Chapter 8

Question 1

Type 1 Diabetes

Answer 1

A type of diabetes caused by an inability to produce insulin

Question 2

Type 2 Diabetes

Answer 2

A type of Diabetes caused by low insulin or an inability to use insulin.

Question 3

Genetic Engineering

Answer 3

The intentional production of new genes and alteration of genomes by the substitution or introduction of new genetic material.

Question 4

Recombinant DNA

Answer 4

A DNA strand that is created using DNA pieces from two or more sources.

Question 5

Restriction enzymes

Answer 5

An enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific location in a base sequence; also called restriction endonuclease

Question 6

Recognition site

Answer 6

A sequence of bases on a DNA strand that restriction enzymes bind to.

Question 7

Restriction Fragment

Answer 7

A fragment that is produced when a DNA strand is cut by a restriction enzyme.

Question 8

Blunt end

Answer 8

The end that remains after restriction enzymes cut straight across a DNA strand; a blunt end is more difficult that a sticky end to recombine with another strand.

Question 9

Sticky end

Answer 9

The end that remains after restriction enzymes cut a zigzag across a DNA strand; a sticky end of a DNA fragment can form hydrogen bonds with a complementary sticky end on any other DNA molecule that has been cut by the same enzyme

Question 10

Competent Cell

Answer 10

A cell that is able to take up foreign DNA from its surroundings.

Question 11

Vector

Answer 11

A DNA molecule that is used as a vehicle to transfer foreign genetic material into a cell, for example, a plasmid.

Question 12

Copy number

Answer 12

The number of plasmids of a specific type within a cell.

Question 13

Host Cell

Answer 13

A cell that has taken up a foreign plasmid or virus and has used its cellular machinery to express the foreign DNA.

Question 14

Restriction Map

Answer 14

A diagram that shows restriction enzyme recognition sites and the distances, measured in base pairs (bp), between the sites.

Question 15

Cloned gene

Answer 15

An identical copy of an original target that can be made by introducing the target gene into a host cell and having it copied.

Question 16

Hybridization probe

Answer 16

A fragment of DNA that is used to detect the presence of complementary nucleotide sequences.

Question 17

Polymerase chain reaction (PRC)

Answer 17

A process that is used to make a huge number of copies of a DNA sequence in a laboratory, quickly and without the need for a host organism.

Question 18

DNA primer

Answer 18

A short single-stranded DNA sequence, easily synthesized in a laboratory, that is complementary to a sequence at one end of the target sequence.

Question 19

Gel Electrophoresis

Answer 19

A method for separating large molecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Question 20

Molecular Marker

Answer 20

A fragment of a known size that is run as comparison standard for gel electrophoresis.

Question 21

Ethidium Bromide

Answer 21

a large molecule that resembles a base pair, which allows it to insert itself into DNA; used for staining electrophoresis gels.

Question 22

DNA sequencing

Answer 22

A process in which the sequence of base pairs in a DNA strand is determined.

Question 23

Whole-genome shotgun method

Answer 23

a DNA sequencing method that involves blowing DNA strands into many fragments and then using computer technology to sequence and reassemble the fragments.

Question 24

Structural Genomics

Answer 24

Study of the structure of genes and their locations in a genome, as well as the analysis of the nucleotide sequence to locate genes within the genome.

Question 25

Functional genomics

Answer 25

The study of functions of genes, the proteins they make, and how these proteins function.

Question 26

Bioinformatics

Answer 26

The use of computer technology to process a large amount of biological data.

Question 27

DNA microarray

Answer 27

A solid surface that has a microscopic grid of many DNA fragments, called probes, attached; used to determine gene expression.

Question 28

Biopharming- A process in which genetically engineered host organisms are used to make pharmaceuticals or other products that are useful to humans.

Answer 28

A process in which genetically engineered host organisms are used to make pharmaceuticals or other products that are useful to humans.

Question 29

Transgenic Organism (Genetically Modified Organism, GMO)

Answer 29

An organism that has been modified to carry genes it does not normally carry.

Question 30

Gene Therapy

Answer 30

The insertion, removal, or replacement of genes (to correct defective genes) within an organism’s cells to treat a disease.

Question 31

Germ-line Gene Therapy

Answer 31

A process in which germ cells (sperm cells or eggs) are modified by integrating functional genes into their genomes.

Question 32

Somatic Gene Therapy

Answer 32

A process in which therapeutic genes are transferred into somatic cells to treat a genetic disease.

Question 33

Genetic Screening

Answer 33

Biochemical or molecular tests that are used to identify inherited disorders in parents, potential parents, embryos, or children after they are born.

Question 34

Amniocentesis

Answer 34

A genetic sampling method for testing in utero.