Biotechnology Study Guide
Chapter 2.3
1. Define organic.
2. Define macromolecule.
3. What is the difference between a monomer and a polymer?
4. Name the 4 classes of macromolecules.
5. What are the differences between Glycogen, Amylose and
Amylopectin?
6. What is the difference between a monosaccaride and a polysaccharide?
7. Name 2 structural polysaccharides.
8. What is the function of a carbohydrate?
9. What is the monomer of a polysaccharide?
10. How do biotechnologists use glucose?
Proteins
1. If you were to dry a cell (remove the water), how much of the remaining
mass would be proteins?
2. In a biotech firm, what percentage of employees is dedicated to protein
research?
3. Where can you find Keratin (what is keratin?)?
4. What is the monomer of a protein?
5. What is the difference between a polypeptide and a protein?
6. The function of a protein comes from it’s what?
7. What are the 3 parts of an amino acid?
8. Which part of the amino acid determines it’s function and how it
interacts with other amino acids?
Nucleic Acids
1. Name the two types of nucleic acids.
2. What is the monomer of a nucleic acid?
3. What are the 3 parts of this monomer?
4. Which of the following molecules are proteins that function as
hormones: estrogen, insulin, human growth hormone, testosterone or
cholesterol?
5. What distinguishes one amino acid from another?
6. How are the terms nucleotide, nitrogenous base, and nucleic acid
related to each other?
Chapter 2.4
1. What is the term used to describe DNA that has been produced by
cutting and pasting together pieces of DNA from two different
organisms?
2. What kinds of molecules were used to cut / paste these DNA segments?
What kind of macromolecule is this?
3. What is a vector? (use glossary)
4. What organism was first used to be genetically engineered?
5. What was the first commercial genetically engineered product? What
was its application? When was it approved?
6. Explain how what was done to get this first genetically modified product.
Chapter 5: Introduction to Studying Proteins
 General protein structure, including 4 levels of protein structure,
denaturation
 RNA splicing, alternative RNA splicing, and effect of alternative
splicing on complexity of gene expression
 Translation
- general understanding of process of translation
- different kinds of RNA in the cell and their functions
- how many nucleotides make up a codon (code for a single amino acid in a
polypeptide)
- how to use the genetic code and knowledge of transcription/base-pairing
rules to transcribe and then translate a short sequence of DNA
- location of translation in the cell
 Enzymes
- enzyme terminology (substrate, active site, induced fit)
- enzyme nomenclature
- the 4 features of enzymes (see powerpoint notes)
 Antibodies
- general antibody structure & recognition of antigen
- the 4 uses of antibodies in the field of biotech/biomanufacturing (see
powerpoint notes)
- how antibodies are made, both in our bodies, and in laboratory animals;
difference between polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies
 Polyacrylamine gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and SDS-PAGE
- definition; how it works; how molecules are separated
- the 2 functions of SDS in SDS-PAGE
- where smaller vs. larger molecules would be found in a gel
- how different agarose concentrations are used to separate different size
DNA molecules
- similarities & differences between agarose gel electrophoresis and
SDS-PAGE
CHAPTER 3:
For the following items, select which tool would most accurately measure
each amounts. Each amount has only 1 answer!
For the pipets shown below, write the pipet that is being shown and the
volume indicated in the window (on the dial)
15)_____________
micropipet
balance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
pipet
graduated cylinder
analytical balance
17)_____________
tabletop
60 µL _________________________
5.06 g _________________________
8 µL _________________________
10 mg _________________________
4 mL _________________________
300 µL ________________________
2.0 L ________________________
300 mg _______________________
Indicate the pipet that is needed for the following volumes and write the
setting on the dial for those volumes:
9) 1.4 µL __________ 10) 55 µL ___________
11) 155 µL __________ 12) 850 µL __________
13) 1 mL= ___________ 14) 200 µL = _________
16)____________
18. Calculate the mass of 17 moles of HCl___________________amu
19. Calculate the molecular weight of NaOH________________amu
3-6 Dilutions: show all work and put a box around your answer!
Remember your units!
20. What is the formula for making dilutions?
21. A lab technician diluted 30 µL of a 60X stock with enough solvent to
reach a final volume of 5 mL. What is the new concentration of the sample?
Show your work.
21. How do you prepare 850 mL of 1X copper sulfate anhydrous solution
from a 50 X concentrated stock?
22. How do you prepare 5 L of 0.5 M sucrose solution from a 6 M sucrose
stock solution?
23. How do you prepare 200 mL of 4.0 X NaOH solution starting from a stock
solution that is 50X?
Chapter 4-Introduction to Studying DNA
4-1 Describe the structure and function of DNA and explain the process by
which it encodes for proteins
4-2 Differentiate between eukaryotic and prokaryotic chromosomal
structure and explain how this difference impacts gene regulation in the
two cell types
4-3 Differentiate between bacterial cultures grown in liquid and solid media
and explain how to prepare each media type using sterile technique
4-4 Discuss the characteristics of viruses and their importance in genetic
engineering
4-5 Explain the fundamental process of genetic engineering and give
examples of the following applications: recombinant DNA technology, sitespecific mutagenesis, and gene therapy
4-6 Describe the process of gel electrophoresis and discuss how the
characteristics of molecules affect their migration through a gel
After reviewing chapter 4, you should be able to:
1-Sketch and label DNA’s structure- including base pairs, hydrogen bonds,
phosphodiester (covalent) bonds, deoxyribose, phosphate backbone and 5’
vs. 3’ end, free hydroxyl group.
2-Be able to define genome, chromosome, gene, nucleotide, amino acid,
protein, centromere, histone, chromatin, genetic engineering, recombinant
DNA, transgenic, agar, polyacrylamide, site-specific mutagenesis
3-How many genes, approximately, are in the human genome?
4-Be prepared to compare and contrast DNA to RNA.
5-Be able to define, give examples and the methods of gene therapy use in
humans.
6-Explain the function of DNA polymerase, topoisomerase, helicase, ligase,
primase
7-Diagram and explain the differences in DNA replication in prokaryotes vs.
eukaryotes.
8-Explain the term degenerate and wobble as it relates to the universal
genetic code.
9-Understand how the following biotechnological tools and procedures are
used: thermocycler, autoclave,
10-What are some commonly used stains for visualizing DNA after gel
electrophoresis?
11. Explain and sketch the sterile technique method used to isolate single
colonies of bacteria from a culture tube onto nutrient plates.
12-How do plasmids differ from chromosomal DNA molecules?
13-Be prepared to sketch and label the steps to making and pouring an
agarose gel- including the use of all of the following- comb, gel tray, wells,
agarose, tape, TAE buffer
14-Explain how to make a 1% vs. 0.5% agarose gel?
15-Be able to explain the process of gel electrophoresis
16-Be able to identify a bacteriophage vs. a coronavirus. What are the
structural similarities and differences of each? What kind of infections can
result from each?
17-Be prepared to interpret a
DNA fingerprint. Understand
the concepts of STRs, LADDERS,
restriction enzymes, introns,
exons. What are some of the
other uses of this technology?
Explain one drawback of using
STR variability as evidence in a
criminal case.
18- Examine the diagram of a
DNA agarose gel on the
right, and answer the
following questions. Draw it on
your paper.
a) What do the bands in the picture of the agarose gel represent?
b) Which band(s) traveled the slowest? WHY?
c) Which band(s) traveled fastest? WHY?
d) Which end of the gel would be considered the positive end?
e) Which end of the gel would be considered the negative end?
18. Explain the experiment done by Meselson and Stahl to prove the
semiconservative nature of DNA replication.