Unit 4: Biotechnology/Pathogens/Molecular Biology
1.
Biotechnology |
Biotechnology Term |
Example |
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) |
Altering the genes of an organism unnaturally with techniques in order to improve wanted traits. |
Injecting chemicals in a tomato to help it become disease resistant. |
Artificial Selection (Artificial Breeding) |
This is the breeding of animals or plants to create desirable traits |
Breeding 2 different types of dogs to create a single dog with better traits. |
Cloning |
Creating Identical specimens |
Copying the genes of an animal to create a new identical copy of it. |
Genetic Testing |
Medical test that confirms a genetic condition in an individual |
Testing a woman to find out if she caries a trait for Alzheimer's. |
2. How is Biotechnology used?
In terms of microbiology, biotechnology can be very helpful. Techniques of biotechnology can modify microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, to form it into something useful for the world.
In medicine, biotechnology is extremely important. The process of this is called gene therapy. In gene therapy, a good gene is introduced in a person to fight off the disease that a mutated gene is causing. This needs to be accomplished with biotechnology. Therefore, the use of it is very beneficial to producing helpful medicines.
Biotechnology is also most commonly used in the area of agriculture. The skill and approach of biotechnology helps improve the traits of the food we eat. When biotechnology is applied to crops and plants, it can do various things including resistance to drought and disease, more production, increase of nutritional values, and more. With the help of biotechnology, the genes food that is grown is being changed.
3. Are GMOs Good or Bad?
Pros |
Cons |
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4. What is a pathogen?
- A pathogen is a harmful type of microscopic organism that causes disease.
Pathogen: |
Characteristics: |
Disease it causes: |
Treatment: |
Fungi |
- Eukaryotic, reproduces asexually and sexually, and attacks plants & animals, so it can be found in food sources. |
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Anti-fungal cream is used to treat this. |
Virus |
- Nonliving, uses healthy cells' organelles to reproduce, most widespread illness, comes in few shapes and forms. |
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Treatments such as vaccines and anti-viral drugs are used. |
Bacteria |
- Living, classified by shapes (spheres, rods, and spirals), has cell walls, reproduces on its own. |
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Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. |
Parasite |
- Adapts easily, needs a host to survive, lives in a host, lives in intestines and blood stream tissues. |
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The use of anti-parasitic drugs. |
5. Contagions & Mutagens
- When a pathogen is referred to as a contagion, this means that the pathogen is very infectious and could be easily spread to others from close contact. They are contagious.
- Mutagens are different than contagions. They are chemical or physical agents that alter the genetic makeup of something, causing genetic mutations. DNA sequences are changed by mutagens.
- Mutagens are different than contagions. They are chemical or physical agents that alter the genetic makeup of something, causing genetic mutations. DNA sequences are changed by mutagens.
6. Vectors and Carriers
The meaning of vectors and carriers can often be mixed up, but they are different fro each other.
Vector - A vector is an organism that carries the disease within it, but the organism itself does not get sick from it.
Carrier - A carrier that has the disease but does not show any symptoms of it.
One difference between these two that should be noted it is that carriers can pass on the disease to others while vectors can transmit the disease to someone else without having the disease.
Vector - A vector is an organism that carries the disease within it, but the organism itself does not get sick from it.
Carrier - A carrier that has the disease but does not show any symptoms of it.
One difference between these two that should be noted it is that carriers can pass on the disease to others while vectors can transmit the disease to someone else without having the disease.
7. Epidemics and Pandemics
Epidemic = a dramatic increase in the same area or community.
- A good example of an epidemic would be if a numerous amount of people, a number more than usual, caught the flu during winter.
Pandemic = spreads to different countries or even continents.
-The Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, can be a good example of a pandemic because it spread all throughout Asia and Europe.
- A good example of an epidemic would be if a numerous amount of people, a number more than usual, caught the flu during winter.
Pandemic = spreads to different countries or even continents.
-The Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, can be a good example of a pandemic because it spread all throughout Asia and Europe.
What makes a community more vulnerable to diseases?....
- Food - Eating unsafe food can cause many diarrhoeal diseases, which can result into death. The more unhealthy food that gets spread around, the weaker the community becomes.
- Water Supply - Constant water contamination will cause communities to become poisoned and sick, also resulting in death.
- Sanitation - This is an important factor. When people are not well sanitized, diseases have better chances in being introduced into our bodies. Sanitation is important to avoid these circumstances.
- Climate - After heavy rain, an area can flood, and spread sewage waters, which is very unhealthy. Not only that, but climate change that brings warm and wet weather also brings in vectors such as mosquitoes into the environment, causing even more disease.
- Hygiene - If humans are not keeping up with their health, their body will not be able to fight off diseases easily, or recover as well as healthier people. If a whole community consist of people with terrible hygiene, it is more likely that this community will become vulnerable towards a disease rather than a healthier community.
8a. Characteristics of Living Things
- Living things are composed of cells
- They perform life
- They have the ability to reproduce
- Living things interact with the enironment
- Require and use energy
8b. Unicellular and Multicellular Organisms
The difference between unicellular and multicellular organisms is that a unicellular organism is made up of one cell, and only a single cell caries out all life functions and abilities. Unlike unicellular organisms, multicellular is made up of more than a single cell and they are dependent on other cells for life functions.
8c. Organelles
Name of Organelles |
Function of Organelle |
Nucleus |
This is the control center, as it contains DNA and RNA and is responsible for growth and production. |
Cell Membrane |
Protects the cell from surroundings. It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. |
9. Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration
Photosynthesis is the process in which carbon dioxide is inputted into plants and oxygen is released. Unlike photosynthesis, cell respiration is the process when oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is released. These two relate because they balance each other out, so that both cycles feed off of each others results.
10b. Categories of Nutrients
Type of Nutrient |
Used by cells for... |
Food? (If yes, calories/g) |
Type of food it is commonly found in |
Carbohydrate |
Providing health, energy, and getting rid of waste. |
4 calories/gram |
milk, fruit, yogurt, corn, potatoes |
Protein |
Building, repairing, and fixing body tissues. |
4 calories/gram |
meat, beans, nuts, seafood |
Fat |
A major storage for backup energy, like a fuel source. |
9 calories/gram |
milk, cheese, meat |
Vitamin |
Healthy growth and production, as well as hormones. |
no calories |
carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin |
Mineral |
Maintaining a healthy pH level, a structural support, and proper nerve conduction. |
no calories |
whole grains, bread, cereal |
Fiber (carbohydrate) |
Shape and structure, |
4 calories/gram |
oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley |