Chapter 6 - Vocabulary Flashcards
Antibiotic Resistant
describes strains of bacteria that are no longer susceptible to the effects of antibiotics; are sometimes called “superbugs” and are prevalent in hospital settings.
Chromosome Mutation
an error that involves an entire chromosome or a large part of a chromosome.
Coding DNA
a region of DNA that contains a sequence of nucleotides that will be expressed; a gene.
Complementary Base Pairing
pairing of the nitrogenous base of one strand of DNA with the nitrogenous base of another stand; adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and guanine (G) pairs with cytosine ©.
DNA Bank
a database of DNA sequences; the sequences can be from plants, animals, or humans.
DNA Fingerprinting
Functional Genomics
the study of the relationship between genes and their function.
Gene Therapy
the process by which defective genes in a genome are corrected with a normal copy of the gene.
Human Genome
the sequence of DNA nitrogenous bases found on the 23 sets of chromosomes in humans.
Human Genome Project (HGP)
a collaborative worldwide project to sequence the nitrogenous bases in human DNA.
Induced Mutation
a mutation that occurs because of exposure to an outside factor; second-hand smoke increases the chance of developing lung cancer.
Microarray
a small membrane or glass slide that has been coated in a predictable and organized manner with a genomic sequence.
Model Organism
an organism that can be used to study biological functions of another organism, due to its genetic similarity.
Non-Coding DNA
a region of DNA that does not contain a sequence of nucleotides that will be expressed.
Nuclein
the original name given to DNA when it was discovered in the nucleus of cells by Friderich Miescher in 1869.
Nucleotide
the repeating unit of DNA; it comprises of deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and one of the four nitrogen bases.
Point Mutation
a small-scale change in the nitrogenous base sequence of a DNA; the mutation may be beneficial, harmful, or neutral (having no effect on the organism).
Recombinant DNA
a fragment of DNA consisting of nucleotide sequences from at least two different sources.
Restriction Enzyme
a molecule that has the ability to cut DNA at a specific site; different restriction enzymes recognize and cut different sites.
Scientific Model
a simplified representation of a concept; can be tangible or conceptual.
Spontaneous Mutation
a mutation that is not caused by any outside factors; it occurs randomly.
Target Cell
one of the cells that contain the faulty gene to be corrected.
Transposition
the process of moving a gene sequence from one part of the chromosome to another part of the chromosome.
Transposon
a specific segment of DNA that can move along or between the chromosomes.
Vector
any agent, such as a plasmid or a virus, capable of inserting a piece of foreign DNA into a cell.
X-ray Crystallography
a technique in which a pure substance is subjected to X-rays; the pattern in which the X-rays bend and spread helps reveal the structure of the pure substance.
