Several Questions That Went Round & Round

Micro-organism and Microbe (interchangeable)

A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). Microorganisms are often illustrated using single-celled, or unicellular, organisms; however, there are exceptions because some unicellular protists are visible to the naked eye, and some multicellular species are microscopic. The study of microorganisms is called microbiology. Microorganisms can be bacteria, fungi, archaea or protists, but not viruses and prions, which are generally classified as non-living.

---------------------------------------------
What is a Hybrid? - This is a tough one

In biology, hybrid has two meanings.

The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. Hybrids between different species within the same genus are sometimes known as interspecific hybrids or crosses.

The second type of "hybrid" are crosses between populations, breeds or cultivars within a single species; between different sub-species within a species → intra-specific hybrids. This second meaning is often used in plant and animal breeding. In plant and animal breeding, hybrids are commonly produced and selected because they have desirable characteristics not found or inconsistently present in the parent individuals or populations. This rearranging of the genetic material between populations or races is often called hybridization.
(note though that hybrid plants/animals can still be inter-specific)

My own words:
Most of the time when we referred to hybrids, we are talking about interspecific hybrids. Intraspecific hybrids refer to the offspring of subspecies which is the equivalent of races.

An interesting thought by JH: Does that mean that when a Chinese mates with a Causasian, their child is a hybrid? This is rather debatable because the ‘race’ we often quoted for humans in different geographical locations is regarded as a social construct by some and with that all human beings can be taken as a species (the human race). Pls do NOT go around calling pple hybrids.

To find out more and to confuse further, check out these sites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies
http://www.answers.com/topic/race-1?cat=biz-fin

----------------------------------

Does DNA have to be integrated into host genome to get a transformed cell?

Nope. If I may refer you to your bacterial transformation, the entry (and subsequent expression) of plasmid in a bacteria cell will give you a transformed bacteria cell. Nonetheless, you should note that for transgenic plant, the DNA must be integrated into the plant genome to get a transformed cell that will give rise to it.

------------------------------------

In GMO notes:
Chinook Salmon versus Altantic Salmon

Why do we have Chinook Salmon GH inserted into Atlantic Salmon genome?
Because Chinook Salmon are generally much larger in size but are found in Pacific.

Why do we fuse the Chinnok Salmon GH with the Ocean Pout Promoter (of its anti-freeze gene)?

There is no particular reason why the promoter for the anti-freeze gene of an Ocean Pout is used except that it works well. Below are excerpts taken from its patent:

"To be acceptable in aquaculture, the promoter(s) and gene(s) used in transgenic fish should be derived preferably from fish protein genes without posing any potential health hazards.

Functional analysis of other antifreeze promoters, including wolffish (WO), sea raven (SR) and winter flounder (WF), shows that they can be used in a similar fashion . Here only the Ocean pout antifreeze protein promoter is used as a teaching example in producing transgenic fish.

Unlike the type 1, alanine-rich AFP from the winter flounder which is synthesized only in the winter, the Ocean pout AFP is present all year around, albeit at a higher concentration during the winter months (Fletcher et al. 1989). The following data demonstrate that the OP-AFP promoter is a very effective promoter for inducing GH gene or other desired compatible gene expression in fish, such as Atlantic salmon. Although there is no antifreeze gene in salmonids, it is likely that the transcriptional factors controlling the OP-AFP gene expression exist in salmon"