DNA Technology and Genomics

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 20 lecture notes.

DNA Technology and Genomics

Techniques for artificial manipulation of DNA, cells, and organisms.

Restriction Enzymes

Molecular scissors that recognize specific DNA sequences and cut DNA molecules at those locations.

Restriction Site

Short DNA sequence recognized by a restriction enzyme.

Sticky ends

Enzymes producing these are preferred because they facilitate the joining of DNA fragments.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Technique used to quickly generate a large amount of DNA from a small amount.

PCR 3-Step Cycle

Heating, annealing, and DNA synthesis stages of PCR.

Tandem Repeat DNA

Short non-coding DNA sequences that repeat in a tandem pattern.

Tandem Repeats

Useful in paternity testing, forensic science, and DNA profiling.

Polymorphisms

Different forms of a sequence that can arise from the presence of tandem repeats; vary from person to person.

Restriction Fragment Analysis

Involves treating DNA with restriction enzymes and running samples through a gel to produce banding patterns.

Restriction Fragment Analysis Applications

Analysis used to examine bacterial chromosomes, settle paternity suits, and provide evidence in criminal investigations.

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs)

Differences in non-coding regions on homologous chromosomes when treated with restriction enzymes and banded

RFLPs as Genetic Markers

Serve as genetic markers of non-coding DNA near a particular locus in a genome; used in crime investigations.

STR analysis

Looks at repeat segments within the DNA.

Gel Electrophoresis

Separates DNA fragments by size and charge.

Southern Blot

Technique used to analyze RFLPs in DNA.

Frederick Sanger

Developed the dideoxy chain-termination method for sequencing genes.

Dideoxy Chain-Termination Method

Method that uses modified nucleotides to terminate growing DNA strands, revealing the sequence of the DNA.

Whole Genome Sequencing

Process that uses the increasing speed of the process and the reduced cost for diagnosis of disease, understanding the genetic basis of some diseases, epidemiology and studying evolution

Transposable Elements

Genes with the ability to cut themselves out of a genome and move to another location.

S. pneumoniae

Bacteria that caused pneumonia

Transformation

Process of non-pathogenic (R) bacteria becoming pathogenic (S) when mixed with heat-killed pathogenic (S) bacteria.

Avery, McCarty, and McCleod

Concluded that DNA was the transforming factor

The Hershey-Chase Experiment

Experiment that proved that DNA is the genetic material

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence

Mutagens

Chemicals that cause mutations.

Methylcytosine

Form of cytosine that is prone to mutation.

Mutation outcomes

Can be silent, disrupt protein function, create new alleles.

Substitution mutations

Can produce single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Gene Knockout

Technique used to determine the function of a particular gene.

CRISPR

Acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats; a gene editing technology.