8 Microbial Genetics and Genetic Engineering

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture on microbial genetics and genetic engineering.

Genome

The sum total of genetic material (DNA) in a cell.

Chromosome

A discrete cellular structure composed of a neatly packaged DNA molecule.

Gene

A segment of DNA that contains the information for making a molecule of protein or RNA.

Genotype

All of the genes in an organism that constitute its distinctive genetic makeup.

Phenotype

The expression of the genotype that creates observable traits.

Alleles

Different versions of the same gene that can be dominant, recessive, or codominant.

Supercoiling

The compaction of DNA in the cell by supercoils, resulting in a tight bundle of DNA.

Nucleotide

The basic unit of DNA structure, composed of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Purines

Nitrogenous bases consisting of adenine (A) and guanine (G), characterized by a two-ring structure.

Pyrimidines

Nitrogenous bases consisting of thymine (T) and cytosine (C), characterized by a single-ring structure.

Antiparallel Arrangement

The opposite orientation of the two strands of DNA (5' to 3' and 3' to 5').

DNA Replication

The process of duplicating DNA to ensure the inheritance of genetic information.

Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during replication.

Primase

An enzyme that synthesizes an RNA primer for DNA replication.

DNA Polymerase III

An enzyme that adds bases to the new DNA strand during replication.

Okazaki fragments

Short unlinked segments of RNA primer and new DNA produced on the lagging strand.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing an RNA molecule using a DNA template.

Translation

The process by which the information in mRNA is used to produce proteins.

CRISPR/Cas9

A method of DNA manipulation that uses a bacterial immune system to excise specific DNA sequences.

Gene Therapy

A medical application where normal genes are inserted into a patient's cells to treat genetic defects.

Recombinant DNA

DNA that has been artificially created by combining DNA from different organisms.

Gel Electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA fragments based on size.

Southern Blot

A method used to transfer DNA fragments from a gel to a filter for detection of specific sequences.

Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

A technique used to detect and localize specific DNA sequences in cells.

Ames Test

A method for screening potential mutagens using a mutant strain of bacteria.

Microarray Analysis

A technique used to study the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously.