Biotechnology Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary in biotechnology.

Biotechnology

Any technological application that uses living systems and organisms to make useful products.

Molecular Biologists Tools

Living biological organisms or biological molecules used as tools to cut, join, and replicate DNA.

Restriction Endonucleases

Special molecular scissors from unique bacteria that scientists use to cut DNA at specific sequences.

Sticky Ends

DNA fragments with overhanging nucleotides, useful for genetic engineering.

Blunt Ends

DNA fragments with no overhanging nucleotides.

Amplifying DNA

Creating millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence for study.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

An automated method for increasing a small DNA sample into an identical large sample of DNA.

RNA Primer

Used in PCR to bind to a specific sequence in the DNA, allowing Taq polymerase to bind.

Denaturing (PCR Step I)

Heating DNA to 95°C to separate it into single strands.

Annealing (PCR Step II)

Cooling DNA to 55°C to allow primers to bind to the 3' ends.

Extension (PCR Step III)

Heating DNA to 72°C to allow Taq polymerase to create complementary strands.

Gel Electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA fragments based on size.

Molecular Sieve

The role of agarose gel, which allows DNA fragments to migrate based on size.

Marker Sample/Ladder

A control sample in gel electrophoresis containing several known lengths of DNA.

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)

An older method using chromosomal DNA to create a DNA fingerprint, requiring large amounts of high-quality DNA.

Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Profiling

A newer method using repeating short sequences of DNA to create a DNA fingerprint.

Genetic Engineering

The process that uses laboratory-based technologies to alter the DNA makeup of an organism.

Plasmids

Small circular double-stranded DNA molecules found in bacteria that can carry useful genes.

Recombinant Plasmid

A plasmid containing a foreign gene after annealing.

Transformation

The process by which bacterial cells take up plasmids through their cell membranes.

Selective Plating

Using antibiotic resistance genes on plasmids to determine if bacteria have picked up the plasmid.