B7 Quiz - New Technologies

Why use microbes?

In genetic modification (GM), a gene is transferred from one organism to another, where it continues to work.

Put the following statements in order: 1.The gene is then inserted into a suitable vector (eg a plasmid or virus). 2.The required gene is identified and isolated (cut out of the organism’s DNA using enzymes). 3.The vector is used to insert the gene into the host organism (eg bacteria or yeast). 4.Organisms that have been successfully modified are selected and then ‘cultured’ (grown in ideal conditions to increase their numbers). 5.The gene is then replicated to make many copies of it.

Genetic [blank_start]modification[blank_end] can be used to make crops [blank_start]resistant[blank_end] to disease, which means that fewer [blank_start]harmful[blank_end] pesticides need to be sprayed onto farmland. Other crops can be made resistant to [blank_start]herbicides[blank_end], so that the field can then be sprayed with a herbicide to kill off all the [blank_start]weeds[blank_end], making the crop more [blank_start]successful[blank_end] and easier to harvest.

Genetic modification can also be used to manufacture human proteins which are used to treat medical conditions.

[blank_start]Nanotechnology[blank_end] means manipulating and using particles of materials that are very small - between 1 and [blank_start]100[blank_end]nm – about the size of some molecules. Nanotechnology can be used in [blank_start]food[blank_end] packaging. For example, silver nanoparticles are anti-microbial and can be used to prevent [blank_start]harmful[blank_end] bacteria from growing inside food packaging. This extends the [blank_start]shelf[blank_end] life of the food. It can also be used in medicines, for example [blank_start]silver[blank_end] nanoparticles can speed up the healing process and gold plated 'nano [blank_start]bullets[blank_end]' act as a concentrated treatment for [blank_start]cancer[blank_end] by absorbing energy and then heating and killing the tumour.

Stem cells are...

Choose the examples of stem cell sources.

Stem cells can be cultured outside the body.

Biomedical engineering involves...

Examples of biomedical engineering include:

Which of the following apply to mechanical heart valves?

Genetic testing may be used to find out if an [blank_start]individual[blank_end] has a genetic disease - a disease which they have [blank_start]inherited[blank_end] and which is a result of a defect in their DNA. To investigate a person’s DNA, [blank_start]white[blank_end] blood cells are used because they are easy to obtain from a blood sample, and (unlike [blank_start]red[blank_end] blood cells) they have a nucleus containing the DNA. 1. Isolation of DNA from white blood cells A small quantity of blood has chemicals added to it. The chemicals split open the red cells. The sample is then put into a centrifuge and spun very rapidly so that the white cells form a [blank_start]pellet[blank_end] at the bottom of the tube. The pellet of white blood cells is then [blank_start]suspended[blank_end] in a liquid. More chemicals are added which split open the cell membranes and release the DNA from the [blank_start]nucleus[blank_end]. The DNA is collected and then [blank_start]replicated[blank_end] (more copies of it are made) so that there is enough to test. The DNA is then broken up into smaller sections using [blank_start]enzymes[blank_end] and put onto a special gel. An electrical [blank_start]current[blank_end] is applied, and the pieces of DNA separate out along the gel. 2. Gene Probe A gene [blank_start]probe[blank_end] is a short section of single-stranded DNA that has a [blank_start]fluorescent[blank_end] chemical attached to it which will glow under UV light. The chemical is added to a length of DNA which has the [blank_start]complementary[blank_end] base sequence to the gene that codes for a particular disease, eg cystic fibrosis. 3. Adding the gene probe to the sample DNA The separated pieces of DNA on the gel are ‘blotted’ to split the DNA into single strands. The gene probe is added and if the gene the scientist is searching for is present, the gene probe will [blank_start]bind[blank_end] to it because it has a complementary base sequence to the gene being [blank_start]investigated[blank_end]. 4. Using UV light The gel is then viewed under [blank_start]UV[blank_end] light. If the gene is present, the gel will glow at that point. The gene has therefore been identified as being [blank_start]present[blank_end] in the person’s DNA.