Molecular Genetics Analysis And Biotechnology Flashcards
(37 cards)
Cohesive (“sticky”) End
Short, single-stranded overhanging end on a DNA molecule produced when the DNA is cut by certain restriction enzymes. These are complementary and can spontaneously pair to rejoin DNA fragments that have been cut with the same restriction enzyme.
Restriction Enzyme Or Restriction Endonuclease
Enzyme that recognizes particular base sequences in DNA and makes double-stranded cuts at those sequences.
Biotechnology
Use of biological processes, particularly molecular genetics and recombinant DNA technology, to produce products of commercial value.
Recombinant DNA Technology Or Genetic Engineering
Set of molecular techniques for locating, isolating, altering, combining, and studying DNA segments.
Blunt (Non-Cohesive) End
Both strands of DNA are of equal length (they end at the same base position, leaving no unpaired bases on either strand).
Engineered Nuclease
Protein consisting of the part of a restriction enzyme that cleaves DNA, combined with another protein that recognizes and binds to a specific DNA sequence; capable of making unique double-stranded cuts in DNA at predetermined sequences. These can be custom designed to bind to and cut any particular DNA sequence.
Cas9
a CRISPR-associated endonuclease that acts as “molecular scissors” to cut DNA at a location specified by a guide RNA.
Guide RNA
an RNA molecule that binds to Cas9 and specifies, based on its sequence the location at which Cas9 will cut DNA.
CRISPER-Cas System
A molecular tool whereby genes are edited by precisely cutting DNA and then letting natural DNA repair processes repair the break. The system consists of two parts: the Cas9 enzyme and a guide RNA.
Gel Electrophoresis
Technique for separating charged molecules (such as proteins or nucleic acids) on the basis of molecular size or charge, or both.
Gene Cloning
Insertion of DNA fragments into bacteria in such a way that the fragments will be stable and will be copied by the bacteria.
Primer
a short stretch of RNA on a DNA template; provides a 3’OH group for the attachment of a DNA nucleotide at the initiation of replication.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Method of enzymatically amplifying DNA fragments.
Cloning Vector
Stable, replicating DNA molecule to which a foreign DNA fragment can be attached for introduction into a cell.
Taq Polymerase
DNA polymerase commonly used in PCR reactions. Isolated from the bacterium Thermus aquaticus, the enzyme is stable at high temperatures, so it is not denatured during the strand-separation step of the cycle.
Cosmid
A cloning vector consisting of a plasmid packaged in a viral protein coat that can be transferred to bacteria by viral infection; can carry large pieces of DNA into bacteria.
DNA Library
Collection of clones containing all the DNA fragments from one source.
Expression Vector
Cloning vector containing DNA sequences such as a promoter, a ribosome-binding site, and transcription initiation and termination sites that allow DNA fragments inserted into the vector to be transcribed and translated.
cDNA (Complementary DNA) Library
Collection of bacterial colonies or phages containing DNA fragments that have been produced by reverse transcription of cellular mRNA.
Genomic Library
Collection of bacterial colonies or phages containing
DNA fragments that constitute the entire genome of an organism.
Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC)
Cloning vector originally constructed from the F plasmid that can hold very large fragments of DNA (as long as 300,000 bp).
DNA Sequencing
Process of determining the sequence of bases along a DNA molecule.
Probe
A DNA or RNA molecule with a base sequence that is complementary to a sequence of interest and will pair with it; used to find specific DNA sequences.
