Month: May 2010

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Biotechnology: Transgenic Salmon

Question

Female salmon prefer the biggest male as a breeding partner. Discuss how this preference would affected the spread of the growth gene through a wild salmon population if genetically modified salmon were accidentally released.

Answer

Genetically modified male salmon have same survivorship chances and same reproductive success as wild salmon. Females will not necessarily choose only GM salmon, as not all would be the ‘biggest’. Of those chosen, the genes for increased growth would spread rapidly through population, since those males carrying increased growth genes reach maturity quicker and thus have less exposure to predation, disease etc..

GM salmon have same fitness and reproductive sucess as non-GMsalmon and females equally choose GM salmon and non-GM salmon based on size.

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Biotechnology: Medical miracles or meddling

Question

Some inherited genetic diseases were caused by the lack of an essential protein. Biotechnology may be used to treat individuals affected by these genetic diseases. Research into genetic diseases caused by the lack of an essential protein can focus on using biotechnology in two ways:

1. Produce the protein cheaply and affectively using microorganisms so that the patient can be regularly dosed with the protein.

2. Cure the affected person by inserting functioning genes so that the person is capable of producing the required protein.

Discuss difficulties that could occur when delivering a gene into a patient. These are things that researchers would need to consider, and check for, and ensure were not a problem before the patient could be said to be ‘cured’ and able to produce their own essential protein.

Answer

A faulty gene is isolated and replaced by a healthy/active gene. Isolation of gene of interest inserted into DNA of a suitable vector using vector using restriction enzymes and ligation and then cloned. Correct gene delivered back into the human, enabling coding of required protein.

Problems may arise with type of vector used, immune system may attack it/ may elicit an allergic response. Testing is needed to make sure the gene delivered works to correct cells and is incorporated into nucleus for protein synthesis. The quantity of protein made would have to be sufficient to effect a cure – needed to deliver enough gene to do this and genes must remain in patient long enough to have an effect.


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Biotechnology: Moa

Question Two

Discuss why the procedures used to ‘sex’ the bones of the Moa were harder than just identifying that they belonged to the same species. In your discussion, say why procedures were needed and why the researchers used DNA from closely related living birds for comparison.

Answer

The species can be identified using the mitochondrial DNA in cells. The karytype of living species of related birds is known and can be used to identify sex of Moa bones were from. Sex chromosome is need to identify the sex of Moa.

However, there are more mitochondria/mitochondrial DNA in cells compared to chromosomes/nuclear/sex chromosome DNA because there is only one of them in a cell. This is the reason why the ‘sex’ of the Moa is harder to identify.

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Biotechnology: Wollemi pines

Question one

The Wollemi pines have been shown to be susceptible to the die back fungus(Phytophythora cinnamomi) that attacks trees in other Australian native forests. One species of pine has resistance to this fungus because of a single gene. Discuss how biotechnological technique could be used to develop Wollemi pines that are resistant to the die-back fungus. In your discussion, include that may result from the procedures involved.

Answer

Wollemi pines could be made resistant to die-back fungus using process of transgenesis  – taking organism resistant to fungus, identify resistant gene, cut using restricti

on enzymes, cut plasmid to infect pine.

Concerns

Gene product may interact with products of another gene, transfer process may disrupt ability for gene to offer resistance, gene may insert in middle of a vital Wollemi pine gene and disrupt ability of that gene to function (produce non functional protein), gene may only function sporadically because not inserted into a chromosome therefore disrupting its ability to offer resistance.

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Ionic bonding and Covalent bonding

Ionic bonding

Ionic bonding usually happens from reaction between metal and non-metal elements. You can see ionic bonding from a compound like NaCl (Sodium chloride). The forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions are called ionic bonds. As you can see in the diagram, Na+(Sodium ion) is a positive and Cl-(Chloride ion) is a negative ion. This is because sodium has lost one of its electron on it’s outer shell and chlorine has gained one electron from sodium element.

Sodium is an element but it becomes ion when it loses it’s electron from the outer shell. Chlorine is also an element – so it becomes negative ion as it gains a electron from the sodium.

An ionic bond (or electrovalent bond) is a type of chemical bond based on electrostatic forces between two oppositely-charged ions.

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Covalent bonding

Covalent bonds are forces that hold non-metal atoms together. The forces are formed when the atoms of a molecule share electrons.

As you may know, an atom is made of a tiny core called a nucleus, with tiny particles called electrons traveling about the nucleus. Sometimes when atoms come together, two electrons will start to travel about the nuclei of both atoms. The two atoms then share the pair of electrons.

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The longest word

Pseudoantidisestablishmentarianism (34자)

[슈도 안티 디스 에스타블리쉬먼타리어니즘]

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antidisestablishmentarianism(반 국교폐지론)의 파생어.

의미: 반국교폐지론을 사칭하는 것. (거짓으로 국교는 폐지되어서는 안된다고 주장하는 주의?)

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Hepaticocholangiocholecystenterostomies (39자)
담낭과 간장관 또는 장의 사이에 연락 채널을 만들기 위한 외과 수술.

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Asseocarnisanguineoviscericartilaginonervomedullary (51자)

의미 : 인체의 구조. Structure of the human body

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Aequeosalinocalcalinosetaceoaluminosocupreovitriolic (52자)

[의미] Bath(잉글랜드, 에이본주의 온천 도시)의 광천수를 나타내기 위해
에드워드·스트로자 박사(1675~1737)가 만들어낸 조어.

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Lopadotenachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrinhipotrimmatosilphioparaomelitok-atakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektrionoptekephalliokigklopel-eiolagoiosiraiovaphetraganopterygon (182자)

극작가 아리스토파네프(BC448～380?)의 작품중에 나오는 170자의 그리스어를 번역한 것.
17가지의 재료로 만드는 요리의 이름.

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Ornicopytheobiblopsychocrystarroscioaerogenethliometeoroaustrohieroanthr-opoicichthyopyrosiderochpnomyoalectryoophiobotanopegohydrorhabdocritho-aleuroalphitohalomolybdoclerobeloaxinocoscinodactyliogeolithopessopscphoca-toptrotephraoeirochiroomychodactyloarithstichooxogeloscogastrogyrocerobl-etonooenoscapulinaniac (310자)

중세에 어떤 필기자가 사용한단어. 의미는 새,신탁,성서로 시작되는 총 57가지의 단어를 엮어서 표현해놓은 단어.

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Acetylseryltyrosylserylisoleucylthreonylserylprolylserylglutaminylphenylalaylv-
alylphenylalanylleucylserylserylvalyltryptophylalanylaspartylprolylisoleucylglut-amylleucylleucyllasparaginylvalylcysteinylthreonylserylserylleucylglycllasparaginylglutaminylphenylalanylglutaminylthreonylglutaminylglutaminylalanylarginylth-reonylthreonylglutaminylvalylglutaminylglutaminylphenylalanylserylglutaminylva-lyltryptophyllysylrolylphenylalanylprolylglutaminylserylthreonylvalylarginylphe-nylalanylprolylglycylaspartylvalyltyrosyllsyslvalyltyrosylarginyltyrosylasparagi-nylalanylvalylleucylaspartylprolylleucylisoleucylthreonylalanylleucylleucylglycy-lthreonylphenylalanylaspartylthreonylarginylasparaginylarginylisoleucylisoleuc-ylglutamylvalylglutamylasparaginylglutaminylglutaminylserylprolylthreonylthreo-nylalanylglutamylthreonylleucylaspartylalanylthreonylarginylarginylvalylaspart-ylaspartylalanylthreonylvalylalanylisoleucylarginylserylalanylasparaginylisoleuc-ylasparaginylleucylvallasparaginylglutamylleucylvalylarginylglycylthreonylglycy-lleucyltyrosylasparaginylglutaminylasparaginylthreonylphenylalanylglutamylsery-lmethionylserylglycylleucylvalyltryptophylthreonylserylalanylprolylalanylserine

(1185자)
담배모자이크 바이러스 Dahlemense Strain의 과학명.

아메리카 과학학회의 화학제품초록에 적혀있다.

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Methionylglutaminylarginyltyrosylglutamylserylleucylphenylalanylalanylglutamin-ylleucyllysylglutamylarginyllysylglutamylglycylalanylphenylalanylvalylprolylphen-ylalanylvalylthreonylleucylglycylaspartylprolylglycylisoleucylglutamylglutaminyl-serylleucyllysylisoleucylaspartylthreonylleucylisoleucylglutamylalanylglycylalan-ylaspartylalanylleucylglutamylleucylglycylisoleucylprolylphenylalanylserylaspart-ylprolylleucelalanylaspartylglycylprolylthreonylisoleucylglutamiylasparaginylala-nylthreonylleucylarginylalanylphenylalanylalanylalanylglycylvalylthreonylprolyla-lanylglutaminylcysteinylphenylalanylglutamylmethionylleucyalanylleucylisoleucyl-arginylglutaminyllysylhistidylprolylthreonylisoleucylprolylisoleucylglycylleucyll-eucylmethionyltyrosylalanylasparaginylleucylvalylphenylalanylasparaginyllysylgl-ycylisoleucylaspartylglutamylphenylalanyltyrosylalanylglutaminylcysteinylglutam-yllysylvalylglycylvalylaspartylserylvalylleucylvalylalanylaspartylvalylprolylvalylg-lutaminylglutamylserylalanylprolylphenylalanylarginylglutaminylalanylalanylleucy-larginylhistidylasparaginylvalylalanylprolylisoleucylphenylalanylisoleucylcystein-ylprolylprolylaspartylalanylaspartylaspartylaspartylleucylleucylarginylglutaminy-lisoleucylalanylseryltyrosylglycylarginylglycyltyrosylthreonyltyrosylleucylleuc-ylserylarginylalanylglycylvalylthreonylglycylaranylglutamylasparaginylarginylan-ylalanylleucylprolylleucylaspaaginylhistidylleucylvalylalanyllysylleucyllysylgluta-myltyrosylasparaginylalanylalanylprolylprolylleucylglutaminylglycylphenylalanyl-glycylisoleucylserylalanylprolylaspartylglutaminylvalyllysylalanylalanylisoleucyla-spartylalanylglycylalanylalanylglycylalanylisoleucylserylglycylserylalanylisoleucy-lbalyllysylisoleucylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylhistidylasparaginylisoleucylglutam-ylprolylglutamyllysylmethionylleucylalanylalanylleucyllysylvalylphenylalanylvalyl-glutaminylprolylmethionyllysylalanylalanylthreonylarginylserine (1909자)

267개의 아미노산으로 구성된 단백질 효소(트립토판 신세타아제)의 과학명.

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What is kinetic energy and potentional energy?

Kinetic energy

Kinetic Energy is energy that is in motion. Moving water and wind are good examples of kinetic energy. Electricity is also kinetic energy because even though you can’t see it happen, electricity involves electrons moving in conductors.

Energy makes change possible. We use it to do things for us. It moves cars along the road and boats over the water. It bakes a cake in the oven and keeps ice frozen in the freezer. It plays our favorite songs on the radio and lights our homes. Energy is needed for our bodies to grow and it allows our minds to think.

Scientists define energy as the ability to do work. Modern civilization is possible because we have learned how to change energy from one form to another and use it to do work for us and to live more comfortably.

Energy is found in different forms including light, heat, chemical, and motion.

Potential Energy

Energy is measured in the amount of “work” it does. Potential Energy is stored energy. Examples of potential energy are oil sitting in a barrel, or water in a lake in the mountains. This energy is referred to as potential energy, because if it were released, it would do a lot of work.

Energy can change from one form to another. A good example is a Roller Coaster. When it is on its way up, it is using kinetic energy since the energy is in motion. When it reaches the top it has potential (or stored) energy. When it goes down the hill it is using kinetic energy again.

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Science fair help: Burning peanut experiment

Measuring Energy

burn a peanut and boil water to meaure its calorie content

This is a particular method that measures energy in a peanut. A peanut burns producing an impressive amount of flame for a long time. The flame is used to boil away water and count the calories contained in the peanut.

Equation for calculating the calories in a peanut: To raise the temperature of 10 grams of water from 20 °C to 100 °C it takes:

Q = mcDT

Or, use the following equation to calculate the calories per gram of the peanut:

calories per gram = (heat gained by water)/(mass lost when peanut burned)

This is another way of doing the experiment.

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To learn more about this experiment visit

http://www.exo.net/~pauld/activities/food/burnapeanut.html

http://www.chymist.com/energy%20of%20a%20peanut.pdf

http://www.cerlabs.com/experiments/10875406238.pdf

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Bacteria

Functions of major parts

  • DNA: Contains genetic information for the bacteria. Controls all the chemical reactions within the cytoplasm.
  • Capsule: Protects bacteria from heat and chemicals
  • Flagellum: For movement.
  • Fimbriae/Pilli: For attachment (eg. on the surface of stomach)
  • Cell wall: Maintains the shape of the bacteria.
  • Ribosomes: For making protein.
  • Cytoplasm: This is where all the chemical reaction happens (including making proteins).
  • Plasma-membrane/ cell membrane: Controls what comes in and goes out.

Uses of Bacteria :

ref http://hubpages.com/hub/Uses-and-Classifications-of-Bacteria

  • A bacterium breaks down the organic fertilizer (decomposed vegetables and animal matter) into material that can be used by plants.
  • Some species of soil bacteria convert nitrogen into nitrites, compounds that are readily absorbed by plants.
  • Different commercial processes also need certain bacteria, like Anaerobic bacteria that ferment certain substances are used in the production of vinegar and some drugs, and in the aging process of cheeses.


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Hepatic portal vein

Usually the capillary beds of most tissues drain into veins are lead directly back to the heart. However hepatic portal vein is an exception. In this case, blood draining the intestine is leaded to a second set of capillary beds in the liver. Then the liver removes many of the materials that were absorbed by the intestine:

  • Glucose is removed and converted into glycogen.
  • Other monosaccharides are removed and converted into glucose.
  • Excess amino acids are removed and deaminated.
    • The amino group is converted into urea.
    • The residue can then enter the pathways of cellular respiration and be oxidized for energy.
  • Many nonnutritive molecules, such as ingested drugs, are removed by the liver and, often, detoxified.

The liver serves as a gatekeeper between the intestines and the general circulation. It screens blood reaching it in the hepatic portal system so that its composition when it leaves will be close to normal for the body.

Furthermore, this homeostatic mechanism works both ways. When, for example, the concentration of glucose in the blood drops between meals, the liver releases more to the blood by

  • converting its glycogen stores to glucose (glycogenolysis)
  • converting certain amino acids into glucose (gluconeogenesis)

ref: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/G/GITract.html