Synthetic Bio
What is synthetic biology?
Engineering organisms to perform new functions
What enzyme synthesizes DNA during replication?
DNA polymerase
What is the main structural difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?
Cell wall thickness and presence of outer membrane
Where does gas exchange occur in the lungs?
Alveoli
What is the purpose of gel electrophoresis?
To separate DNA fragments by size
What is a plasmid used for in synthetic biology?
To insert new genes into cells
What is a codon?
A triplet of nucleotides coding for an amino acid
What is a biofilm?
A community of microorganisms attached to a surface
What part of the brain controls balance?
Cerebellum
What does ELISA detect?
Specific proteins or antibodies
What does GFP stand for and why is it used?
Green Fluorescent Protein, used as a reporter to track gene expression
What is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous?
Same alleles vs different alleles
What is a bacteriophage?
A virus that infects bacteria
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
Nephron
What is recombinant DNA?
DNA formed by combining genetic material from different sources
What is CRISPR primarily used for?
Gene editing
What is a Punnett square used for?
Predicting inheritance patterns
What is the shape of spherical bacteria called?
Cocci
What type of muscle is found in the walls of internal organs and is not under voluntary control?
Smooth muscle
What is SDS used for in SDS-PAGE?
To denature proteins and give them negative charge
What is the function of a repressor protein?
To block transcription by binding to DNA
What is epigenetics?
Changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequence
What is quorum sensing?
Cell-to-cell communication in bacteria based on population density
Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for hormonal regulation via the pituitary gland?
Hypothalamus
What type of bond is formed by DNA ligase?
Phosphodiester bond