Engineering Plants

Genotype + Epigenetic Interactions + Environment = __________

Phenotype

Epigenetic control

Configuration of the genome DNA that allows or blocks access to the original template.

RNA Polymerase II

The main enzyme responsible for transcribing mRNA in eukaryotic cells.

Transcriptional regulation

Control of transcription initiation, maintenance of transcription, and termination.

Posttranscriptional regulation

Control of mRNA stability, translation efficiency, and degradation/ making the message faulty

Promoter

A DNA sequence that signals RNA polymerase to start transcription.

Introns

Non-coding sequences in a gene that are removed during RNA processing.

Cis-acting control elements

Regulatory elements located adjacent to the transcription unit.

Trans-acting factors

Proteins that assist in the transcription process, usually encoded elsewhere in the genome.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

A bacterium that plays a key role in creating genetically modified plants. helped us create the first GE crop

Gene gun

A device that uses high pressure to shoot DNA-coated particles into plant cells.

CRISPR-Cas

A technology that allows for precise gene editing by cutting DNA at specific locations.

Marker-Assisted breeding

A molecular breeding technique that uses known genetic markers to select desirable traits.

Traditional plant breeding

The process of selecting plants with desirable traits for breeding.

Gene Expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, usually a protein.

RNAi

A biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression by destroying mRNA.

Transcription unit

The region of DNA that is transcribed into RNA.

MRNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes mRNA from a DNA template.

Regulatory promoter

The part of the promoter that regulates the transcription of a gene.

Suppressors

Elements that inhibit the start of transcription.

Natural occurring bacteria

Bacteria that exist in nature, not modified or influenced by humans.

Plasmid rings

Come from bacteria and are used in G.E because of their ability to integrate a desired foreign gene into a genome

Targeted mutagenesis

A method used to make specific, intentional changes to the DNA of an organism.

Base editing

A technology that allows for the direct conversion of one DNA base pair into another.

Prime editing

A form of gene editing that enables precise insertions and deletions of DNA.

FDA approval for GE

The regulatory process that takes about 10 years for genetically engineered products to be approved.

Molecular breeding

A technique that uses molecular information to select plant breeds based on genetic markers.

Transcription factors

Proteins that help initiate and regulate the transcription of DNA.

Access to DNA

The ability for transcription machinery to reach the coding regions of a gene.

Protein stability

The measure of how well a protein maintains its structure and function over time.

Galls on trees

Outgrowths formed on trees due to infection by Agrobacterium

Focusing on the final protein

Referring to the specific outcomes and functions of proteins in gene expression.

Epigenetic Interactions

even if a gene is in a genome, it might not be expressed

Protein stability

determines activity/ efficiency of the product; introducing a protein that breaks the protein of interest after it is made

Not all genes code for proteins

true

not all dna is genes

true

Targeted mutagenesis by sequence specific nucleases

CRISPR

precise gene replacements, base editing, and prime editing

still being developed, but will be much more direct

antibiotic stress gene in GE

helps identify if a gene was successfully modified