chap 3- glossary

Question 1

Agarose Gel

Answer 1

a gel matrix use for electrophoresis

Question 2

Annealing

Answer 2

a process sed in the polymerase chain reaction to join separate strands of DNA together as a result of hydrogen bonds pairing; occurs when the temp is lowered

Question 3

Antibiotic Selection

Answer 3

growing bacteria in the presence of an antibiotic so only cells containing a gene for antibiotic resistance (encoded on a recombinant plasmid) can grow.

Question 4

Bacteriophage

Answer 4

a virus that can infect bacteria and replicate

Question 5

Bioethics

Answer 5

the study of ethical issues emerging from advancements in biology

Question 6

Biotechnology

Answer 6

the use of living organisms and biological systems and processes for human benefits

Question 7

Blunt End

Answer 7

the end of a DNA fragment that is created following cleavage by a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA at the same position on both strands

Question 8

Cas9 Protein

Answer 8

an endonuclease that cuts double-stranded DNA at a target location in the genome

Question 9

CRISPR-Cas9

Answer 9

a bacterial immune defence mechanism in which short RNAs target complementary sequences in viral genomes to guide Cas9 proteins to destroy an invading virus

Question 10

crRNA (CRISPR RNA)

Answer 10

RNA transcribed from the CRISPR locus: guides Cas9 proteins to their complementary sequence in the invading viral DNA genome, targeting it for destruction by Cas9

Question 11

DNA ligase

Answer 11

an enzyme that catalyses the formation of a phosphodiester bond between two pieces of DNA.

Question 12

DNA profiling

Answer 12

comparison of individuals based on patterns of non-coding base sequences in the genome

Question 13

DNA sequencing

Answer 13

the process of establishing the nucleotide sequence of a piece of DNA

Question 14

Frameshift Mutation

Answer 14

a mutation in DNA caused by the addition or deletion of a nucleotide or nucleotides resulting in a change in the amino acid sequence and protein being made

Question 15

Gel Electrophoresis

Answer 15

a technique that separates the DNA fragments according to their size and charge

Question 16

Gene Cloning

Answer 16

the process of using plasmids and bacteria to make numerous identical copies of a gene

Question 17

Genetic Engineering

Answer 17

manipulation of genetic material, including altering DNA in an organism to suppress or enhance a genes activity, or combining genetic material from different species

Question 18

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

Answer 18

an organism whose genome has been genetically engineered

Question 19

Guide RNA

Answer 19

RNA that guides the Cas9 protein to the target sequence in a genome for gene editing

Question 20

Knock-in organisms

Answer 20

an organism in which DNA has been inserted into a specific locus

Question 21

Knock-out organism

Answer 21

an organism whose DNA has been modified to disable the expression or function of a gene product.

Question 22

Molecular size marker

Answer 22

a set of pieces of DNA of known length that is used to estimate the size of other DNA fragments in a gel

Question 23

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Answer 23

a cyclical reaction in which DNA polymerase is used to copy a DNA template, making millions of copies of the same piece of DNA

Question 24

Polymorphism

Answer 24

a variation in DNA sequences among individuals

Question 25

Primer

Answer 25

a single-stranded DNA molecule that acts as the start of the amplification process

Question 26

Recombinant DNA Technology

Answer 26

the process of transferring a gene from a cell of one species to the cell of a different species

Question 27

Reporter Gene

Answer 27

a gene that enables visualisation or quantification of gene expression

Question 28

Restriction Digest Reaction

Answer 28

a reaction in which restriction enzymes are incubated with DNA to cut the DNA into fragments at specific restriction sites

Question 29

Recombinant Plasmid

Answer 29

a plasmid with foreign DNA inserted into it

Question 30

Reporter gene

Answer 30

a gene that enables visualizations or quantification of gene expression

Question 31

Restriction Digest Reaction

Answer 31

a reaction in which restriction enzymes are incubated with DNA to cut the DNA into fragments at specific restriction sites.

Question 32

Restriction Endonuclease

Answer 32

an enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific restriction site

Question 33

Restriction Fragment

Answer 33

a short fragment of DNA generated after the cutting of a longer DNA fragment by a restriction enzyme

Question 34

Restriction Site

Answer 34

a specific nucleotide sequence (usually 4-8 bp) that is recognised as a cleaving site for a restriction enzyme

Question 35

Short Tandem Repeat (STR)

Answer 35

a short non-coding region of DNA of up to five bases that is repeated many times in the genome of an organism; the number of times an STR is repeated is variable and can be used in DNA profiling

Question 36

Sticky End

Answer 36

the end of a DNA fragment that is created following cleavage by a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA at different positions on each strand

Question 37

Transformation

Answer 37

the proves by which the genetic material of an organism is changed by the addition f new genetic material

Question 38

Transgenic Organism

Answer 38

an organism that has been modified by incorporating a piece of foreign DNA into its genome

Question 39

Vector

Answer 39

a vehicle used to transfer DNA sequences from one organism to another

Question 40

Wild Type

Answer 40

the genotype or phenotype that is most common, or standard, in natural conditions, in contrast to an atypical or mutant form