Perform experiments as quickly as possible to
minimise contamination risk
Requirements for cell
production by cell culture
Appropriate growth
medium
Nutrient agar or broth
Availability of
oxygen
Suitable pH
Suitable temperature
DNA and the Production of Proteins
Structure of DNA
The nucleus of living
cells contains genetic
information organised
into chromosomes.
Chromosomes are made
up of regions called genes.
Genes are made up of DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
DNA carries the genetic
information, which is required
for the production of proteins.
A DNA molecule is
described as a double
stranded helix
Each strand of DNA
carries bases, of which,
there are four
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
The strands are held
together by bonds between
the bases on each strand
The bases bond together to make
complementary base pairs
Adenine always
pairs with Thymine
Guanine always
pairs with Cytosine
The complementary base pairings
can be remembered by the fact that
the letters A and T are both made up
of straight lines only and G and C
both have a curve in them.
Genetic Code
The genetic code is
determined by the
sequence of the bases
A, T, G and C
The base sequence of
a specific gene
determines the
sequence of amino
acids
The sequence of amino
acids determines what
protein will be produced
There are 20 amino
acids that occur
naturally
Protein Synthesis
Proteins are assembled from
amino acids at the ribosomes,
found in the cytoplasm
The DNA in the nucleus is too large to
pass through the nuclear membrane, so
mRNA (Messenger RNA) carries a copy of
the code from the DNA
The mRNA travels through the
nuclear membrane, to a
ribosome, where the amino acids
are joined together in the correct
order
The amino acids form a long
chain and eventually, a
protein is formed
Proteins and Enzymes
The variety of proteins
comes from the fact
that there are many
ways which the 20
amino acids can be
arranged
The shape of a
protein molecule
affects its function
Protein Functions
Antibodies
Involved in defence
Fight disease/
infection
Hormones
Chemical messengers
Travel in the bloodstream
Receptors
Receive external signals
Provide a binding
site for molecules
Structural
Provide strength and
support to cellular
structures
Enzymes
Act as biological catalysts
Enzymes
Enzymes are
biological catalysts
A catalyst speeds
up a reaction
Enzymes are biological catalysts
since they speed up reactions
that occur inside cells
Without enzymes, essential life
Remain unchanged by the
process of speeding up a
reaction
They can be used over
and over again
Enzymes are specific
They can only
catalyse (speed up)
one reaction
Active Site
The region of the enzyme which
the substrate binds to
Substrate
The substance that the
particular enzyme works on
Shape of the active site is
complementary to the
shape of the substrate
This makes an enzyme specific
Only one type of molecule can fit into
the active site, so an enzyme can only
catalyse one reaction
Substances produced
by enzyme action
Products
Types of reaction
Synthesis
Two (or more) substances
being combined to make one
product
Degradation
Breaking up the substrate
into two (or more) products
Optimum
Each enzyme works best
under its optimum
conditions
When the conditions are optimum, the
enzyme is at its most active and the
reaction cannot happen any faster
The optimum is
different for
different
enzymes
Temperature
Warmer conditions
Enzyme and
substrate
molecules move
around faster
Therefore, they meet
more regularly
Rate of reaction increases
High temperatures
Shape of the active site changes
Substrate and active site are no
longer complementary
Enzyme no longer works
The enzyme is
described as being
DENATURED
For many human
enzymes, the
optimum
temperature is
35-40 degrees
Celsius
Body temperature
is 37 degrees Celsius
(approx.)
pH
pH also affects
enzyme
activity
At extremes in pH, the active site
can change shape and the
enzyme no longer works
The optimum pH of an
enzyme varies depending
on its function in the
body
Genetic Engineering
Genetic information can
be transferred between
cells naturally or artificially
Natural methods
Fertilisation in
animals/ plants
Transfer of plasmids
between bacterial
species
Viruses
Artificial method
Genetic engineering
Stages in genetic engineering
1. Identify the section of chromosome that contains the required gene
2. Extract the required gene
Plasmid removed from bacterial cell and cut open
3. Insert the required gene into the plasmid
4. Insert the plasmid into a host cell
5. Cell is cultured and the required product is isolated and harvested
Not always, but often
includes the use of bacteria
Pieces of chromosome are
transferred form the donor to
the recipient
Genetic engineering is carried out by humans to allow a
species to make a protein that is normally made by
another species
There are many
benefits and issues
associated with GM
organisms
Following genetic
engineering, the
transformed cells
are cultured to
produce a GM
(Genetically
Modified)
strain or organism
Vector
A vector is a method of
transferring genetic material
from a donor to a recipient
Examples
Plasmids
Viruses
Bacterial cells
Photosynthesis
The method by which green plants
make carbohydrate (food)
Photosynthesis is a series of
enzyme controlled reactions
Two Stage Process
Stage 2
Carbon fixation stage
Hydrogen, from the light
dependent stage is combined
with carbon dioxide to produce
sugar
Energy from ATP allows this to happen
Stage 1
Light dependent stage
Light energy from the
sun is trapped by
chloroplasts
Light energy is converted into
chemical energy in the form of
ATP
ATP= Adenosine Triphosphate
Water is split into hydrogen and oxygen
Excess oxygen diffuses out of cell
Raw materials
Carbon dioxide
Water
Products
Glucose
Oxygen
Limiting Factors
A limiting factor is a variable that,
when in short supply, can limit the
rate of photosynthesis
The rate of
photosynthesis is
limited by
Temperature
Light Intensity
Carbon Dioxide Concentration
Uses of sugar produced
in photosynthesis
To release energy in respiration
Converted into
starch or cellulose
Starch acts as a store
of energy in plants
Cellulose is the main
chemical component
of plant cell walls
Respiration
Aerobic Respiration
Glucose is completely
broken down
Requires Oxygen
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy (38 ATP)
1. Glucose is broken down into pyruvate,
forming 2 ATP molecules
2. The pyruvate is broken down into
carbon dioxide and water, producing 36
ATP molecules
Occurs in the mitochondria,
oxygen required
Occurs in the cytoplasm,
no oxygen required
Anaerobic Respiration
In animals cells
Glucose → Lactic Acid + Energy (2 ATP)
1. Glucose is broken down into pyruvate,
forming 2 ATP molecules
Occurs in the cytoplasm,
no oxygen required
2. Pyruvate is converted into lactic acid
When oxygen becomes available, the lactic
acid is converted back into pyruvate and
the second stage of aerobic respiration
occurs as normal
In plant and yeast cells
1. Glucose is broken down into pyruvate,
forming 2 ATP molecules
2. Pyruvate is broken down into
ethanol and carbon dioxide
The reaction cannot be reversed as the carbon
dioxide produced is released
Occurs in the cytoplasm,
no oxygen required
Glucose → Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + Energy (2 ATP)
Occurs in the absence of oxygen
Glucose is not completely broken down
Also called fermentation
Respiration is the chemical release
of energy from food through a
series of enzyme controlled
reactions
The release and
use of energy
The energy released from
the respiration of glucose is
used to form ATP from ADP
(Adenosine Diphosphate)
and Phosphate
ATP is a high energy molecule
The chemical energy
stored in ATP can be
released by breaking
it back down into
ADP and phosphate
The energy generated through
respiration can be used for cell
activities