Question

unit 2. the new materials of biotechnology

1. summarize how the following products were modified by genetic engineering: p.42

a. strawberries
b. soybeans

1. analyze the following organisms: bacteria, fungi, protozoa (paramecium, p.42), and a neuron. find the domain, kingdom, and the genus.
2. go to page 45 and find the source of the macromolecules that are now being manufactured by biotechnology companies:

a. amylase:
b. insulin:

Explanation:

Step1: Genetic - engineering summary

Genetic engineering involves inserting foreign genes into an organism's DNA. For strawberries and soybeans, this can be for various beneficial traits.

Step2: Taxonomic classification

Use the characteristics of each organism to place it in the appropriate domain, kingdom, and genus. Eukaryotes have a nucleus, prokaryotes (bacteria) do not. Fungi, protists, and animals are different kingdoms within Eukaryota.

Step3: Macromolecule sources

Amylase is an enzyme, and various microorganisms can produce it. Insulin is a protein, and recombinant DNA technology is used to produce it in bacteria or yeast.

Answer:

1.

• Strawberries:
• Summary of genetic - engineering modification: Strawberries can be genetically engineered for traits such as disease - resistance, improved flavor, or longer shelf - life. For example, genes from other organisms that code for pest - resistance proteins can be inserted into strawberry genomes.
• Soybeans:
• Summary of genetic - engineering modification: Soybeans are often genetically engineered for herbicide - tolerance (e.g., Roundup - Ready soybeans) or for improved nutritional content. This is done by introducing genes that confer the desired traits into the soybean DNA.

2.

• Mushroom:
• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Fungi
• Genus: Varies depending on the type of mushroom (e.g., Agaricus for common button mushrooms)
• Yeast (a type of fungi in the image):
• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Fungi
• Genus: Saccharomyces is a common genus for baker's and brewer's yeast
• Bacteria:
• Domain: Bacteria
• Kingdom: Bacteria
• Genus: Varies depending on the type (e.g., Escherichia for E. coli)
• Paramecium:
• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Protista
• Genus: Paramecium
• Neuron:
• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Genus: Not applicable in the traditional taxonomic sense for a single cell type like a neuron, but neurons belong to animals which are in the kingdom Animalia

3.

• Amylase: Bacteria, fungi (such as Aspergillus species) are common sources of amylase used in biotechnology.
• Insulin: Insulin is produced by recombinant DNA technology in bacteria (such as E. coli) or yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) after inserting the human insulin - coding gene into their genomes.