Flashcards on Genome Engineering
Genome Engineering Explained: Concepts, Applications & Ethics
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Genome engineering
45 cards
Card 1
Question: What landmark achievement in synthetic genomes demonstrated that entire bacterial genomes can be assembled from synthesized DNA fragments?
Answer: In 2010 Craig Venter’s group assembled the Mycoplasma mycoides genome from ~1,000 synthesized DNA fragments and transplanted it into a Mycoplasma capr
Card 2
Question: Why is Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) useful for cloning and assembling genomes from other species?
Answer: Because yeast performs very efficient double-strand break repair through homologous recombination, and it supports engineered artificial chromosomes (
Card 3
Question: What features are typically included on yeast plasmids used to clone foreign genomes?
Answer: Sequences required for chromosome maintenance (replication origins, centromere function), selection markers (e.g., HIS3), and genes necessary for main
Card 4
Question: Describe one method by which a bacterial genome can be introduced into yeast for cloning.
Answer: A bacterial genome (circular or linearized) is transformed into yeast where overlapping homologous sequences between the bacterial genome and a yeast
Card 5
Question: How can an entire bacterial genome be assembled in yeast from multiple pieces?
Answer: The genome can be provided as many shorter overlapping sequences (e.g., 25 pieces each overlapping the next); yeast homologous recombination assembles
Card 6
Question: What advantage does putting overlapping ORFs in linear order provide when redesigning a genome?
Answer: Reordering overlapping open reading frames avoids unintended effects where a nucleotide change in one ORF would alter a codon in an overlapping ORF, s
Card 7
Question: What was the goal of altering codon usage in a synthetic E. coli genome (as described in the content)?
Answer: To reduce genetic-code redundancy by eliminating specific codons (two serine codons UCG and UCA and one stop codon UAG), enabling future repurposing o
Card 8
Question: Give an example of codon redundancy mentioned and how many codons encode serine and stop signals.
Answer: Serine is encoded by six codons (AGC, AGU, UCA, UCC, UCG, UCU); there are three stop codons (UAA, UAG, UGA).
Card 9
Question: What is the conceptual significance of successfully assembling and transplanting synthetic genomes?
Answer: It proves that genomes can be designed and assembled in vitro, enabling the creation of novel or redesigned forms of life—foundational for genome engi
Card 10
Question: What major genome engineering milestone did Craig Venter's group announce in 2010?
Answer: They assembled the genome of Mycoplasma mycoides from synthesized DNA and transplanted it into a bacterial cell whose endogenous genome had been remov