Biology: Experimental Design, Molecular Genetics, and Biotechnology

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering experimental methods, bioethics, molecular genetics, protein synthesis, enzymes, and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies.

Reproducibility

The requirement in a science experiment that the results must be repeatable and valid when conducted under the same conditions.

Independent variable

The variable in an experiment that is deliberately manipulated or changed to test its effects on the dependent variable.

Dependent variable

The variable being measured or observed in an experiment to assess the effects of the independent variable.

Control group

A group in an experiment that serves as a benchmark and is not exposed to the independent variable, minimizing potential uncontrolled variables.

Replicates

Multiple identical experimental and control samples or trials used to reduce the impact of random errors and uncontrolled variables.

Experimental errors

Errors categorized into personal errors, systematic errors, and random errors that can affect the accuracy and precision of collected data.

Bioethical concepts

Core ethical principles guiding experiments, identified as integrity, justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and respect.

Bioethical approaches

Frameworks for ethical decision-making, which include consequence-based, duty/rule-based, and virtue-based approaches.

Peer review

The process of communicating experimental data clearly so other scientists can evaluate, verify, and review the findings.

Gene structure components

Key regulatory and structural regions of a gene, including promoter, operator, exons, and introns.

Tryp operon

A regulated gene system in bacteria that controls tryptophan production, altering gene expression depending on whether tryptophan levels are high or low.

Levels of protein structure

The four structural arrangements of a protein, defined as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.

Proteome

The complete set of proteins expressed by a cell, organism, or genome.

Protein secretion pathway organelles

Structures involved in processing and transporting proteins, including the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and secretory vesicles.

DNA polymerase

An enzyme used in DNA manipulation to synthesize new DNA strands.

DNA ligase

An enzyme used in genetic manipulation to join or ligate fragments of DNA together.

Endonucleases

Enzymes that cut specific nucleic acid sequences within a DNA molecule.

Polymerase chain reaction

A technique used to amplify a specific sequence of DNA, generating millions of copies.

Gel electrophoresis

A technique used in molecular biology to separate DNA fragments based on their size.

Recombinant DNA plasmid

A circular DNA molecule engineered by inserting a foreign target gene, used in bacterial transformation and gene expression.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts, mostly proteins, that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy when substrates enter their active site.

Coenzymes

Non-protein organic molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing biochemical reactions.

Competitive inhibitors

Molecules that decrease enzyme activity by competing directly with the substrate for binding to the active site.

Noncompetitive inhibitors

Molecules that decrease enzyme activity by binding to a site other than the active site, changing the enzyme's shape and function.

Single guide RNA

An engineered RNA sequence designed to match target DNA and direct the Cas9 enzyme to a specific genomic location.

Cas9

An endonuclease enzyme, often called molecular scissors, that cuts target DNA when guided by single guide RNA.

PAM sequence

A simple short DNA sequence adjacent to the target site required for Cas9 to bind to the target DNA.