do cloned organisms differ from transgenic organisms?
11. What is a gene cloning vector? (only one correct answer)
a. the enzyme that cuts DNA into restriction fragmentsb. a DNA probe used to locate a particular gene in the genome
c. an agent, such as a plasmid, used to transfer DNA from a solution into a living cell
d. the sticky end of a DNA fragment
12. Bacteria containing a particular recombinant gene of interest among many recombinant cells are found by which process? (only one correct answer)
a. microscopic examinationb. using radioactively labeled probes
c. exposing the cells to an antibiotic that kills the cells lacking the gene
d. lysing the cells to see which have plasmids
13. You have successfully introduced a human gene into bacterial cells through cloning. However, the protein expressed by the bacteria is not functional. Upon further examination, you find that the protein is much longer than it should be. What's likely to be the problem?
14. What are some of the safety and ethical issues involved with genetic engineering?