Chapter 13 Vocab

Question 1

biotechnology

Answer 1

the use of organisms to perform tasks for humans

Question 2

recombinant DNA technology

Answer 2

used by scientists to combine genes from different organisms or species

Question 3

plasmids

Answer 3

small circular DNA molecules that are separate from the much larger bacterial chromosome

Question 4

restriction enzyme

Answer 4

“cuts” a DNA molecule into fragments at specific points

Question 5

genomic library

Answer 5

complete collection of cloned DNA fragments from an organism

Question 6

nucleic acid probe

Answer 6

molecule that has been labeled with radioactivity making it easy to detect

Question 7

Genetically modified organism

Answer 7

any organism that has acquired one or more genes by artificial means

Question 8

Transgenic

Answer 8

if the new species came from a different species

Question 9

polymerase chain reaction

Answer 9

technique that makes billions of identical DNA molecules in just a few hours

Question 10

Gel Electrophoresis

Answer 10

technique for sorting DNA fragments by length

Question 11

genetic markers

Answer 11

particular stretches of DNA that vary from person to person

Question 12

DNA fingerprint

Answer 12

a particular pattern of banding of each person’s DNA fragments

Question 13

operon

Answer 13

cluster of genes along with its two control sequences

Question 14

promoter

Answer 14

binding site for an enzyme needed in DNA transcription

Question 15

operator

Answer 15

switches the promoter on and off

Question 16

gene expression

Answer 16

the transcription and translation of genes into proteins

Question 17

transcription factors

Answer 17

proteins controlled by chemical signals in the cell

Question 18

cellular differentiation

Answer 18

individual cells become more specialized in structure and function as the organism developes

Question 19

stem cells

Answer 19

cells that remain able to differentiate into various other types of cells

Question 20

homeotic genes

Answer 20

master control genes produce proteins that regulate the expression of other genes