Answers
Chapter 41
Techniques in modern
biotechnology
Think about… (p.41-2)
1. Fermentation to make bread, wine, beer, cheese,
etc. (or other reasonable answers)
2. Genetic modification refers to the direct
manipulation of an organism's genes using genetic
engineering techniques.
3. The production of genetically modified organisms
usually makes use of the recombinant DNA
technology.
4. To analyse the DNA of the crop to find whether it
contains foreign genes or not.
Test yourself (p.41-15)
VNTRs are located in the non-coding DNA. Mutations
in VNTRs do not affect the survival of the organisms, so
the mutations can be passed to the offspring.
Mutations in the coding regions, however, may lead to
the synthesis of non-functional proteins. This may
threaten the survival of the organisms.
Test yourself (p.41-18)
The hair root from the crime scene belongs to the
suspect.
The blood on the suspect’s shoe belongs to the victim.
Test yourself (p.41-19)
ABO blood-typing can only be used to exclude a man
from being a child's father, but cannot confirm whether
a man is indeed a child's father. For example, a man
who has type AB blood could not father a child with
type O blood, because he would pass on either the A
allele or the B allele to his offspring.
Test yourself (p.41-20)
Being homozygous means that both alleles are the
same at the locus being analysed. The same alleles are
of the same molecular size.
Test yourself (p.41-25)
When plant cells are grown in a medium containing the
relevant herbicide, only the transformed cells can
survive while the non-transformed cells are killed by the
herbicide.
Test yourself (p.41-33)
Dolly was developed from the fused cell which
contained the nucleus of sheep A (nucleus donor), so
Dolly is genetically identical to sheep A.
Self quiz (p.41-44)
1. (a) C (1)
(b) B (1)
(c) A (1)
(d) D (1)
2. (a) Recombinant (1)
(b) plasmids (1)
(c) Sticky ends (1)
(d) transformation (1)
3. (a) To separate the two DNA strands / break
hydrogen bonds. (1)
(b) (i) Primers (1)
(ii) To allow the primers to attach to the
template. (1)
(c) In PCR, the reaction mixture is heated to
various high temperatures. (1)
DNA polymerase from human sources will
denature. (1)
(d) 1 × 25 = 32 copies (1)
4. (a) The puppy inherited genetic materials from
both parents. (1)
Those bands which the puppy does not have
in common with the mother are found in the
DNA fingerprint of dog P. (1)
This suggests that dog P is likely to be the
father of the puppy. (1)
A1
 (b) No. (1)
Puppies in the same litter are multiple births.
Their genetic makeup is different from one
another. (1)
5. (a) Cell X is haploid. (1)
Cell Y is diploid. (1)
(b) Rat C is a clone to rat B. (1)
Rat C was developed from the fused cell which
contained the nucleus of the somatic cell
from rat B. (1)
Therefore, rat C is genetically identical to
rat B. (1)
(c) The DNA fingerprint of rat C is either pattern
1 or pattern 3. (1)
As rat C is genetically identical to rat B, (1)
the DNA fingerprints of rat C and rat B should
be identical. (1)
6. Plasmids and DNA fragments containing the
human insulin gene are obtained by proper
processes. (1)
Cut the plasmids and DNA fragments containing
the human insulin gene using the same restriction
enzyme. (1)
Join the cut plasmids and the cut DNA fragments
with DNA ligase. (1)
Chapter 42
Applications in biotechnology
Think about… (p.42-2)
1. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can
differentiate into other types of cells and can divide
to produce more of the same type of stem cells.
2. Using patient-specific stem cells to grow an organ,
the organ will be compatible to the patient and will
not be rejected by the patient’s body.
Donor organs are very limited in supply. By
growing organs with stem cells, the waiting time
for transplant may be shorter.
A2
Test yourself (p.42-3)
Type 1 diabetic patients are usually treated with insulin
injections because their bodies produce very little or
even no insulin.
Test yourself (p.42-4)
Antigens in food vaccines are inside cells, thus they are
protected by cell walls. The tough cell walls protect the
antigens from gastric enzymes. When the plant cells are
digested in the intestines, the antigens are released into
the lumen of the intestines where immune responses
are triggered.
Antigens in traditional vaccines will be broken down by
enzymes as soon as they reach the stomach.
Test yourself (p.42-17)
It will solve the problem of tissue rejection if the organ
is grown from the patient’s own stem cells.
This will also help shorten the waiting time for finding a
matching donor.
Self quiz (p.42-34)
1. (a) pancreas (1)
(b) genetically modified (1)
(c) contaminated (1)
(d) immune responses / allergic reactions (1)
(e) amino acid (1)
2. (a) T (1)
(b) F (1)
(c) F (1)
(d) F (1)
3. (a) The genome of bacteria has been well studied
and can easily be manipulated. (1)
Bacteria have a high growth rate. This allows a
large quantity of products to be produced
within a short period of time. (1)
The products usually contain fewer impurities,
and can easily be extracted and purified. (1)
(or other reasonable answers)
 (b) (i) Stage 1: Isolation of the gene coding for 5. The correct copies of the normal gene are inserted
human growth hormone (1) into vectors. (1)
Stage 4: The transformed E. coli expresses The vectors deliver the normal gene into the
the HGH gene and synthesizes human patient’s bone marrow cells. (1)
growth hormone. (1) The normal gene is expressed inside the
(ii)
plasmid (1) transformed cells. (1)

Plasmids are small in size. They are readily Functional proteins are synthesized. (1)
taken up by bacterial cells and transferred
naturally between bacteria. /
Chapter 43
Plasmids carry antibiotic resistance genes
which can serve as markers for the selection Bioethics
of transformed cells. /
Think about… (p.43-2)
Plasmids replicate independently of the
1. Answers vary with students.
bacterial chromosome. Numerous copies of
the inserted gene can be obtained quickly 2. Health benefits, food safety, cost, environmental
from the transformed cells. (1) impact, etc.

4. (a) Cut the DNA fragment containing the target 3. Cloning, genetic testing, gene therapy, stem cell
gene and the plasmid with the same restriction therapy, etc.
enzymes (1)
so that they have complementary sticky
Test yourself (p.43-7)
ends. (1)
The GM salmons are sterile, so they cannot crossbreed
Join the target gene and the plasmid with
with wild types.
DNA ligase. (1)
Raising the GM salmons on land can eliminate the risk
Introduce the recombinant plasmid into
of escape that could impact native fish populations and
Agrobacterium. (1)
the risk of contaminants that could harm marine
(b)
Agrobacterium acts as a vector to carry the ecosystems.
target gene from TMV into tobacco plant
cells. (1)
Self quiz (p.43-25)
(c) Grow the tobacco plant cells on an agar plate
added with antibiotic X. (1) 1. (a) T (1)

The plant cells that have taken up the (b) F (1)

recombinant plasmid obtained the antibiotic
(c) T (1)
resistant gene and they will survive. (1)
The plant cells that contain no antibiotic 2. (a) Plant tissue culture produces clones in relatively
resistant gene will die. (1) short time. /
Plant tissue culture produces a large number of
(d) Meristematic tissues are obtained from the
clones in relatively little space. /
genetically modified tobacco plant and (1)
Plant tissue culture is carried out under sterile
are cultured in a sterile culture medium (1)
conditions, so the clones produced are disease-
containing essential nutrients and plant
free. This reduces loss caused by diseases.
hormones. (1)
(Any two, 2)
The cultured tissues will eventually develop
into whole plants.

A3
 (b) (i) Embryonic stem cells can be cultured to
develop into desired cell types to generate
tissues or organs (1)
to replace or repair damaged body
parts. (1)
(ii) Cloned embryos may be used illegally in
human reproductive cloning. /
Cloned embryos may be used to develop
tissues or organs for trading. /
Many cloned embryos may be wasted. This
will sacrifice many human lives.
(Any two, 2)

3. (a) High blood cholesterol level increases the risk

of cholesterol deposit on the inner wall of
arteries. (1)
There will be a higher chance of plaque
formation on the inner wall of coronary
arteries. (1)
which may block blood flow to cardiac
muscle. (1)
Cardiac muscle cells will die when they cannot
obtain enough nutrients and oxygen. (1)

(b) (i) Genetic testing allows early diagnosis of

cardiovascular diseases before symptoms
appear, (1)
so the people at risk can take preventive
measures to postpone the development of
the disease by adopting healthy lifestyle. (1)
(ii) Scientists cannot be sure that disease-
related genes will always lead to the
development of the disease. Genetic
testing may just create unnecessary
psychological burden. (1)

4. Cells grown from embryonic stem cells may be

recognized as foreign by the recipient’s body, (1)
causing rejection or severe immune responses. (1)
Stem cells may divide uncontrollably (1)
and become cancers. (1)

A4