Lecture on Plasmid and Recombinant DNA Technology

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts from the lecture on plasmids and recombinant DNA technology.

What is a plasmid?

An extrachromosomal DNA element that is self-replicating and can carry non-essential genes.

What are the purposes of plasmids in genetic engineering?

They are used for introducing and maintaining genes in bacteria, gene cloning, and expression of foreign genes.

What is oriV?

The origin of replication for plasmids, essential for plasmid maintenance and self-replication.

What does Incompatibility (Inc) mean in plasmid biology?

The inability of two plasmids to coexist stably in the same cell due to sharing replication or partitioning machinery.

What is rolling-circle replication?

A mechanism of plasmid replication that involves a double-stranded origin and generates single-stranded progeny.

What role do restriction enzymes play in cloning?

They cut DNA at specific sequences, allowing for the insertion of DNA fragments into plasmids.

What is gel electrophoresis used for?

To separate DNA fragments by size using an agarose gel medium.

What is a genomic library?

A collection of recombinant DNA molecules, each carrying a fragment of the genome of a target organism, representing the entire genome of the source organism.

What distinguishes pBR322 from natural plasmids?

It has desirable features like selection markers, unique restriction sites, and a small size, making it more efficient for cloning.

What is the function of a reporter gene like lacZ?

To study gene expression and regulation by producing a measurable indicator of activity.