DNA Technology

Chapter 20

1. Explain how a restriction enzyme can be used to create recombinant DNA.

2. Outline a procedure for cloning a gene using a bacterial plasmid.

3. When using a plasmid vector to clone a gene, how can bacteria carrying the gene be identified?

4. Describe the polymerase chain reaction and give an example of when it might be useful.

5. Explain how gel electrophoresis can be used to separate and visualize DNA fragments.

6. How can restriction fragment length polymorphisms be used as genetic markers?

7. Describe the technique of Southern blotting and give an example of when it might be useful.

8. Describe the dideoxy chain-termination method of sequencing DNA.

9. How can identify protein-coding sequences in DNA? How can we determine the function of a gene? Why is this information useful?

10. Imagine you want to know which genes are expressed in a particular embryonic tissue compared to the same tissue in the fetus and the adult. How would you do this?

11. Briefly suggest how DNA technology can used in each of the following areas:

a) diagnosis of disease

b) gene therapy

c) pharmaceuticals

d) forensics

e) environmental applications

f) agricultural uses

12. Briefly discuss some ethical and safety concerns surrounding the use of DNA technology.