Genetic Engineering and Cloning

Flashcards highlighting key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to genetic engineering and cloning.

Genetic engineering

The process of modifying DNA.

Plasmid

The DNA of a bacterial cell.

Gene

The physical and functional unit of heredity, consisting of a specific segment of DNA located on chromosomes.

Restriction enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA samples into fragments.

Sticky ends

The part of a plasmid that bonds with human DNA by sticky ends with complementary bases.

Splicing

A vital molecular process in eukaryotes that edits pre-mRNA by removing introns and joining exons.

Recombinant DNA

Bacterial DNA combined with human DNA.

Transformation

The genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the direct uptake and incorporation of foreign DNA.

Gene therapy

Replacing damaged genes; can be illegal.

Transgenic organism

A living entity whose DNA has been altered by introducing genetic material from another species.

Recombinant cell

A cell that contains recombinant DNA.

Cloning

A genetically identical copy of an organism.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer

A cloning technique involving the transfer of the nucleus from a somatic cell into an enucleated egg cell.

Somatic cell

Any body cell.

Enucleated egg

An egg cell that has had its nucleus removed.

Embryo

An unborn or unhatched offspring in the development process.

Stem cell

Unspecialized cells.

Surrogate mother

A person who carries another individual's egg to have a baby.

Therapeutic cloning

Used to replace damaged tissues.

Reproductive cloning

The process to produce offspring with desired traits.

PCR

Polymerase Chain Reaction used to copy DNA.

Gel electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA by size for analysis.

DNA fingerprint

A pattern of DNA bands unique to individuals, except identical twins.

Tradeoff

A constraint where improving one trait necessitates a decline in another due to limited resources.