Manipulating DNA SAC revision Flashcards
Complementary DNA
it is made from a template strand of mRNA by the action of the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
DNA ligase
an enzyme which joins short segments of DNA.
DNA sequencing
the determination of the actual sequence of nucleotides in a DNA strand
Exon
parts of a gene which contain the base sequences which code for the amino acid needed to build a protein molecule.
Intron
non-coding segments of DNA spliced between the exons.
mRNA
messenger RNA is a single stranded nucleic acid which is transcribed from DNA. It carries instructions for protein manufacture from the nucleus to the ribosomes.
plasmid
a small, circular DNA molecule found in bacteria. Often used as a vector in genetic engineering.
Recognition site
a sequence of bases in a DNA molecule which is cut by a particular restriction enzyme.
RNA ploymerase
an enzyme necessary for transcription
Transgenic
an organism containing some DNA from a different species
tRNA
a small RNA molecule bearing an anticodon and an amino acid molecule.
Restriction enzymes
they cut DNA at specific recognition sites
Blunt ends
when restriction enzymes cut the DNA molecule at 2 points directly opposite to one another.
Sticky end
when restriction enzymes cut the DNA molecule at 2 points that are not directly opposite each other and so it creates hanging ends.
Probe
is a radioactively labelled single stranded DNA that has complementary bases to the gene of interest.
Vector
the carrier that allows the gene to be transferred from one organism into another
Transformation
when a recombinant plasmid is inserted into prokaryotes i.e. bacteria
Transfection
when foreign DNA is placed into eukaryote cells.
Genetically modified organism
the DNA is altered using DNA technology. i.e. genes switched on or off and includes transgenic organisms.
Primer
is a strand of short nucleic acid sequences that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis.
DNA polymerase
an enzyme that joins nucleotides together in a 5 prime - 3 prime direction
