Chapter 2 (Bio-tech): The Raw Materials of Biotechnology

Nucleus

A membrane-bound organelle that encloses the cell's DNA

Lysosome

A membrane-bound organelle that is responsible for the breakdown of cellular waste

Hormone

A molecule that regulates cellular functions

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A nucleotide that serves as an energy storage molecule

Disaccharide

A polymer that consists of two sugar molecules

Starch

A polysaccharide that is composed of many glucose molecules

Photosynthesis

A process by which plants or algae use light energy to make chemical energy

What is thrombopoietin?

A protein made by immune system cells that increase platelet and work to clot blood

Cytoskeleton

A protein network in the cytoplasm that gives the cell structural support

Enzyme

A protein that functions to speed up chemical reactions

Sugar

A simple carbohydrate molecule composed of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen

Plasma membrane

A specialized organelle of the cell that regulates the movement of materials into and out of the cell

Cell wall

A specialized organelle surrounding the cells of plants, bacteria, and some fungi; gives support around the outer boundary of the cell

Polypeptide

A strand of amino acids connected to each other through peptide bonds

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide that is found in plant cell walls

Vero Cells

African green monkey kidney epithelial Cells

Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells (CHO)

An animal cell line commonly used in biotechnology studies

Fluorometer

An instrument that measures the amount or type of light emitted

How does insulin work?

An insulin molecule binds to an insulin receptor protein which then transports phosphate groups from ATP molecules to other proteins within the cell. This leads to an increase in glucose transport from outside (in the blood) to inside the muscle or adipose (fat) cells

Pancreas

An organ that secretes digestive fluids, as well as insulin

Protist

An organism belonging to the Kingdom Protista, which includes protozoans, slow molds, and certain algae

How do prokaryotic cells conduct Respiration?

Anaerobically (breaking down sugar without using oxygen)

Do bacteria and fungal cells contain cell walls? What about animal cells?

Bacteria and fungal cells DO contain cell walls. Animals cell do NOT contain cell walls.

What is glucose's molecular formula?

C6H12O6

Carbon Dioxide

CO2

Crtology

Cell biology

How do cells make proteins?

Cell transcribe DNA into mRNA and the code that was transcribed is transcripted to make proteins

______ _______ provide the support of a rigid structural support that is required for many cells.

Cell walls

What is paper made from? It is also the main component of dietary fiber.

Cellulose

What fibers make up the cell walls of bacteria and fungal cells?

Chitin

Multicellular

Composed of more than one cell

Unicellular

Composed of one cell

"Central Dogma of Biology"

DNA ➡️ mRNA ➡️ proteins

Genetically engineered human inside was first produced in amoeba cells. (True/False)

False it was first produced in E. coli cells

Almost no cell contains a cell wall. (True/False)

False, every cell is surrounded by a plasma membrane that regulates the movement of materials into and out of the cell

Polysaccharides are easy to use in biotech labs. (True/False)

False, polysaccharides are difficult to purify and be used

Chlorophyll

Green-pigmented molecules that are in plant cells; used for photosynthesis (production of chemical energy from light energy)

Water

H2O

HeLa Cells

Human epithelial cells

Macromolecule

Large molecule

What is the plasma membrane composed of?

Lipids (phospholipids) and proteins

Chromosomes

Long strands of DNA intertwined with protein molecules

Mitochondria

Membrane bound organelles that are responsible for generating cellular energy

Pigments

Molecules that are colored due to the reflection of light of specific wave lengths

Organic

Molecules that contain carbon and are only produced in living things

Oxygen

O2

Proteins

One of the four classes of macromolecules; folded, functional polypeptides that conduct various functions within and around a cell (eg, adding structural support, catalyzing reactions, transporting molecules)

Lipids

One of the four classes of macromolecules; includes fats, waxes, steroids, and oils

Carbohydrates

One of the four classes of macromolecules; organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, generally in a 1:2:1 ratio

What are the "raw materials" of biotechnology?

Organisms

Monomers

The repeating units that make up polymers

Cell

The smallest unit of life that makes up all living organisms

Chloroplast

The specialized organelle in plants responsible for photosynthesis

Amino acids

The subunits of proteins; each contains a central carbon atom attached to an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and a distinctive R-group

What makes proteins unique?

Their amino acid sequence

What do plants do in times of low food supply?

Their enzymes break down large amounts of glucose into glucose units for energy production

What is the function of proteins on a cell membrane?

They act to maintain cell shape, and act as transport molecules and recognition molecules

How are cellulose molecules made?

They are made when glucose molecules link together and make long straight polymers

Organ

Tissues that act together to form a specific function in an organism

Each eukaryotic cell has a unique composition of organelles needed to manufacture all of the substances and regulate all of the processes. (True/False)

True, every Eukaryotic cell is unique to its function

What do monosaccharides make up?

Polysaccharides

What molecules are often the subject of research labs?

Proteins

Organelles

Specialized microscopic factories, each with a specific job in the cell

Where are large molecules usually found in a cell?

Structural components such as the cell wall, plasma membrane, or cytoskeleton

What are polysaccharides an excellent molecule for?

Structural support and energy support

Anatomy

Study of the structure and organization of living things

Respiration

The breaking down of food molecules with the result of generating energy for the cell

Where is mRNA code translated into a protein molecule?

The cytoplasm and in a ribosome

Monosaccharide

The monomer unit that cells use to build polysaccharides; also known as a "single sugar" or "simple sugar"

What is the control center of a cell?

The nucleus

Ribosome

The organelle in a cell where proteins are made

Physiology

The processes and functions of living things

Approximately _____ of the mass of a cell is water.

75%

Fructose

A 6-Carbon sugar found in high concentration in fruits; also called fruit sugar

Glucose

A 6-Carbon sugar that is produced during photosynthetic reactions; usually form of carbohydrate used by animals, including humans

Escherichia coli

A bacterium that is commonly used by biotechnology companies for the development of products

Eukaryotic/Eukaryote

A cell that contains membrane-bound organelles

Prokaryotic/prokaryote

A cell that lacks membrane-bound organelles

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A class of RNA molecules responsible for transferring genetic information from the chromosomes to ribosomes where proteins are made

Nucleic acids

A class of macromolecules that directs the synthesis of all other cellular molecule; "information-carrying molecules"

Sucrose

A disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose; also called table sugar

Lactose

A disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose; also called milk sugar

Cytoplasm

A gel-like liquid of thousands of molecules suspended in water, outside the nucleus

Tissue

A group of cells that function together (eg, muscle tissue or nervous tissue)

Polymer

A large molecule made up of many repeating subunits

Organism

A living thing

Polysaccharide

A long polymer composed of many glucose (or variations of glucose) monomers

Levels of biological organization

1. Atoms 2. Molecules 3. Organelles 4. Cells 5. Tissues 6. Organs 7. Organisms

What are the "characteristics of life"?

-Growth -Reproduction -Response to stimuli -Respiration -Production or waste

What characteristics of cells are based off of the function of it?

-Size and shape -Types and amounts of certain structures

Macromolecules are made up of smaller units called.....

.....monomers.

The smallest unit of life is a....

....cell.

Examples of unicellular organisms include...

...bacteria, protozoans, algae

Working in any area of biotechnology requires a thorough understanding of the...

...characteristics of life and the structures that compose organisms.

Sucrose, lactose and maltose are examples of....

...disaccharides.

Glucose, fructose, ribose, deoxyribose and galactose are examples of....

...monosaccharides.

Chloroplasts contain...

...pigments, enzymes, and other factors

Amylose, amylopectin, glycogen, chitin and cellulose are examples of....

...polysaccharides.

Organelles are not considered alive...

...since they cannot survive outside the cell

Popular research organisms are..

..soybeans, cotton, fruit flies, worms, cows, chicks, mice, rats, zebrafish, yeast and bacteria (e. coli)