How to prevail when organs fail

Insulin

Protein hormone synthesized in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into tissues

Genetic engineering

Direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes

Recombinant DNA

DNA molecules made in vitro with segments from different sources

Plasmid

Small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of a bacterial chromosome

Transformation

Uptake and expression of foreign DNA by a cell

Transformation efficiency

Math formula used to calculate how well cells are transformed and show the new phenotype

Ampicillin

Antibiotic that will kill any bacteria that is not resistant to it

Column chromatography

Proteins are separate by size using a gel column with a matrix full of pores that traps small or medium sized proteins

Elute

Drip through a matrix to separate from other proteins in a solution

Hydrophilic

Having an affinity for water or other polar compounds

Hydrophobic

Having an aversion for water or other polar compounds

Protein Gel Electrophoresis

Separation of denatured proteins by size using PAGE

Polyacrylamide Gel

Used to separate smaller molecules like proteins or very small pieces of DNA or RNA