Chapter 8 Flashcards
Type 1 Diabetes
A type of diabetes caused by an inability to produce insulin
Type 2 Diabetes
A type of Diabetes caused by low insulin or an inability to use insulin.
Genetic Engineering
The intentional production of new genes and alteration of genomes by the substitution or introduction of new genetic material.
Recombinant DNA
A DNA strand that is created using DNA pieces from two or more sources.
Restriction enzymes
An enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific location in a base sequence; also called restriction endonuclease
Recognition site
A sequence of bases on a DNA strand that restriction enzymes bind to.
Restriction Fragment
A fragment that is produced when a DNA strand is cut by a restriction enzyme.
Blunt end
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.
Sticky end
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
Competent Cell
A cell that is able to take up foreign DNA from its surroundings.
Vector
A DNA molecule that is used as a vehicle to transfer foreign genetic material into a cell, for example, a plasmid.
Copy number
The number of plasmids of a specific type within a cell.
Host Cell
A cell that has taken up a foreign plasmid or virus and has used its cellular machinery to express the foreign DNA.
Restriction Map
A diagram that shows restriction enzyme recognition sites and the distances, measured in base pairs (bp), between the sites.
Cloned gene
An identical copy of an original target that can be made by introducing the target gene into a host cell and having it copied.
Hybridization probe
A fragment of DNA that is used to detect the presence of complementary nucleotide sequences.
Polymerase chain reaction (PRC)
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.
DNA primer
A short single-stranded DNA sequence, easily synthesized in a laboratory, that is complementary to a sequence at one end of the target sequence.
Gel Electrophoresis
A method for separating large molecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.
Molecular Marker
A fragment of a known size that is run as comparison standard for gel electrophoresis.
Ethidium Bromide
a large molecule that resembles a base pair, which allows it to insert itself into DNA; used for staining electrophoresis gels.
DNA sequencing
A process in which the sequence of base pairs in a DNA strand is determined.
Whole-genome shotgun method
a DNA sequencing method that involves blowing DNA strands into many fragments and then using computer technology to sequence and reassemble the fragments.
Structural Genomics
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.
Functional genomics
The study of functions of genes, the proteins they make, and how these proteins function.
Bioinformatics
The use of computer technology to process a large amount of biological data.
DNA microarray
A solid surface that has a microscopic grid of many DNA fragments, called probes, attached; used to determine gene expression.
Biopharming- A process in which genetically engineered host organisms are used to make pharmaceuticals or other products that are useful to humans.
A process in which genetically engineered host organisms are used to make pharmaceuticals or other products that are useful to humans.
Transgenic Organism (Genetically Modified Organism, GMO)
An organism that has been modified to carry genes it does not normally carry.
Gene Therapy
The insertion, removal, or replacement of genes (to correct defective genes) within an organism’s cells to treat a disease.
Germ-line Gene Therapy
A process in which germ cells (sperm cells or eggs) are modified by integrating functional genes into their genomes.
Somatic Gene Therapy
A process in which therapeutic genes are transferred into somatic cells to treat a genetic disease.
Genetic Screening
Biochemical or molecular tests that are used to identify inherited disorders in parents, potential parents, embryos, or children after they are born.
Amniocentesis
A genetic sampling method for testing in utero.