Ch. 10 micro

Genetic engineering

Involves the direct, deliberate modification of an organisms genome (genetic material)-bioengineering

Biotechnology

Use of an organisms biochemical and metabolic pathways for industrial production

DNA sequencing

Determining the actually order and type of bases for all types of dna

Sanger technique

Common sequencing technique

Gel electrophoresis

A method used to separate dna based on size

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A technique used to amplify (make copies) of a gene or piece of dna of interest

TAQ polymerase

Is a special enzyme that is used to amplify the DNA of interest

Thermocycler

The machine used for PCR

Linear DNA is foreign to a bacteria, so it must be put into a form that is more familiar to a bacteria such as a circular plasmid called a

Cloning vector

Cloning vectors have:

An origin (ori) - so the vector is copied each time the bacteria divides

Selectable marker - like antibiotic resistance that allows a researcher to figure out which bacteria actually have the cloning vector present

Restriction enzymes

Cut DNA in a very specific way. If the cloning vector and the genome of interest are treated with the same enzyme, then they will have a similar shape

Ligase

Enzyme that “glues” the DNA together

Overexpression

Of a protein when certain chemicals are added to the media

Gene therapy

Uses viruses to infect sick tissues with healthy versions of defective genes