What material is the cell wall of algae made of?
Cellulose
One of the functions of ATP, apart from hydrolysis to form ADP + Pi to release energy, is ____ to ____.
phosphorylating other biological molecules to make them more reactive.
First, to control the transcription of one or more structural genes in prokaryotes, the regulatory gene produces a/an ____. Next, this protein binds to the ____. As a result, the ____ is unable to bind to the ____. Fourth, this prevents the RNA polymerase from ____.
repressor transcription protein, operator, RNA polymerase, promoter, transcribing the structural genes
What does an operon contain?
A cluster of structural genes, a promoter and an operator (it typically does not contain the regulatory gene itself).
At the post-transcriptional level, how is protein synthesis regulated?
Via the rate of mRNA editing; a higher rate means more mature mRNA is available for translation.
Active gene
A gene that is transcribed and translated.
Human genes can be inserted into the bacterial DNA. These genes can then be translated in bacteria to produce human proteins, such as insulin.
Explain why this is possible. [2 marks]
The genetic code is universal / the same triplets / codons code for the same amino acids (in all organisms);
Transcription/translation mechanisms are universal.
Suggest two benefits of sequencing the entire human genome. [2 marks]
State two reasons why new genetic sequencing technology is more advanced than the technology used in the Human Genome Project. [2 marks]
LacY gene
A structural gene which binds to RNA polymerase during transcription of a protein to facilitate the transport of lactose into a bacterial cell (the lactose permease protein)
LacI gene
Regulatory gene that codes for the lac repressor transcription factor
Regulatory gene in lac operon name
LacI
Structural genes in lac operon names
lac Z/Y/A
Explain why the lac operon structural genes aren’t always expressed. [2 marks]
The structural genes coding for lactose digestion are only active when lactose is present, and so ensures that ATP isn’t wasted on expressing the genes coding for lactose digestion when lactose isn’t present.
What type(s) of organisms have operators?
Eukaryotes don’t have operators (whereas prokaryotes do)
Plants can reproduce without fertilisation to produce genetically identical clones. What is this type of natural plant cloning called?
Vegetative propagation
A clone is produced using an underground horizontal stem with lateral shoots and roots at intervals called a/an ____.
rhizome
Examples of rhizomes
Bamboo, ginger
Corm
A short, vertical, swollen, underground plant stem base that serves as a storage organ
Difference between a corm and a bulb
Bulbs are made of layers of fleshy leaves, whereas a corm is a swollen stem
For speciation to take place, there must first be ____.
reproductive isolation
Describe how biologists carry out micropropagation. [4 marks]
First, a small sample of ____ tissue, called a/an ____, is taken from a healthy plant.
Then, the sample is ____ (with ____) to reduce the chances of contamination, among other ____ techniques.
It is grown on ____ ____ with a ____ ____ (containing e.g. ____). A mass of cells, called a ____, grows.
Finally, this mass of cells is divided and grown in new cultures with ____ to form ____, which are potted in soil.
meristem, explant, sterilised (ethanol), aseptic, agar gel, nutrient medium, glucose [for respiration] amino acids [for protein synthesis] phosphates [for DNA/ATP], callus, hormones, plantlets
In micropropagation, what do the hormones added help with?
Cell differentiation or (shoot/root) growth.
In germ-line gene therapy, the gene is introduced into ____.
germ cells (also called sperm and egg cells)