Gene therapy - leanne - lectures 2 & 4

What is the function of a plasmid in genetic engineering?

Vector for gene delivery

Which feature allows plasmids to replicate independently?

Origin of replication (ORI)

What is the role of a selectable marker in a plasmid?

Identifies successful gene uptake

Which enzyme joins DNA fragments during cloning?

DNA ligase

What do restriction enzymes recognize and cut?

Palindromic DNA sequences

What type of ends do staggered restriction enzyme cuts produce?

Sticky ends

Which vector can carry the largest DNA insert?

YAC

What is transformation in molecular biology?

Uptake of foreign DNA by bacteria

What is the optimal length for PCR primers?

18–30 bp

In PCR, dNTPs are added to which end of the growing strand?

3' end

Which dye is used in SYBR Green assays?

SYBR Green

What is the function of a multiple cloning site (MCS)?

Provides restriction sites for DNA insertion

Which method uses electrical shock to introduce DNA into cells?

Electroporation

What is the role of DNA ligase in PCR cloning?

Joins A-tailed PCR products to T-tailed vectors

What is the purpose of using model organisms in research?

To understand biological processes

Which model organism is commonly known as the fruit fly?

D. melanogaster

What percentage of gene sequence conservation does Drosophila share with humans?

60%

What is the function of TWIST proteins?

Transcription regulation

Mutation in the TWIST1 gene causes which syndrome?

Saethre-Chotzen

What type of genetic mutation is common in trinucleotide-repeat disorders?

Codon expansion

Which codon is commonly expanded in Huntington’s disease?

CAG

What is the function of the FMR1 gene in Fragile X syndrome?

Synapse and dendrite function

Which model organism is a nematode worm used to study APP function in Alzheimer’s?

C. elegans

What is a key feature of C. elegans that aids in genetic studies?

Transparency

Which model organism shares 85% of human disease genes?

Zebrafish

What gene is mutated in zebrafish to study melanoma?

BRAF

Which yeast gene is linked to hereditary colon cancer?

MSH2

What are HIS mice?

Mice with human immune systems

Which mouse strain is T-cell deficient?

Nude

What are the Three Rs in animal research ethics?

Replacement, Reduction, Refinement