GCB1009 Fundamentals of Molecular Biology - Week 1

Recombinant DNA technology

The process of taking a short fragment of DNA from an organism and inserting it into an autonomously replicating piece of DNA, known as a vector, to create new genetic combinations.

DNA cloning

A molecular biology technique used to make many identical copies of a specific piece of DNA, such as a gene.

Gene expression

The process where the nucleotide sequence of a gene directs protein synthesis to produce the structures of the cell.

Transcription

The production of messenger RNA ($mRNA$) by the enzyme RNA polymerase, including the processing of the resulting molecule.

Translation

The use of $mRNA$ to direct protein synthesis and the subsequent post-translational processing of the protein molecule.

Vector

An autonomously replicating piece of DNA used to carry a foreign DNA fragment for cloning or recombination.

DNA ligases

Enzymes discovered in $1966$ that stitch DNA segments or strands together.

Advgal 120

The first plasmid bacterial cloning vector, isolated from phage $2$ in $1971$ by Douglas Berg and colleagues.

EcoRI

A restriction enzyme that Janet Mertz demonstrated cleaves DNA to form sticky ends rather than blunt ends.

Oncomouse

A genetically engineered mouse, also known as the Harvard mouse, created in $1988$ to carry an activated oncogene.

Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H)

The first clinically approved humanized $IgG1$ monoclonal antibody, developed in $1988$ to target B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia ($CLL$).

Xenotransplantation

The concept of using genetically modified animals to grow transplant tissues and human transplant organs.

Bt cotton

A genetically modified crop containing a gene from the bacteria $Bacillus$ $thuringiensis$ that produces a toxin to kill pests like the bollworm.

DNA Polymerase I

A prokaryotic DNA repair enzyme with $5' \rightarrow 3'$ polymerase activity, $5' \rightarrow 3'$ exonuclease activity (for primer removal), and $3' \rightarrow 5'$ exonuclease activity.

DNA Polymerase II

A prokaryotic enzyme that functions in the stress response as a DNA repair enzyme with $3' \rightarrow 5'$ exonuclease activity.

DNA Polymerase III

The main prokaryotic enzyme for $in$ $vivo$ DNA replication, responsible for extending primers and adding nucleotides to the $3'$ end.

Primer

A short stretch of complementary sequence required for DNA synthesis that determines which part of a DNA molecule is copied.

Nick translation

A process during DNA repair mediated by the $5' \rightarrow 3'$ forward exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase.

Proofreading

A corrective process in DNA synthesis mediated by $3' \rightarrow 5'$ reverse exonuclease activity.

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