Essays for Chapter 20

							Name ___________                                                       AP Biology
Date____________

                          Chapter 20
                  DNA Technology and Genomics
The following are essays that will be covered during this chapter. Be sure to be as
detailed as possible.

 1. Discuss in detail cloning a human gene in a bacterial plasmid and then using
     nucleic acid probe hybridization to isolate a particular gene sequence. This
     involves Figures 20.4 and 20.7


 2. Once you have identified the gene (nucleotide sequence) of interest, you must
     amplify (make many copies) of the gene. Polymerase Chain Reaction is the
     method used. Explain in detail. Figure 20.7. Be sure to provide details of the
     “ingredients” used in process.


 3. At this point we have identified a particular gene sequence, amplified its
     concentration, leading us to the possibilities of using this for a gel
     electrophoresis which uses a gel as a molecular sieve to separate nucleic acids
     or proteins on the basis of size, electrical charge, and other physical
     properties that could affect its travels through the gel. Describe the process
     of gel electrophoresis. Why this is also called Southern Blotting? What is
     Northern/Western Blotting? Figure 20.9 and this site:
     http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/lab6/concepts2.htm
     l


   4. Once a gel electrophoresis has been completed, southern blotting of DNA
      fragments can be performed to detect specific nucleotides sequences with a
      DNA sample. This would be done to identify if the gene isolated/amplified
      was from a particular person for paternity tests, criminal evidence, etc.
      Explain in detail how the southern blot is performed. What is
      Northern/Western Blotting? Fig. 20.11

   5. What is the method to find out the sequence of a gene (the specific sequence
      of nucleotides of that sequence). This is where dideoxy chain-termination
      method for sequencing DNA comes into play. Describe in detail. Figure
      20.12

   6. Finally, the last one! Microarray: explain what this is and how it is made.
      Figure 20.15