Genetic Engineering Flashcards

Flashcards about Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering

Direct manipulation of DNA or genome to alter an organism’s characteristics.

Manipulation of DNA

Changing base pair, deleting a whole region of DNA or introducing an additional copy of a gene.

Recombinant DNA

The DNA of an organism that is altered by incorporation of gene.

Cloning

The replication of altered DNA.

Restriction Endonuclease

Enzymes that cut DNA molecules at specific sites.

Exonucleases

Enzyme that removes nucleotides from the ends of a nucleic acid molecule.

DNA Ligase

Joins two fragments of DNA by synthesizing the phosphodiester bond.

DNA Polymerase

Synthesizes a new complementary DNA strand of an existing DNA or RNA template.

Vectors

DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell, where it can be replicated or expressed

Host Organism (E. coli)

Widely used as a host in recombinant DNA technology since cloning and isolation of DNA inserts is much easier to perform

Foreign DNA

The desired DNA segment which is to be cloned.

Transgenic Organism

An organism that carries recombinant DNA.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Genetic material that has been artificially altered through genetic engineering to change its characteristics.

Golden Rice

Modified rice that produces beta-carotene

Goats (GMO)

Modified to produce important protein used to treat a rare blood clotting disorder in humans

Vaccine Producing Bananas

Genetically engineered bananas that contain a vaccine.

Microorganisms, yeast, fungi, and bacteria (GMO)

Organisms modified to produce the enzyme chymosin, which splits milk to make cheese

Blue Roses

Roses modified with pansy genes to express blue color in flowers.

Gene Therapy

Introduction of normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders

Transgenic

Organism/plant that contains genetic material into which DNA from an unrelated organism has been artificially introduced

Antibiotics

Medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms

Biotechnology

Use of technologies to alter the characteristics of a particular organism.

Green Revolution

A large increase in crop production in developing countries achieved by the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield crop varieties

Ethics

The act of defining what is morally right or wrong.