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UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
B.Sc. (HONS.) IV YEAR
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 ASSESSMENT SESSION
BIO3300 BIOTECHNOLOGY II 28
th
JANUARY 2008
0915 1215
SECTION A: Answer ALL questions in this section. You are advised to spend about
25% of the allotted time on this section which carries 25% of the marks.
1. Describe briefly how the use of sub unit vaccines have helped in the control of
Herpes Simple virus.
(4 marks)
2. List the advantages and disadvantages of applying vaccines as opposed to
treating with antibiotics in controlling bacterial diseases.
(4 marks)
3. List the constituents of the plant tissue culture media used for the mass
propagation of plants.
(4 marks)
4. Describe briefly what are triploid organisms and list their commercial advantages.
(4 marks)
5. What is the role of hydroxyapatite in controlling osteoporosis?
(5marks)
6. Define the term therapeutic proteins giving at least one example.
(4 marks)
SECTION B: Answer THREE questions. You should spend about 75% of the allotted
time on this section which carries 75% of the marks.
B1. What do you understand by bacterial transformation? How can this be carried out
in the laboratory? Describe two applications of your choice of such
transformations.
B2. Recombinant DNA technology has resulted in a new generation of vaccines.
Gene cloning has enabled scientists to delete virulence genes, convey discrete
antigenic determinants on unrelated microbes, and to carry out many other
manipulations.
Discuss this statement giving at least four specific examples.
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B3. With reference to:
a) antifreeze proteins
b) green genes
c) transgenic organisms,
discuss the advances made in the discovery of novel genes in aquatic organisms
in recent years. Describe some of the commercial applications of such
discoveries.
B4. With reference to named examples of your choice describe the origin, nature and
mode of action of TWO plant products which have medical and/or veterinary
applications. In your answer give due importance to their mode of action both at
the cellular and molecular level.
B5. With particular reference to yeasts and/or bacteria discuss the main properties of
microbes that render them so attractive to biotechnological applications.
Illustrate your answer by describing in some detail TWO specific applications.
B6. Describe the most commonly used methods that are employed in vaccine
application in animal husbandry. List some of the advantages and disadvantages
of the various methods mentioned.
Discuss how the efficacy of these applications can be related to the type of
infection, site of infection within the animal body and possibly also the prevailing
environmental conditions in which the animal is living.
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