Restriction Endonucleases and Recombinant DNA Technology. Flashcards
Define a bacteriophage?
Viruses that affect bacteria.
Define a clone?
A group of cells that contain the exact same recombinant DNA sequence.
Define a cloning vector?
A DNA molecule that is capable of replicating inside a host cell.
Define competent cells?
Cells that are capable of having DNA added to their genome.
Define contigs?
DNA strands that have been cleaved to produce overlapping sequences.
I.e. they have not been cleaved at all of their restriction sites.
Define COS sites?
These are cohesion sites and they are another name for sticky ends.
Define an endonuclease?
Enzymes that cut phosphodiester bonds in the middle of a DNA molecule.
Define an exonuclease?
Enzymes that cut phosphodiester bonds at the ends of a DNA molecule.
Define a nuclease?
An enzyme that cleaves phosphodiester bonds in a nucleotide chain.
Define an oligonucleotide?
A polynucleotide whose molecules contain a small number of molecules.
Define phage 𝞬?
A particular bacteriophage.
Define phage induction?
The process that bacteriophages use to integrate their genome into a bacterial cells genome.
Define DNA recombinant technology?
When DNA sequences from many sources are bought together synthetically to create a new sequence of DNA that is not found naturally.
What molecules does DNA recombinant technology heavily rely on?
The use of recombinant DNA molecules.
Define restriction endonuclease’s?
Enzymes that recognise specific base pair sequences and cleave the DNA at that sequence.
Define a restriction site?
The site on DNA where endonuclease enzymes cleave the 2 strands.
What sequences of DNA usually make up restriction sites?
Short palindromic sequences.
Define the process of screening?
The process of searching for a specific DNA sequence in a DNA library.
Define a DNA vector?
A piece of DNA that is capable of independent growth.
DNA vectors are often what kinds of DNA?
Bacterial plasmids or viral phages.
Cloning the ability to manipulate what?
DNA that is then capable of reproducing itself.
How are bacterial plasmids used for recombinant processes?
By inserting plasmids into bacteria, this gets the genetic information in the plasmids translated into proteins.
E.g. insulin manufacture.
A plasmids self replicating?
Yes, they will divide every time binary fission occurs.
Can plasmids be intergrated into a bacterial genome?
Yes.