BIOL1951 #6 - Genetic Technology (2)

Genetically Modified Organism

Any organism whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does NOT occur naturally

Transgenic Organism

Living organisms whose genome has been permanently altered by introducing one or more foreign DNA sequences using laboratory techniques

Agrobacterium

A genus of soil bacteria that naturally transfers a specific segment of its DNA into the genome of host plants

Bacteriophage

• Viruses that infect bacterial cells

  • Injects nucleic acid into a cell, expressing phage to reproduce

Cas1-Cas2 Complex

Identifies and cuts segments of DNA from invading viruses, inserting them into a bacterium’s genome as new “spacers” ➡ Adaptive immunity

CRISPR Guide RNA (gRNA)

Locates the target site, directing Cas9

Cas9

• RNA-guided endonuclease protein that cleaves both strands of bacteriophage DNA, inactivating the phage ➡ Prevents expression & reproduction of bacteriophage

Tracr

Enables Cas9 to bind to the Guide RNA

Crispr (repeats and spacers)

Provides a genetic memory that guides future defense

Order of Components on a CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Cluster

1. Tracr

2. Cas9

3. Cas1

4. Cas2

5. Crispr (repeats and spacers)

What components of the CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Cluster are protein-encoding?

1. Tracr: non-coding

2. Cas9: protein-encoding

3. Cas1: protein-encoding

4. Cas2: protein-encoding

5. Crispr (repeats and spacers): non-coding

How does DNA Repair occur for a double-stranded break?

1. Homologous Recombination (double crossover)

2. Non-homologous End-joining

In genetic technology, what are causing the purposeful mutations?

Following Cas9’s cleavage, the DNA repair process has a small CHANCE of introducing a mutation into the gene

Gene Knockout

Technique that permanently deactivates/removes a specific gene in an organism

Transcriptome

The complete sequence of RNA an organism makes

Transcriptomics

Measures the complete RNA sequence for gene expression

Genome

The complete sequence of DNA an organism makes

Genomics

Measures the complete DNA sequence for cellular intent

Proteome

The complete set of proteins an organism makes

Proteonomics

Measures the entire set of proteins for functional action

Comparative Genomics

Compares the genomic features of different organisms to find similarities and differences