6.3.3 - genetic engineering Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is an endonuclease?
An enzyme that cuts a nucleic acid by separating adjacent nucleotides.
What are restriction enzymes?
Enzymes that cut DNA, found naturally in bacteria as a defense mechanism against viral DNA.
What is a recognition site for restriction enzymes?
A specific sequence where each restriction enzyme cuts, usually a six-base palindromic sequence.
What are blunt ends and sticky ends?
Blunt ends are created when restriction enzymes cut at the same place on each strand, while sticky ends are created when they cut at different positions.
What does CRISPR stand for?
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.
What is CRISPR’s function?
A defense mechanism in bacteria that provides a basic adaptive immune system and allows precise DNA cutting.
What is the role of ligases?
Enzymes that create covalent sugar-phosphate bonds once DNA has been joined.
What is TOPO-cloning?
A cloning approach that adds DNA fragments with blunt ends to a vector using topoisomerase instead of DNA ligase.
How can recombinant DNA be introduced into a host?
Through various methods depending on the DNA amount and host cell type.
What is a transgenic organism?
An organism that contains a transgene, meaning a gene from another species has been added.
What is Roundup Ready® canola?
Canola plants transfected with recombinant T-DNA plasmid containing a gene for glyphosate resistance.
What is a GMO?
Any organism whose DNA has been modified by gene technology, regardless of transgene insertion.
What are Flavr Savr® tomatoes?
Tomatoes genetically engineered with an antisense version of the polygalacturonase gene to prevent fruit rotting.
What is RNAi technology?
A technique that silences a gene by blocking its mRNA.
What does synthetic mean in the context of DNA?
DNA that is synthesized in a laboratory using a DNA synthesizer.
