OpenStax Biology 2e Instructor Answer Guide
Biology 2e
Unit 3: Genetics
Chapter 17: Biotechnology and Genomics
Visual Connection Questions
1. You are working in a molecular biology lab and, unbeknownst to you, your lab partner left
the foreign genomic DNA that you are planning to clone on the lab bench overnight instead of
storing it in the freezer. As a result, it was degraded by nucleases, but still used in the
experiment. The plasmid, on the other hand, is fine. What results would you expect from your
molecular cloning experiment?
b. The experiment would result in blue colonies only.
2. Do you think Dolly was a Finn-Dorset or a Scottish Blackface sheep?
Dolly was a Finn-Dorset sheep because even though the original cell came from a Scottish
Blackface sheep and the surrogate mother was a Scottish Blackface, the DNA came from a Finn-
Dorset.
, OpenStax Biology 2e Instructor Answer Guide
3. In 2011, the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommended against using the
PSA test to screen healthy men for prostate cancer. Their recommendation is based on
evidence that screening does not reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer. Prostate
cancer often develops very slowly and does not cause problems, while the cancer treatment
can have severe side effects. The PCA3 test is considered to be more accurate, but screening
may still result in men who would not have been harmed by the cancer itself suffering side
effects from treatment. What do you think? Should all healthy men be screened for prostate
cancer using the PCA3 or PSA test? Should people in general be screened to find out if they
have a genetic risk for cancer or other diseases?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. While it is true that prostate cancer
treatment itself can be harmful, many men would rather be aware that they have cancer so
they can monitor the disease and begin treatment if it progresses. And while genetic screening
may be useful, it is expensive and may cause needless worry. People with certain risk factors
may never develop the disease, and preventative treatments may do more harm than good.
Review Questions
4. GMOs are created by ________.
b. introducing recombinant DNA into an organism by any means
5. Gene therapy can be used to introduce foreign DNA into cells ________.
c. of tissues to cure inheritable disease
6. Insulin produced by molecular cloning:
b. is a recombinant protein
7. Bt toxin is considered to be ________.
b. an organic insecticide produced by bacteria
Biology 2e
Unit 3: Genetics
Chapter 17: Biotechnology and Genomics
Visual Connection Questions
1. You are working in a molecular biology lab and, unbeknownst to you, your lab partner left
the foreign genomic DNA that you are planning to clone on the lab bench overnight instead of
storing it in the freezer. As a result, it was degraded by nucleases, but still used in the
experiment. The plasmid, on the other hand, is fine. What results would you expect from your
molecular cloning experiment?
b. The experiment would result in blue colonies only.
2. Do you think Dolly was a Finn-Dorset or a Scottish Blackface sheep?
Dolly was a Finn-Dorset sheep because even though the original cell came from a Scottish
Blackface sheep and the surrogate mother was a Scottish Blackface, the DNA came from a Finn-
Dorset.
, OpenStax Biology 2e Instructor Answer Guide
3. In 2011, the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommended against using the
PSA test to screen healthy men for prostate cancer. Their recommendation is based on
evidence that screening does not reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer. Prostate
cancer often develops very slowly and does not cause problems, while the cancer treatment
can have severe side effects. The PCA3 test is considered to be more accurate, but screening
may still result in men who would not have been harmed by the cancer itself suffering side
effects from treatment. What do you think? Should all healthy men be screened for prostate
cancer using the PCA3 or PSA test? Should people in general be screened to find out if they
have a genetic risk for cancer or other diseases?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. While it is true that prostate cancer
treatment itself can be harmful, many men would rather be aware that they have cancer so
they can monitor the disease and begin treatment if it progresses. And while genetic screening
may be useful, it is expensive and may cause needless worry. People with certain risk factors
may never develop the disease, and preventative treatments may do more harm than good.
Review Questions
4. GMOs are created by ________.
b. introducing recombinant DNA into an organism by any means
5. Gene therapy can be used to introduce foreign DNA into cells ________.
c. of tissues to cure inheritable disease
6. Insulin produced by molecular cloning:
b. is a recombinant protein
7. Bt toxin is considered to be ________.
b. an organic insecticide produced by bacteria
