CH8 Science as a Human Endeavour

• Vectors


  Bacteriophages & plasmids
• Plasmid


  A small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of the bacterial chromosome
• Restriction enzyme


  Enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides called the 'recognition site
• Straight cut


  When the restrictions enzyme makes a clean break across the two DNA strands to produce a BLUNT END
• Staggered cut


  Fragments with sticky ends
• Sticky ends


  stretch of unpaired nucleotides at the end of DNA, also called overhangs
• Blunt ends


  produced by a straight cut
• Bacteriophage


  a virus that infects bacteria
• Hyperglacaemia


  An abnormally high level of BGL, found in people with diabetes milletus
• Goitre


  enlargement of the thyroid gland
• Palindromic sequence


  sequences that reads the same backwards and forwards
• Recombinant DNA


  Synthesises hormones and vaccines, recombining DNA from a bacteria with a specific gene of interest (insulin, hGH...)
• Bacteriophage function


  picks up pieces of DNA and transfers to another host cell
• Transgenic organism


  Has had DNA from another species introduced into it artificially
• Gene therapy

  
• What do Synthetic Hormones Contain?

  Bonds that aren't recognised by the body, causing fatigue, depletion of nutrient stores, and alter homeostatic mechanisms.
• Bioidentical Hormones


  Identical in molecular structure to those made in their bodies
• Where are Bioidentical Hormones made?

  Plant chemical extractions
• Natural Hormones 


  Use of recombinant DNA technology
• 2 Disadvantage of Vaccines

  1. desired antigens must be located cloned, and expressed efficiently in a new vector
  2. those involved in vaccine research must be conservative