BIOLOGY NOTES TALHAH AHMED
BIOLOGY UNIT 1 EDEXCEL NOTES 15 PAGES
Circulatory systems
Closed circulatory systems:
Blood leaves heart under pressure arteries arterioles capillaries
Capillaries come in large numbers. They exchange substances between the blood and cells.
After passing through capillaries blood goes back to the heart via venules veins
Valves in the veins ensure that blood only flows in one direction.
Single circulatory system: (e.g. in fish)
Heart pumps deoxygenated blood gills
Gaseous exchange (diffusion of CO2 from blood to H2O that surrounds the gills, and diffusion of O2 from
H2O into the blood)
Blood leaves gills rest of body heart
Double circulatory system:
Right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs where it receives oxygen.
The oxygenated blood then returns to the heart to be pumped a second time ( by the left ventricle) out to the
rest of the body.
Circulation
In the circulatory system all the particles it contains are transported in one direction in a process known as mass flow.
Properties of water that make it a good transport medium:
Water is a very good transport medium.
Water is liquid at room temperature.
The hydrogen's in the water push away from each other making the molecule V shaped.
many water molecules can bond together forming hydrogen bonds, as the negatively charged oxygen of one
molecule bonds to the positively charged hydrogen of another.
The hydrogen bonding holds them together and results in many of the properties of water.
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Many chemicals dissolve easily in water.
Polar molecules (hydrophilic) dissolve easily in water.
Non-polar (hydrophobic) substances, e.g. lipids, do not dissolve in water.
Water has a high boiling point because the hydrogen bonds require a lot of energy to break as they are very
strong.
The heart and blood vessels
The heart consists of:
Aorta (to body)
Pulmonary artery (to lungs)
Pulmonary veins (from lungs)
Left and right atrium
Left and right ventricle
Atrioventricular valves (separates the ventricles and atrium)
Semi-lunar valve (separates the ventricles from the aorta)
Inferior vena cava (from lower body)
Superior vena cava (from head and arms)
Arteries and veins:
Arteries: narrow lumen Veins: wide lumen
Arteries: thick walls Veins: thinner walls
Arteries: more collagen, elastic fibers and smooth muscle Veins: has less
Arteries: no valves Veins: have valves
Capillaries: Are only one cell think and join the small arteries (arterioles) and small veins (venules)
How does blood move through the vessels?
Every time the heart contracts (systole) blood is forced into arteries and their walls stretch to accommodate the
blood.
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During relaxation of the heart (diastole) the elasticity of the walls causes them to recoil behind the blood pushing
the blood forward.
How the valves in veins work:
Blood passes through the vein
skeletal muscles contract
contraction pushes blood forward toward the heart through the open valves
valve behind is closed preventing the back-flow of blood
when the blood has passed through the open valve the muscles relax
this causes the vales to shut behind it again preventing back-flow
The heart needs a constant supply of blood. Two vessels called the coronary arteries give the heart with a constant
supply of blood.
How the heart works
The four chambers of the heart are continually and relaxing in a sequence known as the cardiac cycle.
Contraction of a chamber is systole and relaxation diastole.
Phase 1: Atrial systole
blood under low pressure flows into the left and right atria from the pulmonary veins and vena cava.
as atria fill pressure against atrioventricular valves pushes them open and blood starts leaking into the ventricles.
the atria walls then contract forcing more blood into the ventricles.
Phase 2: Ventricular systole
Ventricles contract from base upwards increasing the pressure.
this pushes blood up and out through the arteries.
the pressure of blood against the atrioventricular valves closes them and prevents and prevents back-flow into the
atria.
Phase 3: Diastole
Atria and ventricles relax during diastole.
Elastic recoil lowers pressure in the atria and ventricles.
Blood under higher pressure in the arteries is drawn back towards the ventricles, closing the semi-lunar valves.
The coronary arteries fill during diastole.
Low pressure in the atria helps draw blood into the heart from the veins.
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Closing the atrioventricular valves and then the semi-lunar valves creates the characteristic sounds of the heart.
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis can lead to coronary heart disease and strokes. It does this by blocking an
artery with fatty deposits .
Stages of atherosclerosis:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Endothelium becomes damaged (e.g. due to high blood pressure, or cigarette smoke)
Damage causes inflammatory response. White blood cells move into the artery wall, they accumulate chemicals
from the blood (cholesterol)
A deposit then builds up called an atheroma
Calcium salts and fibrous tissue build up at site and form a hard swelling (plaque)
This makes the artery lose some of its elasticity (hardens)
It also causes the artery to narrow
This makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body and results in high blood pressure
Positive feedback builds up as the increased blood pressure makes it more likely that more plaques will form.
Blood clot
When blood vessel walls are damaged a blood clot is likely to form.
Platelets come into contact with vessel wall and change from flat discs to spheres with long thin projections.
this change causes them to stick to the exposed collagen in the wall and each other and from a temporary platelet
plug.
they also release substances that activate more platelets
the contact of blood with collagen causes chemical changes in the blood:
Soluble plasma protein prothrombin
Converted into thrombin an enzyme
thrombin catalyses the conversion of another soluble plasma protein called Fibrinogen
into long insoluble strands of the protein fibrin
The fibrin strands from a mesh that traps blood cells to form the clot.
Aneurysms can also form which are a build up of blood behind a narrowed part of an artery.
Identifying risk factors for CVD
Large-scale studies have been undertaken to find the risk factors for many common diseases including cardiovascular
disease.
There are two common studies:
Cohort study - a group of people are followed over time to see who develops the disease
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Case-control studies - a group of people who have the disease are compared with a group who do not have the
disease
Features of a good study:
clear aim
representative sample
valid and reliable results
Risk factors that increase the chance of getting CVD:
High blood pressure
Obesity
Blood cholesterol and other dietary factors
Smoking
Genetic inheritance
The risk of CVD is higher for men than women in the UK.
The risk of getting CVD also increases with age.
High blood pressure: (hypertension)
blood pressure is measured by using a sphygmomanometer, it measures the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure
in the arteries.
it is shown by placing systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. In a healthy person a systolic pressure of between 100
and 140 is expected and a diastolic pressure between 60 and 90.
Other risk factors for CVD
The role of antioxidants:
high levels of antioxidants protect against heart disease.
Salt:
too much salt can cause the kidneys to retain water. higher fluid levels in the blood result in elevated blood pressure.
Stress:
in stressful situations the release of adrenaline causes arteries and arterioles to constrict resulting in raised blood
pressure
Alcohol:
heavy drinking raises blood pressure, contributes to obesity, and can cause an irregular heartbeat.
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Reducing the risk of CVD
The risk of getting CVD can be reduced by:
stopping smoking
maintaining a blood pressure below 140/85 mmHg
maintaining a low blood cholesterol level
maintaining a normal BMI/ low waist-to-hip ratio
taking more exercise
moderate use of alcohol
Ways of controlling blood pressure:
ACE inhibitors
calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Reducing blood cholesterol levels:
Mainly the drug statins are used. They inhibit an enzyme involved in the production of LDL cholesterol.
Changing diet to reduce the risk of CVD
This would include:
Energy balanced
Reduced saturated fat
More polyunsaturated fats
Reduced cholesterol
Reduced salt
More non-starch polysaccharides (pectins and guar gum)
Oily fish (contain omega-3 fatty acids)
More fruit and vegetables (contain antioxidants)
Include functional foods containing sterols and stanols
Anticoagulant and platelet inhibitory drug treatment:
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The tenancy for platelet aggregation and clotting is reduced by platelet inhibitory drugs and anticoagulant drugs.
Sugars
Mono-saccharides are single sugar units.
They can be joined in condensation reactions to form disaccharides which are made of two mono-saccharides.
They can also be joined together to form polysaccharides which contain three or more sugar units.
When two sugars join together via carbon 1 and carbon 4 on another a glycosidic bond is formed and produces water.
Sugars: (disaccharides)
Sucrose - (glucose + fructose) form in which sugar is transported in a plant
Maltose - (glucose + glucose) produced when amylase breaks down starch
Lactose - (galactose + glucose) the sugar found in milk
The glycosidic bond between the two sugars can be broken by hydrolysis, which is the addition of water.
There are three main polysaccharides that are found in food: starch and cellulose in plants, and glycogen in animals.
Starch and glycogen act as energy storage molecules within cells. They are suitable for storage because they are
compact molecules.
Starch, glycogen and cellulose
Starch is made up of a mixture of two molecules, amylose and amylopectin. Starch is a major source of energy and is
found in many foods such as fruit and vegetables.
Amylose:
straight chain between 200 and 500 glucose molecules in length
1,4 glycosidic links between adjacent glucose molecules
chain is coiled into a spiral shape
Amylopectin:
polymer of glucose with side branches
1,6 glycosidic links
has side branches
Cellulose is known as dietary fibre. It has an important function as it helps the movement of material through the
digestive tract.
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Glycogen is stored by bacteria, fungi and animals. Its side branches mean that it can be rapidly hydrolysed giving easy
access to stored energy. (Humans store in liver and muscles)
Lipids
Lipids enhance the flavour and palatability of food.
They are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol.
The most common lipids we eat are triglycerides:
used as energy stores in plants and animals
they are made up of three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule
these are linked together by condensation reactions
the bond that forms between them is called an ester bond
three ester bonds are formed in a triglyceride
Saturated fats: if the fatty acid chains in a lipid contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms they are saturated.
There are also no double bonds.
Unsaturated fats: Monounsaturated fats have one double bond between two of the carbon atoms in the chain.
Polyunsaturated have a larger number of double bonds.
Another lipid is cholesterol which is essential for good health, although too much of it can lead to a high blood
cholesterol level and can be bad for us.
The energy balance
A constant supply of energy is needed to maintain your essential body processes (e.g. pumping the heart). The amount
of energy needed for this is called the basal metabolic rate (BMR)
BMR is higher in:
Males
Heavier people
Younger people
More active people
Body mass index (BMI) is a way of classifying body weight relative to a persons height. A BMI of under 20 is
considered to be underweight, a BMI of over 40 is considered to be severely obese.
Calculating BMI:
BMI = weight in kg / height in m
Cholesterol
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Cholesterol is not soluble in water. To be transported in the bloodstream it is combined with proteins to form soluble
lipoproteins.
There are two main types of lipoprotein these are:
Low density lipoprotein (LDL's):
main cholesterol carrier in the blood
triglycerides from saturated fats in our diet combine with the cholesterol and protein to form LDL's
they circulate in the blood stream and bind to receptor sites on cell membranes
they are consist of more cholesterol than protein
High density lipoproteins (HDL's):
are made of more protein than cholesterol hence the high density
are made when tryglycerides fro unsaturated fats combine with cholesterol and protien
they transport cholesterol from the body tissues to the liver where it is broken down
it helps lower blood cholesterol and helps remove plagues in arteries
Smoking and inactivity
Smoke affects the circulatory system in the following ways:
The haemoglobin in the red blood cells carries carbon monoxide instead of oxygen, reducing the amount of
oxygen that gets to the cells
Nicotine in smoke stimulates the production of the hormone adrenaline. This hormone causes an increase in heart
rate and the arteries and arterioles to constrict.
the chemicals that are found in smoke can cause damage to yhe linine of the arteries
smoking has also been linked with a reduction in HDL cholesterol levels
Inactivity can also increase the chances of getting CVD:
as increased exercise can help prevent high blood pressure and can also help lower it
It raises HDL cholesterol level without affecting the LDL levels
can help you survive a stroke or heart attack
Apolipoprotein
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Apolipoproteins are the protein component of lipoproteins (found in liver and intestines) there are several types of
Apolipoproteins:
Apolipoprotein A (APOA):
main protein in HDL that helps remove cholesterol into the liver for excretion
mutations in apoA gene result in low HDL levels and reduced removal of cholesterol from the blood
Apolipoprotein B (APOB):
main protein in LDL that transfers cholesterol from blood to cells
mutations in apoB gene cause higher levels of LDL in the blood
Apolipoprotein E (APOE):
main component of HDL's and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL's)
involved in removal of excess cholesterol from lipoproteins from the blood to the liver
aopE has three common alleles that produce three forms of the protein, E2, E3, and E4
APEO4 slows removal of cholesterol from the blood
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
CF problems:
CF is caused by a faulty transport protein in the surface membranes of epithelial cells
CF creates a sticky mucus layer that lines the tubes and ducts in the gas exchange, digestive and reproductive
systems.
The sticky mucus increases the chances of lung infection and makes gas exchange less efficient.
microorganisms become trapped in the sticky mucus causing illness
cilia cannot move the mucus because it is too sticky
low levels of oxygen in the mucus so harmful bacteria can live in these conditions
gasses such as oxygen cross the walls of the alveoli into the blood system by diffusion, the sticky mucus makes it
harder for diffusion to take place
Gas exchange
Features of a good gas exchange surface:
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large surface area for the alveoli
numerous capillaries around the alveoli
thin walls of the alvioli and capillaries meaning a short distance between the alveolar air and the blood in the
capillaries
The rate of diffusion depends on:
surface area - rate of diffusion is directly proportional to the surface area
concentration gradient - rate of diffusion is directly proportional to the difference in concentration across the gas
exchange surface.
thickness of the gas exchange surface - the rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the thickness of the gas
exchange surface. ( the thicker the surface the slower the rate of diffusion)
Why is CF mucus so sticky?
The mucus on the surface of the epithelial cells is sticky because it contains less water than normal.
Protein structure is key in protein function:
Amino acids consist of an amine group, a carboxylic acid group,
Primary structure - Two amino acids join in a condensation reaction to form a dipeptide (this can be more than two
amino acids in length and they are joined by a peptide bond)
Secondary structure - The chain of amino acids twist to form an alpha-helix, hydrogen bonds form between the C=O
of the carboxylic acid and the -NH of the amine group of different amino acids. Several chains my link together
forming a beta-pleated sheet.
Tertiary and quaternary structure - a polypeptide chain bends and folds to produce a three dimensional shape
(maintained by interactions between R groups)
A protein may be made up of several polypeptide chains held together this is known as the quaternary structure.
Proteins
Proteins are divided into two groups:
globular proteins
fibrous proteins
Globular proteins:
folded into a compact spherical shape
soluble because of hydrophilic side chains that are on the outside of them
enzymes are globular proteins
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their three-dimensional shape is critical to their roles in binding to other substances
e.g. of a globular protein is transport proteins within membranes
Fibrous proteins:
are long chains
several polypeptide chains can be cross linked for additional strength
they are insoluble
e.g. of a fibrous protein is keratin found in the hair and skin
Cell membrane structure
Phospholipid bilayer:
The cell surface membrane consists of a bilayer that contains two layers of phospholipids.
In a phospholipid there are two fatty acids and a negatively charged phosphate group.
the phosphate head of he molecule is polar one end is slightly positive and the other negative
so this makes the phosphate head attract other polar molecules like water so it is hydrophilic
fatty acid tails are non-polar so they are hydrophobic
Cells are filled with watery cytoplasm and are surrounded by aqueous tissue fluid. so the phospholipids form a bilayer.
This stops the hydrophobic fatty acids tails from being in contact with the water on both sides of the membrane and
ensures that the hydrophilic phosphate heads are in contact with the water.
Fluid mosaic model
The cell surface membrane consists of:
Phospholipid bilayer (all the molecules are arranged so that the hydrophobic tails are inside the bilayer)
proteins
cholesterol
glycoproteins (protein molecules with polysaccharides attached)
glycolipids (lipid molecules with polysaccharides attached)
Channel proteins
Why is it called the fluid mosaic model?:
The plasma membrane is described to be fluid because of the lipids and membrane proteins that can move freely.
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The membrane is called mosaic because like a mosaic that is made up of many different parts so is the plasma
membrane.
How do substances pass through cell membranes?
Molecules and ions move across membranes by:
diffusion
osmosis
active transport
exocytosis
endocytosis
Diffusion: (or passive transport)
Diffusion is the net movement of molecules from a region where they are at a higher concentration to a region of their
lower concentration. (diffusion continues until equilibrium)
Faciliated diffusion:
Is when molecules and ions that are larger than carbon dioxide cross the membrane with the aid of proteins. They
diffuse through water-filled pores within channel proteins.
Transport across the cell membrane
Diffusion :
High to low concentration until equilibrium reached
hydrophobic (lipid - soluble) or small uncharged molecules
through phospholipid bilayer
passive, no energy required
Facilitated diffusion:
high to low concentration until equilibrium reached
hydrophiloic molecules or ions
through channel proteins or via carrier proteins that change shape
passive, no energy required
Osmosis:
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a type of diffusion involving movement of free water molecules
high to low concentration of free water molecules untill equlibrium reached
through phospholipid bilayer
passive, no energy required
Active transport:
against a concentration gradient, low to high concentration
through carrier proteins that change shape
requires energy
Exocytosis:
used for bulk transport of substances out of the cell
vesicles fuse with the cell surface membrane, releasing their contents
Endocytosis:
used for bulk transport of substances into the cell
vesicles are created from the cell surface membrane, bringing their contents into the cell
Regulating water in the mucus in affected lungs
With excess water:
Na+ is actively pumped across the basal membrane
Na+ diffuses through sodium channels in the apical membrane
Cl- diffuses down electrical gradient
water is drawn out of cells by osmosis due to the high salt concentration in the tissue fluid
water is drawn out of the mucus by osmosis
With too little water:
Cl- s pumped into the cell across the basal membrane
Cl- diffuses through the open CFTR channels
Na+ diffuses down the electrical gradient into the mucus
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elevated salt concentration in the mucus draws water out of the cell by osmosis
water is drawn out of the cell by osmosis
With CF:
CTFR channel is absent or not functioning, and the Na+ channel is permanently open , water is continually removed
from the mucus by osmosis.
Effect of CF on digestive system
In a person with CF the pancreatic duct becomes blocked by sticky mucus, impairing the release of digestive
enzymes.
The lower concentration of enzymes within the small intestine reduces the rate of digestion.
Because of this the food is not fully digested and not all the nutrients can be absorbed
The pancreatic enzymes can also become trapped behind the mucus blocking the pancreatic duct.
The enzymes damage the pancreas.
Damage to the cell walls in the pancreas that produce insulin, insulin is involved in the control of blood sugar
levels, a form of diabetes can be the result.
Enzymes
Enzymes are globular proteins that act ad biological catalysts (They speed up chemical reactions). There is a
depression on the surface of the enzyme molecule called the active site.
Lock and Key theory:
a molecule with a complimentary shape can fit into the active site
the substrate molecules form temporary bonds with the amino acids of the active site to produce an enzymesubstrate complex
the enzyme holds the substrate molecules in a way that they react more easily
when the reaction is finished the products are released, leaving the enzyme unchanged
the substrate is known as the 'key' which fits into the enzymes 'lock'
Induced fit theory:
active site is flexible
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when the substrate enters the active site the enzyme molecule changes shape slightly fitting more closely round
the substrate
Effect of CF on reproductive system
Females with CF:
have a reduced chance of becoming pregnant because a mucus plug develops in the cervix this stops sperm from
reaching the egg
Males with CF:
commonly lack the vas deferens (sperm duct) on both sides which means sperm cannot leave the testes.
When the vas deferens is present it can become blocked by a thick sticky mucus layer, which means fewer sperm
are present in each ejaculate
The structure of DNA
Gene and genome:
a gene is a sequence of bases on a DNA molecule coding for a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
Together all genes in a individual are known as the genome.
DNA is a chain of nucleotides:
DNA is one type of nucleic acid, called deoxyribonucleic acid. It is a long chain molecule made up of many units
called nucleotides or mononucleotides
a mononucleotide consists of:
a deoxyribose sugar
a phosphate
a base
A mononucleotide contains three molecules linked together by condensation reactions. They link together by
condensation reactions between the sugar of one and the phosphate of the next.
DNA
There are four bases:
adenine (A)
cytosine (C)
guanine (G)
thymine (T)
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In DNA there are two long strands of nucleotides twisted around to form a double helix. The sugars and phosphates
are on the outside, and the bases point inwards and are held together by hydrogen bonds.
The bases pair up along the two nucleotides A pairs up with T and G with C.
The code carried by the DNA is a three-base or triplet code, each group of three bases codes for an amino acid there
are also start and stop signals.
DNA and RNA:
RNA has a single strand made of a string of RNA nucleotides.
RNA contains a ribose sugar instead of a deoxyribose sugar
In RNA U (uracil) replaces T (the RNA never contains thymine
Protein synthesis
Transcription: (in the nucleus)
DNA double helix unwinds and hydrogen bonds break
the template strand is used in the production of a messenger RNA molecule
every triplet code on DNA gives rise to a complimentary codon on messenger RNA
the completed messenger RNA molecules now leaves the nucleus through a pore in the nuclear envelope
and enters the cytoplasm
Translation: (on ribosomes)
ribosomes are small organelles made of ribosomal RNA and protein
ribosomes are found free in the cytoplasm or attached to endoplasmic reticulum
a transfer RNA molecule carrying an amino acid has three bases called an anticodon
these pair with complimentary bases on the mRNA codon
then the amino acids that the tRNA carry are joined by peptide bonds
DNA replication
When a cell divides an exact copy of the DNA must be produced so that each of the daughter cells receives a copy
This process of copying the DNA is called replication.
There are three possible ways DNA could replicate:
fragmentary replication - all DNA strands are made up of a mixture of original parent DNA nucleotides and new
nucleotides
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conservative replication - one DNA molecule has two original parent DNA strands, the other molecule has two
new strands
semi conservative replication - each DNA molecule contains one original parent strand and one new strand
If a test tube containing DNA dissolved in a special density gradient solution is centrifuged. Heavy DNA containing
N-15 sinks to the bottom, light DNA containing N-14 collects in a band near the top and DNA of a medium density
(containing heave and light nucleotides) is in the middle.
What goes wrong with DNA?
Mistakes in replication:
Sometimes DNA replication does not work properly. As the new strand of DNA is being built and incorrect base may
slip into place.
Sickle cell anemia:
mutation in the gene that codes for one of the polypeptide chains in haemoglobin (the pigment in red blood cells
which carries oxygen around the body.
The base adenine replaces thymine at one position along the chain. A protein valine is made instead of glutamic acid.
The red blood cells are distorted and the sickle shaped cells carry less oxygen and can block blood vessels.
Cystic fibrosis:
Mutations affect CFTR protein in different ways.
How genes are passed on
Genes and chromosome pairs:
Every cell contains two copies of each gene, one from each parent.We have 23 pairs of chromosomes and the
chromosomes in each pair are called homologous chromosomes. In each pair one comes from the mother and one
from the father.
Genotypes, phenotypes and alleles:
There is a normal allele which codes for the functioning CFTR protein (F). And there is a mutated allele which
produces a non-functional protein (f).
FF - a person with two identical copies of the normal allele does not have cystic fibrosis
ff - a person with two copies of the mutated allele has cystic fibrosis
Ff - a person with one normal allele and one mutated allele does not have cystic fibrosis but is a carrier and could have
children with the disease.
The alleles that a person has make up their genotype.
Treatments for CF
Medication:
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Bronchodilators - inhaled using a nebuliser. the drugs relax the muscles in the airways opening them up.
Antibiotics - used to kill or prevent growth of bacteria in the lungs
DNAase enzymes - DNAase enzymes can be inhaled using a nebuliser. They break down the DNA, so the mucus
is easier to clear from the lungs.
Steroids - used to reduce inflammation of the lungs.
Diet: eat high energy foods, and double the quantity of protein compared to people without CF, and salt supplements.
Digestive enzyme supplements: Taking these with food helps to complete the process of digestion.
Physiotherapy: Rhythmical tapping of the walls of the chest cavity can help loosen the mucus and improve the air
flow into and out of the lungs.
Heart and lung transplant: if the lungs become badly damaged the only option my be to replace the damaged lungs.
Possible CF treatments for the future
In gene therapy the genotype and hence the phenotype of target cells is altered. This is done by:
inserting normal alleles of the gene into the target cells (by using either genetically modified virus to infect the
target or using liposomes
the normal form of the gene is transcribed and translated
a functioning protein is produced in the target cells
How genes are inserted using viruses:
the DNA sequence that allows it to replicate is removed
this is replaced with a normal allele of the desired gene
when the virus infects the desired target the viral DNA becomes incorporated into the patients own DNA
How genes are inserted using liposomes:
copy of the normal allele is inserted into a loop of DNA (plasmid)
the plasmid is then combines with liposomes
the positively charged head groups of the phospholipids combine with the DNA
the liposomes fuse with the epithelial cell membranes and carry the DNA to cells
Testing for CF
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Genetic testing:
The DNA is tested to see whether it contains the known base sequences for the most common mutations that cause
cystic fibrosis.
How can genetic screening be used?:
to confirm a diagnosis
to identify carriers
for testing embryos - amniocentesis involves inserting a needle into the amniotic fluid to collect cells that have
fallen of the placenta and foetus
chorionic villus sampling - a small sample of placental tissue is removed, either through the wall of the abdomen
or through the vagina.
testing before implantation - when carrying out in vitro fertilisation it is possible to test an embryo before it has
implanted in the uterus. a cell can be removed from an embryo, the cells can then be analysed and used to decide
whether to place the embryo into the womb.
