Cloning a Gene - Chapter 30

A collection of glossary flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on cloning a gene, aimed at aiding students' understanding of essential terms related to genetics and molecular biology.

Plasmid Vector

A plasmid used to transfer genetic material into a host cell for gene cloning.

Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Genes that provide the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics, used in selecting transformed cells.

Genomic DNA Clone Library

A collection of cloned DNA fragments that collectively represent an organism's genomic DNA.

Hybridization

The process of forming a double-stranded nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) from two complementary strands.

Complementation

The introduction of a wild-type gene into a mutant organism to restore normal phenotype.

Auxotrophic Mutation

A mutation that results in the inability of an organism to synthesize a particular compound required for growth.

Transposition

The process by which a transposable element moves from one location in a genome to another.

Transposon

A mobile genetic element that can insert itself into various locations within a genome.

cDNA Library

A library of cloned DNA derived from complementary DNA, which is synthesized from mRNA.

DNA Probe

A labeled DNA fragment used to detect the presence of complementary sequences in a DNA sample.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A technique used to amplify specific DNA sequences, generating millions of copies of a particular DNA segment.

E. coli

A species of bacteria commonly used as a model organism in molecular cloning.

Reversion Analysis

A method to confirm whether a mutation can be reverted back to wild-type by the excision of a transposable element.

Hybridization Conditions

Physical and chemical conditions (temperature, salt) that influence the stability of DNA hybrids.

Prototroph

A microorganism that can synthesize all its amino acids, nucleotides, and other growth factors.

Minimal Media (MM)

A growth medium that provides the minimum nutrients required for the growth of microorganisms.

Restriction Enzyme

A protein that cuts DNA at specific sequences, used in cloning to generate DNA fragments.

Transposase

An enzyme that catalyzes the movement of a transposable element within a genome.

Transgenic

An organism that possesses a gene or genes which have been artificially inserted into its genome.