Biology Chapter 5: Gene Expression, Biotechnology, and Laboratory Techniques Flashcards
Necrosis vs apoptosis
Necrosis: premature death of living cells by autolysis
Apoptosis: naturally occurring, programmed, and targeted cause of cellular death.
Vector
is a carrier used to deliver genetic material, such as DNA or RNA, into cells for research or therapeutic purposes.
Reporter Gene
gene used in molecular biology to produce a measurable product, such as fluorescence or enzymatic activity, to indicate the expression of a target gene or the activity of a regulatory sequence.
common reporter in bacteria is the E. coli lacZ gene, which encodes the protein beta-galactosidase. This enzyme causes bacteria expressing the gene to appear blue when grown on a medium that contains the substrate analog X-gal.
Restriction enzymes
protein that recognizes specific DNA sequences and cuts the DNA at or near these sites, commonly used in molecular biology for DNA manipulation.
Totipotent stem cells
Can differentiate into any type of cell
Pluripotent stem cells
Differentiate into any of the 3 germ layers
Multipotent stem cells
Most limited range
Only embryonic stem cells are ________. Mature stem cells are _________
Totipotent/pluripotent, multipotent
Histone acetylation _____________ transcription
Increases
DNA methylation _____________ transcription
Decreases
siRNA and miRNA _______________ protein synthesis
Decrease
Oncogenes
are mutated or overexpressed genes that drive uncontrolled cell growth and division, contributing to the development of cancer
Tumor suppressor genes
are genes that regulate cell growth, repair DNA damage, and prevent uncontrolled cell division, acting as a safeguard against cancer. When these genes are mutated or inactivated, cells can grow uncontrollably, leading to tumor formation.
Example of tumor suppressor gene
TP53 Encodes the p53 protein, which halts the cell cycle in response to DNA damage and can trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Mutations in TP53 are common in many types of cancer
Tumorigenic phenotype
refers to the set of cellular traits or behaviors, such as uncontrolled growth, resistance to cell death, and invasiveness, that enable the formation and progression of tumors.
