Chapter 7 and 8: Microbial Genetics and Recombinant DNA Technology Flashcards

Study of inheritance and inheritable traits

(nucleotides A,T,C,G)

wrapped around histone proteins to generate the chromosome, open-stranded molecule, found in the NUCLEUS

mostly circular, associated with proteins, no membrane bound NUCLEUS; DNA material is found in a floating region of cytosol called the NUCLEOID

DNA essential for that organism/cell

Factors

plasmid that contains a gene on it for making pilli

when a plasmid contains antibiotic-resistance genes

allows the bacteria to make certain types of toxins

plasmids that contain, sometimes a combination, of all of the above. can allow the bacteria to make fimbrae (sticky protein that sticks off the surface to allow the bacteria to stick to a host cell).. basically contains anything that can allow the bacteria to invade a host

Gram(+) bacteria, on the surface of our skin, these staph bacteria have plasmids/factors in them that allow them to move deeper into the host cells/tissues. Normally staph live on the skin, what MRSA does is it can gain the extrachromosomal genes that benefit the bacteria by allowing them to grow in new environments that they couldn't grow in normally.. it's how they become resistant to antibiotics

In order for DNA to replicate (which happens every time the cell divides),

binds to both strands and moves along the strand. for every A it sees on the original DNA, DNA polymerase will make a T -- helping build a new DNA strand. (if we have 2 strands originally, we will now have 4 strands)

enzyme that prevents the DNA from twisting and tightening and the end; it helps break apart the two strands

prevents further twisting from the DNA... very important for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

In a eukaryotic cell, RNA is made in the nucleus. In a prokaryotic cell, it all happens in the cytoplasm; the DNA is still used for RNA and the RNA is still used to make the protein -- but in a prokaryotic cell, these two things can sometimes occur at the same time! The key is to control which proteins are being made/are there; the cell is dependent on this!

bacteria has to CHANGE what proteins it's making, and ADJUST to the media

RNA polymerase, making RNA for the transcription process. We cannot get RNA unless the RNA polymerase molecule binds to the DNA. Once we get our RNA made, our RNA will bind to ribosomes, which will then make a chain of amino acids (primary protein structure)

Proteins that bind to the DNA and either prevent or help the RNA polymerase to bind. If they help, then that means that the RNA will be made and the protein will be made (it's called turning the gene on); if they prevent, RNA polymerase won't bind, and we won't get a protein (turning a gene off)

Methyl is a carbon group bound to four hydrogens, what it does is it binds to the nucleotides on our DNA. not every nucleotide will have this methyl group. this methylation will affect how the DNA is turned, twisted, and coiled. the methylated DNA can take the DNA and coil it a little bit tighter, making it harder for the RNA polymerase to bind to the DNA (it will determine whether that part of the DNA will be on or off)

**methylation comes from what the parent cell had on their DNA

Some chemicals promote/take away methylation, determining which sections of DNA/which proteins will be used.

BPA is a form that can be used to methylate DNA! Anyone exposed to BPA could be victim to changing the methylation of their DNA and which proteins they make! The cause of genetic disorders are problems with a protein!

**Folic acid, found in prenatal vitamins, can ALSO change methylation patterns

something that affects the RNA. in order for the ribosome to bind to the RNA, it needs to recognize it. the ribosome will recognize the shape the RNA makes (insert picture, looks like rectal thermometer). the ribosome recognizes the loops, binds to it, and the protein will be made.

with the riboswitch, it binds to the secondary structure (loops in RNA) and prevents the RNA polymerase from binding. it is one quick way for bacteria/prokaryote to control which proteins are made

"si" --> short interfering
another name: anti-sense RNA
it is RNA that the cell makes itself, and this RNA doesn't code for a protein; instead, it is a compliment for other RNA's that DO code for a protein. siRNA compliments mRNA and makes a double-stranded RNA molecule, exposing to to be destroyed (others will think it is dangerous/viral)

**the only time you'll get a double stranded RNA molecule is when you have a viral infection!

series of genes all under the control of one promoter. Promoter region is important because you can have 5 or 6 genes all under the control of one promoter region (thus, an operon!)

**you typically only see operons in prokaryotic cells

will either turn on or turn off an operon (either binds or doesn't bind to the operator)

type of operon that's always off, but the cell can turn it on

**(lac operon makes enzymes that help breakdown lactose so the cell can use the lactose as a carbohydrate source) since there is usually no lactose, these genes are normally OFF (by default)

opposite of inducible, it is always on -- the cell can choose whether or not to turn it off from time to time

**trp operon (tryptophan operon), tryptophan is a required amino acids for the cells to make proteins. cell needs this most of the time. when enough tryptophan is around, the operon can be turned off because no trp synthesis is needed

when prokaryotic cells get genes from other prokaryotic cells. DONORS

takes DNA up from its environment, not found from another cell. this exists/is seen when a cell lives in a population where the cells around it are dying and releasing their contents.

**we can force bacteria to take up genes that we give them in the lab, because we know this method exists in nature

common transforming prokaryotes are: neisseria, streptococcus, staphylococcus, bacillus, pseudomonas

cells that do transformation

DNA is transferred from one cell to another via a VIRUS. This is the most common form of horizontal gene transfer. It's a random event, there's no controlling which nucleic acid/gene will be transferred.

donor cell is still alive as genes are transferred to the recipient, pilli are required, it doesn't occur as often because you need the same type of cell next to each other for conjugation -- they need eHarmony! compatibility! lol

"jumping genes".. short segments of DNA that can move from one location in a DNA molecule to another location in the same or different DNA molecule...

**transposition is a result of the transposon movement

still need the inverted repeats and the conjugase enzyme... in addition to all of this, the complex transposons can have other genes in between all of this

an organism that has DNA from different sources. when DNA has been mixed from different sources and put into one cell

1. to eliminate undesirable phenotypic traits
2. to combine beneficial traits to create valuable organisms
3. to create organisms that synthesize products humans need (vaccines, hormones, antibiotics)

1. Original bacteria/organism
2. gene of interest
3.mix them together to get a plasmid that has our gene of interest
4. need restriction enzymes & DNA ligase to help cut DNA to get our gene of interest into the "vector"
5. DNA ligase

1. protein synthesis
2. vaccines
3. genetic screening (WHODUNIT!?)
4. DNA fingerprinting
5. gene therapy
6. agricultural applications (herbicides, resistances, improvements)

polymerase chain reaction. polymerase represents the DNA polymerase required to make DNA.. and it keeps amplifying itself, one reaction after another

**PCR is a quick way of amplifying, making more, DNA