DNA Replication Flashcards

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Technique for amplifying selected regions of DNA by multiple cycles of DNA synthesis.

Taq Polymerase

A heat-stable DNA polymerase enzyme used in PCR, extracted from the thermophilic bacteria ‘Thermus Aquaticus’

Gel Electrophoresis

A process used to separate fragments of DNA or proteins, on a polymer gel, according to the size and overall change.

DNA Primer

Short sequence of single stranded DNA, used in PCR, made synthetically with base sequences complementary to one end of the DNA.

Genetic Profiling

The identification of individual organism or species using DNA.

Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTRs)

Short base sequences that show variation between individuals in terms of number of repeats. These major length of non-coding DNA are used in genetic profiling.

RNA Primer

In DNA Replication, a short length of RNA made at the beginning of the synthesis of each DNA fragment; these RNA segments are subsequently removed and filled in with DNA.

DNA Polymerase III

The primary enzyme involved in DNA exploration.

Leading Strand

At a replication fork, the DNA stand that is made by continuous synthesis in the 5’ to 3’ direction.

Primase

An RNA Polymerase that uses DNA as a template to produce an RNA fragment that serves as a primer for DNA synthesis.

Lagging Strand

The DNA strand that is synthesized discontinuously in short fragments called Okazaki fragments during DNA replication.

Okazaki Fragments

Short DNA Fragments that are synthesized on lagging strand during DNA replication and later joined together.

DNA Ligase

Enzyme that joins two DNA fragments together, via the formation of a 3’ to 5’ phosphodiester.