genetic engineering

genetic engineering

A technology that includes the process of manipulating or altering the genetic material of a cell

recombinant DNA

DNA sequence produced by combining DNA from different sources

transgenic

organism whose genome has been altered to contain one or more genes from another organism or species

plasmid

a small, circular strand of DNA in a bacterium (good for inserting DNA sequences)

genetically modified organism (GMO)

an organism whose genetic material has been altered through some genetic engineering technology/technique

nuclear transfer cloning

Nucleus removed from one organism and placed into an empty egg to create clone

gene splicing

a laboratory method of cutting apart and recombining genes to produce recombinant DNA

Palindromic DNA sequence

Both strands of DNA have the same sequence reading 5' to 3' - sites used for restriction enzymes

gene therapy

the use of genetic engineering to change the genes within an individual's cells and tissues for the purpose of treating a disease

restriction enzymes

Enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides

gel electrophoresis

The separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel.

gene

A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait

polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

technique that allows molecular biologists to make many copies of a particular DNA segment

ligase

An enzyme that connects two fragments of DNA to make a single fragment

reverse transcriptase

a polymerase that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template

cDNA

Complementary DNA. DNA produced synthetically by reverse transcribing mRNA. Because of eukaryotic mRNA splicing, cDNA contains no introns.

Taq polymerase

A DNA synthesis enzyme that can withstand the high temperatures of PCR