DNA technology and biotechnology + cancer vocabulary

quiz ~ 2/17/2023

biotechnology

manipulation of living organisms or their compounds to achieve specific practical goals

genetic engineering

alteration of genomes for medical or industrial purposes

GMO (genetically modified organism)

an organism that has been produced through genetic engineering

DNA fingerprinting

use of restriction enzymes to cut DNA into unique sequences that can be used to compare individuals with the use of electrophoresis

DNA extraction

process of using DNA from a living organism for analysis

PCR (polymerase chain reaction)

method used to amplify the amount of DNA

gel electrophoresis

method in which DNA fragments are separated by size by placing samples in a gelatinous material exposed to electrical current

primers

single stranded DNA sequences that start the replication process

restriction enzyme

an enzyme that cuts double stranded DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence

international consortium

labs in different countries supported by public funds

celera genomics

private company

contact inhibition

when cells come into contact with neighboring cells and stop dividing

angiogenesis

process in which as the tumor grows, it produces growth factors to stimulate formation of new blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to cancerous cells

cancerous cells

cells that invade the underlying tissue

benign tumor

tumor that is composed of noncancerous cells that stays a single mass

malignant tumor

tumor that is composed of cancerous cells that have the ability to spread away from the original site through vessels

matastatic tumors

tumors comprised of cancer cells which are motile and start tumors in new locations

proto-oncogenes

genes that encode for proteins that promote the cell cycle and prevent apoptosis

tumor-suppressor genes

genes that encode for proteins that inhibit the cell cycle and promote apoptosis

gene p53

prevents cell division if there is damage to the DNA and if it mutates the cells may continue to divide indefinitely

carcinogens

environmental agents that are mutagenic

tumor marker tests

blood tests for antigens and antibodies created by the body to fight the tumor, they detect an immune response

chemotherapy

use of chemicals to destroy cancer cells that have spread throughout the body and most of these drugs interfere with DNA synthesis

radiation therapy

powerful rays administered to specific areas to destroy cells

mutation

permanent genetic change

gene mutation

random change in the sequence of baes within a gene

chromosomal mutation

change in chromosome structure that can be detected microscopically

frameshift mutation

occurs when one or more nucleotides are inserted or deleted from DNA

point mutation

occurs when one nucleotide is substituted for another

cloning

production of identical copies of a gene or organism through asexual means

vector

a means of transferring something into an organism

plasmid

small accessory ring of DNA from bacterium that is not a part of the bacterium chromosome and is capable of replicating on its own

transgenic organism

free living organism that has foreign genes in its cells

animal pharming

the process of making transgenic animals to produce pharmaceuticals

gene therapy

insertion of genetic material into human cells for treatment of a disorder

reproductive cloning

type of cloning in which the desired end is an individual organism

therapeutic cloning

type of cloning in which the desired end is a specific cell type

stem cells

any cells that can divide and differentiate into more functionally specific cell types such as nerves, blood, or muscle

genomics

study of human genome to better understand how genes direct growth

bioinformatics

application of computer technology to study genome

silent mutation

a type of point mutation in which there is no change in the sequence of amino acids

nonsense mutation

a type of point mutation in which the mutation creates a stop codon

missense mutation

a type of point mutation in which the mutation changes the amino acid

ex vivo gene therapy

a type of gene therapy in which cells are removed from the patient and treated outside the body to be returned to the patient

in vivo gene therapy

a type of gene therapy in which the patient is given a foreign gene directly to be incorporated into the genome within the body

mutagens

environmental factors such as X-rays, UV, and chemicals which can cause mutations

human genome project

an effort that began in 1990 to construct base sequence map/genetic map of each chromosome

genetic map

shows location of genes along chromosomes

bioremediation

when bacteria is used to clean up toxins