Assessment 3

Chromosome

A long molecule made of DNA and associated proteins that carries essential genetic information

DNA

Molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms, consisting of two strands forming a double helix

Nucleotides

Building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base

Gene

A unit of genetic information, it generally has the information needed to make a single protein

Amino acids

Subunits that can be put together to make a protein

Protein

A complex molecule made of amino acids, can do the work in a cell and directly determines an organism’s characteristics

Genome

A complete set of an organism's genetic material

Plasmid

Small circular pieces of DNA that are independent of the chromosome

How information in an organism’s genes determines its characteristics

The sequence of nucleotides in the DNA contains the information needed to make proteins and structures in a cell

Replication

The process of copying DNA to make more DNA

Transcription

Copying one strand of DNA information to make RNA

Translation

RNA information is used to tell which amino acids go in to make a protein

Mutagen

Factors that increase the rate of mutation

Mutation

A change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism’s genome. Leads to heritable changes in DNA

How mutations affect an organism

Changes in DNA usually lead to changes in the proteins that carry out cell functions.

Transformation*

Process of cells taking up DNA from dead donor cells in the environment and incorporating it into their genome

Conjugation*

One live bacterial cell transfers DNA to another cell through a pilus

Transduction*

Genetic exchange when a bacteriophage (virus) transfers bacterial genes from a donor cell to a recipient cell

Conjugation

Transformation

Involves plasmids/ recipient cell may gain a plasmid

Only conjugation

The donor cell remains alive after DNA transfer.

Only transduction

Requires a virus for DNA transfer

Transformation

Conjugation

Transduction

Gives new characteristics to the recipient cell

None

Human genes can recombine to give people new combinations of characteristics

Transformation

Transduction

The donor cell dies

Conjugation

Requires formation of a pilus

How humans can benefit from mutations in microbes

Mutations can kill or weaken harmful microbes

How humans can be harmed from mutations in microbes

Mutations may lead to new strains of microbes that are more harmful or that our immune systems can't fight off as easily

Why is horizontal gene transfer important to bacteria?

Because it is their main mechanism for fast evolution

Why does it matter to humans that bacteria can do horizontal gene transfer?

It is the main thing behind the spread of antibiotic resistance

Examples of recombinant products

Insulin to treat diabetes

Human growth hormone

Blood clotting factor VIII

Hepatitis B vaccine 

HPV vaccine