Cloning and Recombinant DNA Vocabulary (4)

Vocabulary flashcards related to Cloning and Recombinant DNA.

DNA cloning

Creating many copies of a DNA sequence

Restriction enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sites

Plasmid

A circle of double-stranded DNA that is separate from the chromosome in bacteria.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A technique used to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of DNA.

Clone

A collection of molecules or cells, all identical to an original molecule or cell

Wild type gene

A normal copy of a gene.

Mutant gene

An altered version of a gene.

Recombinant DNA technology

A series of techniques in which DNA fragments are linked to self-replicating vectors to create recombinant DNA molecules, which are replicated in a host cell.

Restriction enzymes

Used by bacteria to restrict attack from foreign DNA.

Palindrome (in DNA)

Recognition sites in double stranded DNA that have a 2-fold axis of symmetry.

Sticky ends

Staggered cuts in DNA by restriction enzymes.

Blunt ends

Cuts of DNA that do not leave overhangs.

DNA Ligase

Enzyme that joins DNA fragments together.

Cloning vector

A plasmid that can be modified to carry new genes

Electrophoresis

Separates molecules on the basis of their charge and size.

Southern blot

One way to detect genome structure and disease markers in genomic DNA

RFLP

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms; can be associated with disease alleles.

Taq DNA polymerase

A thermostable DNA polymerase isolated from Thermus aquaticus.

VNTR

Variable Number of Tandem Repeat; commonly used in forensics.