Bio 102 Exam #3 (Flu and GMO)

What are the contents in the Flu vaccine?

Aluminum salts, antibiotics, egg protein, formaldehyde, gelatin, and thimerosol.

How are flu viruses named?

By type(H or N), strain(A,B,C,D), and year of isolation

How do viruses reproduce?

By infecting a host cell. The process could be either the lysogenic cycle or the lytic cycle.

How does the flu affect the respiratory system?

Accumulation of fluid in the lungs, epithelial cells lose their function and may undergo apoptosis or cell death, may cause inflammation of the tissue.

How are Flu vaccines produced?

Egg-based, recombinant process, and mammalian cell-based method.

How does evolution relate to biology?

Evolution is recognized as one of the unifying theories of biology and it plays a role in all levels of biology.

What is natural selection?

The process by which living organisms adapt and change.

How does the Flu evolve?

Antigenic drift and antigenic shift

How does the immune system protect the body from pathogens?

Makes special proteins, called antibodies, to protect your body from a specific invader.

Explain what the term “genetically modified” means

Genetic material that has been artificially altered (does not occur naturally)

What are some examples of GMOs?

Corn, golden rice, wheat, arctic apple, etc.

Summarize the history of humans genetically modifying organisms.

First GMO approved for human consumption: Flavr-Savr

What are some concerns regarding the development of GMOs?

Allergic reactions, loss of nutrition, and gene transfer (glyphosate).

What characteristics of a plant allow it to produce food items, such as fruits or seeds?

They have vascular tissue and use seeds to reproduce.

What does the term “producer” mean concerning plants?

They make their own food, which creates energy for them to grow, reproduce and survive.

How can genetic modification improve aspects of the plant life cycle?

Changing the way the plant grows or making it resistant to a particular disease.

How is the information in DNA used to produce proteins (enzymes)?

The cell has to go through transcription, then translation.

How do scientists obtain the genes necessary to make a GMO?

The gene of interest is transferred into the bacterium and the bacterial cells transfer the new DNA to the genome of the plant cells.

Explain how DNA sequences may be changed.

Can be by environmental changes or by adding one or more nucleotides to a gene.

How do scientists modify the genes of a plant to produce a GMO?

They use a bacterial pathogen (usually Agrobacterium Tumefacians) as a vector to introduce genetic material into a plant.

What are the potential risks of using GM plants?

The transfer of genes using glyphosate resistance, creates “super-weeds” that can’t be controlled by herbicides.

What research is being done to develop the next generation of GMOs?

More disease resistant, enhanced nutritional value, heat and drought resistant, and to increase crop yield.

Antigenic shift

An abrupt, major change in the genetic make up of a virus.

Antigenic drift

Small changes to a virus that occur slowly over time, as a result of mistakes during replication.

What is a capsid?

A protein coat that surrounds the genetic material.

What is an epithelial cell?

Cells that cover the skin, lining of organs, etc.

What are the steps of the lytic cycle?

1) Attachment

2) Penetration

3) Biosynthesis

4) Maturation

5) Release

What are the steps of the lysogenic cycle?

1) Attachment

2) Penetration

Then, it remains dormant until a signal tells it to enter the lytic cycle

What is the function H spikes?

Assists in identifying receptors on host cell.

What is the function of N spikes?

Help break down mucous material surrounding host cell.

What is a retrovirus?

They use reverse transcriptase to make DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA can integrate into the host’s genome.

What are the 2 types of MHC molecules?

Class I) Span the membrane of almost every cell in an organism

Class II) Restricted to only cells in the immune system (macrophages+lymphocytes)

What are innate defenses?

They act as the first line of defense in the immune system, not targeting any specific pathogens.

What is adaptive immunity?

It targets cells of the body that are infected with the pathogen.

What does transgenic mean?

The genome has been altered by bringing one or more foreign DNA sequences into it.

What does intragenic mean?

The organism’s own genetic info has been rearranged to improve a characteristic.

What does cisgenic mean?

New genetic material is inserted into the organism, only from a sexually compatible(crossable) organism.

What are the basic characteristics of a plant?

Mulicellular, eukaryotes, and autotrophs(photosynthetic.)

Summarize the plant life cycle.

The two phases of the cycle are the Gametophyte (sexual), and Sporophyte(Asexual.)