3A- DNA Tools and Techniques Flashcards
Define “Restriction Enzyme”
A restriction enzyme is a bacterially produced protein that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides called a recognition site; also known as a restriction endonuclease.
Define “Recognition (Restriction) Site”
A recognition site is a specific sequence of nucleotides that is the location for a restriction enzyme to cut.
Define “Digestion”
Digestion refers to a reaction using an enzyme to break down large molecules.
Define “Sticky Ends”
Sticky ends are short lengths of unpaired nucleotides in DNA resulting from a staggered cut by a restriction enzyme.
Define “Blunt Ends”
Blunt ends are short lengths of fully paired nucleotides in DNA resulting from a straight cut by a restriction enzyme.
Define “Palindrome”
A palindrome is a sequence that reads the same in both directions.
Define “DNA Ligase”
DNA ligase is an enzyme that joins two pieces of DNA at their sugar–phosphate backbone.
Define “Polymerase Chain Reaction”
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a technique
used to amplify a sample (template) of DNA.
Define “Primer”
Primer is a synthetic single- stranded piece of DNA (or RNA) complementary to a specific sequence of nucleotides.
Define “Gel Electrophoresis”
Gel Electrophoresis a technique used to separate different-sized fragments of DNA (or protein).
Define “DNA Standard”
DNA standard is a DNA sample that contains fragments of DNA of known size that is used to compare the sizes of unknown DNA fragments in base pairs or kilo base pairs; also known as a DNA ladder.
