Selecting Modified Cells Flashcards

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What does 'selecting modified cells' mean in genetic engineering?

It means picking out the cells that have taken in the new gene. These selected cells are then used and grown on.

What is a marker gene in genetic engineering?

A marker gene is an extra gene added with the new gene that makes the changed cells easy to spot or pick out.

How does an antibiotic resistance marker help select modified bacteria?

The plasmid carries a gene that gives resistance to an antibiotic. When bacteria grow on agar with that antibiotic, only the ones that took in the plasmid survive.

What is meant by a selective medium?

A selective medium is a growth jelly or liquid that only lets cells with certain genes grow, for example if it contains a particular antibiotic.

How is a fluorescent marker gene used to find modified cells?

The marker gene makes a fluorescent protein. Under special light, only the cells with the new gene glow, so they can be chosen.

Why is the marker gene put on the same plasmid as the useful gene?

So any cell that has the marker gene also has the useful gene. Choosing cells with the marker also selects the cells that were modified as planned.

Describe how bacteria with a new gene can be selected using antibiotic resistance.

First, mix plasmids with bacteria so some take them in. Then spread the bacteria on agar with an antibiotic; only colonies with the plasmid, and so the new gene, will grow.

After modified cells have been selected, what is done with them?

They are allowed to grow and divide many times. This makes a large group of identical cells that all contain the new gene.

Why do most cells in a genetic engineering experiment not become modified?

Only a small number of cells take in the plasmid or other vector. Many cells do not pick up the new DNA, so they stay unmodified.

What is one advantage of using a fluorescent marker instead of an antibiotic resistance marker?

Fluorescent markers let you see which cells are modified without killing the others. This can be useful if you want to keep both changed and unchanged cells alive.

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