Enzyme activity is affected by temperature and pH.
Explain the decrease in activity of the enzyme on either side of the optimum temperature.
- As temperature rises/is higher (than optimal temperature), the enzyme is denatured;
1 mark - As the temperature drops, the enzyme molecules have less kinetic energy
OR
Fewer successful collisions;1 mark
In biotechnology, enzymes are used to transfer genes to bacteria. Outline how two specific enzymes are used for the transfer.
-
Restriction enzymes/(restriction) endonucleases cut the gene and the bacterial/plasmid/vector DNA in the same/specific restriction sites
OR
(Restriction) endonucleases work by targeting a specific sequence of base pairs in DNA causing both strands of the DNA to break apart;1 mark -
(DNA) ligase attaches/inserts the gene to the bacterial/plasmid/vector DNA
OR
(DNA) ligase joins the vector and gene by fusing their sugar-phosphate backbones together (with a covalent phosphodiester bond);1 mark -
Correct reference to reverse transcriptase;
1 mark
