BiotechnologyCambridge IGCSE Biology: Flashcards

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What is biotechnology?

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What is biotechnology?: The use of living organisms or their products to solve problems or produce useful compounds, such as medicines, food products and enzymes.
Why are bacteria particularly useful in biotechnology?: Bacteria have a rapid reproduction rate, which allows large quantities to be produced quickly. They can also synthesise complex molecules such as proteins and antibiotics.
Name two reasons why bacteria are preferred organisms for genetic modification.: Few ethical concerns over their manipulation compared to animals or plants. 2) They possess plasmids, which are small circular loops of DNA that can be used as vectors to introduce foreign genes.
What is a plasmid?: A small circular loop of DNA found in bacterial cells, separate from the main chromosome. Plasmids can be used as vectors to carry foreign genes into bacteria.
Explain why the rapid reproduction rate of bacteria is advantageous in biotechnology.: Bacteria reproduce rapidly through binary fission, allowing large populations to be produced in a short time. This means large quantities of useful products, such as insulin or antibiotics, can be generated efficiently and cost-effectively.
What complex molecules can bacteria produce through biotechnology?: Bacteria can produce complex molecules including proteins (such as insulin), antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, and other pharmaceutical compounds.
Define genetic modification in the context of bacteria.: The process of deliberately changing the genetic material of a bacterium, usually by introducing a foreign gene using a plasmid as a vector, to give it new characteristics or abilities.
Why are there fewer ethical concerns about manipulating bacteria compared to animals?: Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms with no nervous system or sentience. They do not experience pain or suffering, so there are fewer moral and ethical objections to their genetic manipulation.
How are plasmids used as vectors in bacterial genetic modification?: A plasmid is extracted from a bacterial cell, a foreign gene is inserted into it using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase, and then the modified plasmid is introduced back into a bacterial cell where it replicates independently.
Name three advantages of using bacteria in biotechnology.: Rapid reproduction rate allows quick production of large quantities. 2) Few ethical concerns about their manipulation. 3) Presence of plasmids makes genetic engineering straightforward.
What is binary fission?: The method of asexual reproduction in bacteria, where a single bacterial cell divides into two identical daughter cells. This allows rapid population growth.
Explain why plasmids are useful in genetic modification of bacteria.: Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules that can be easily removed from bacterial cells and modified by inserting foreign genes. They can then be reintroduced into bacteria where they replicate independently, causing the bacteria to express the new gene.
Give an example of a useful product made by genetically modified bacteria.: Insulin is produced by genetically modified bacteria. A human gene for insulin production is inserted into a plasmid and introduced into bacteria, which then synthesise insulin that can be used to treat diabetes.
Why is the presence of plasmids in bacteria an advantage for biotechnology?: Plasmids provide a simple mechanism for introducing foreign DNA into bacterial cells. They can be modified and reintroduced easily, making bacteria convenient organisms for producing genetically modified organisms.
Describe the main characteristics that make bacteria suitable for biotechnology.: Bacteria have rapid reproduction rates (allowing quick population growth), can synthesise complex molecules such as proteins, have plasmids that can be used as genetic vectors, and present few ethical concerns when manipulated.