Genetic Engineering Flashcards
The group of techniques used to cut up and join together genetic material, especially DNA from different biological species, and to introduce the resulting hybrid DNA into an organism in order to form new combinations of heritable genetic material.
Recombinant DNA Technology (Genetic Engineering)
Focuses on the mating of organisms with desirable qualities or traits.
Classical Breeding
Involves molecular techniques to modify the traits of a target organism.
Genetic Engineering
Enzymes that help to cut DNA.
Restriction Enzymes
Enzymes that help to synthesize DNA.
Polymerases (DNA Polymerase)
Enzymes that help to bind DNA fragments together.
Ligases (DNA Ligase)
Carries and integrates the desired gene into a host organism.
Vector
A sequence of nucleotides from where replication starts in a vector.
Origin of Replication
Genes within a vector that show resistance to certain antibiotics.
Selectable Marker
The sites recognized by restriction enzymes where desired DNAs are inserted into a vector.
Cloning Sites
The organism into which the recombinant DNA is introduced.
Host Organism
The first step in recombinant DNA technology, involving selecting a DNA segment of interest to be cloned.
Selection and Isolation of DNA Insert
A self-replicating DNA molecule into which the DNA insert is integrated.
Cloning Vector
The process of entry of rDNA into the host cell.
Transformation
Host cells that have taken up the rDNA molecule.
Transformed Cells (Recombinant Cells)
A gene modification process wherein DNA is transferred from one organism to another.
Genetic Engineering
The method of directly shooting DNA fragments into cells using a gene gun.
Biolistics
A process used to transfer plasmid DNA into bacteria using temperature changes.
Plasmid insertion by Heat Shock Treatment
A technique that uses electric shock to expand membrane pores for plasmid insertion.
Electroporation
A method to select transformed cells using antibiotic resistance genes.
Selection of plasmid DNA containing cells
A method to screen for transformed cells where insertion of a gene in the cloning site disrupts a gene that generates a colored product.
Blue-white screening
A process of forming a new combination of genes by rearranging genetic material.
Recombination
A molecule of DNA that has been altered or changed, either through a natural process or through laboratory techniques.
Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
The organism that serves as the source of the desired DNA section.
Donor
The organism whose DNA is modified with rDNA.
Vector (in the context of rDNA creation)
The resulting organism that carries the artificially inserted gene.
Transgenic Organism (Genetically Modified Organism or GMO)
Animals which are engineered to carry genes from other organisms.
Transgenic Animals
Plants that have been genetically engineered.
Transgenic Plants
The first step; involves selecting a DNA segment of interest to be cloned and isolating it enzymatically.
Selection and Isolation of DNA Insert
Selecting a self-replicating DNA molecule into which the DNA insert will be integrated.
Selection of Suitable Cloning Vector
Ligation of the target DNA insert to vector DNA using ligase to form a recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecule.
Introduction of DNA-Insert into Vector to Form rDNA Molecule
Introducing the rDNA molecule into suitable host cells, often bacterial cells like E. coli.
Recombinant DNA Molecule is introduced into a Suitable Host
Separating transformed cells (those that have taken up the rDNA molecule) from non-transformed cells using marker genes.
Selection of Transformed Host Cells
Ensuring the foreign DNA expresses the desired character in the host cells and multiplying the transformed host cells to obtain sufficient copies.
Expression and Multiplication of DNA Insert in the Host
