Test 3 Genetic Engineering & Biotech Flashcards
The transmission of genetic information between organisms in a manner other than traditional sexual and asexual reproduction.
Horizontal gene transfer
What are the three mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer?
Conjugation, Transformation, and Transduction
Recombinant DNA is?
DNA composed of fragments from two or more sources.
Conjugation is
A type of horizonal gene transfer:
* The transfer of genetic material between bacteria through direct contact.
Transformation is
A type of horizontal gene transfer:
* The direct uptake of genetic material from the environment.
Transduction is
A type of horizontal gene transfer:
* The transfer of genetic information from one bacterium to another via a virus.
Autonomous replication
Replication of a plasmid, independent from the bacterial chromosome.
R plasmids are
Plasmids containing a gene that conveys antibacterial resistance
Transponons (‘jumping genes’) is
Genes that move around in the genome. These genes can ‘jump’ from a plasmid to a chromosome and back to a plasmid.
What does it mean to say that a cell is ‘competent’? How can it become more competent?
1.It is a receptive to taking up DNA from the environment.
2.Researchers can treat cell with calcium chloride and apply a heat or cold shock.
Bacteriophage (or phage) is
A virus that infects a bacterium
Prophage (or provirus)
A virus that has been intergrated into the host’s genome
Generalized transduction is
The transfer of any bacterial gene to a recipient using a phage.
Specialized transduction is
The transfer of a few specific bacterial genes from one bacterium to another via a phage
Genomics is
The study of:
1.The Organization of genomes
2.The information they store
3.The gene products they code for
Structural genomics is
The study of the physical nature of genomes.
Functional genomics is
The study of the function of genomes
Comparative genomics
The study of the differences among the genomes of different organisms.
Bioinformatics are
The study of the genome using computers. This field integrates computer science,technology, math and statistics.
Annotation is
A process in structural genomics that allows researchers to determine where genes begin and end, allows them to locate genes on the genome
Paralogs are
Two genes that have similar sequences and are found in the same genome. They often arise due to gene duplication events.
Orthologs are
Two genes that are similar sequences and are found in different genomes. They likely have similar functions.
What is silico analysis
Analysis of the genome using computers.
What is the DNA microarrway analysis
A tool that allows scientists to observe the pattern of DNA expression for thousands of genes at a time.
Proteomics are
The study of the proteome, or the entire collection of proteins produced by an organism.
Functional proteomics are
The study of protein function that determines what actually occurs in the cell
Structural proteomics is
The study of the three-dimensional structure of proteins
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is
A technique used in proteomics to seperate proteins based on charge (by their isoelectric points) and molecular mass.
Metabolomics is
The study of the metabolome, or the entire set of small-molecule metabolites within a cell at a given time. This allows researchers to assess the physiological status of a cell at any given point in time.
Lipidomics is
The study of the lipidome, or the entire lipid profile of a cell. This allows researchers to assess the impact of the environment on a cell’s membrane.
Metagenomics is
The study of metagenomes, or genetic material recovered from environmental samples.
Genetic engineering is
Deliberate modification of an organism’s genome
Restriction enzymes are
Enzymes naturally produced by bacteria to fight viral infection. These enzymes cut DNA and can be used in genetic engineering to creat recombinant DNA.
Complementary DNA (cDNA) is
DNA produced from an RNA template. (cDNA can be produced by reverse transcriptase.)
Cloning vector is
A means for transferring a gene of interest to a host organism during the cloning process.
What is the most commonly used cloning vector?
Plasmids
What are four examples of cloning vectors?
Plasmids, phages, cosmids, and artifical chromosomes.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is
A technique used to quickly amplify a small DNA fragment.
DNA fingerprint is
The unique pattern produced when restirction fragments are created and passed through an electrophoretic gel.
Blotting is
A technique that combines electrophoresis and hybridization to detect specific DNA fragments.
Southern blotting is
A blotting technique that uses radioactive DNA hybridization probes and autoradiography to identify the presence or absence of a specific gene.
Autoradiography is
A method for detecting radioactively labeled molecules
Genomic library is
A collection of an organism’s entire genomic DNA. which is stored in a population of identical vectors, each of which contains a fragment of DNA.
Site-directed mustagenesis
A technique for introducing a mutation at a specific point in the genome
Protoplast fusion is
A technique in which two cells are combined a form a hybrid cell that contains the genomes of both original cells. This technique is commonly used with fungi.
Interferons are
The human body’s ‘natural antiviral molecule’
Gene therapy is
The treatment of disease by inserting ‘therapeutic DNA’ into a patient’s cells
Biopesticides are
Naturally produced agents that kill pests.
Bioconversion is
The use of live organisms to faciliate a chemical reaction that converts a substance to a chemically modified form.
Microbial biosensor
The use of microorganisms and a physical transducer to detect the presence of a substance, such as arsenic in drinking water.
