BAC (Bacterial artifical chromsome)
A man made plasmid used in gene technology
Computational biology
Using computers to study biology eg for simualtions, mathematical modelling or data mining
Bioinformatics
Developing and using computer software to analyse, organise and store biological data
Chain termination method
A technique used to sequence DNA
DNA primer
Short piece of DNA that is complementary to the bases at the start of a fragment that is being increased by PCR
DNA profiling
producing an image of the patterns in the non-coding DNA of an individual.
DNA sequencing
working out the sequence of bases in a strand of DNA.
Electrophoresis
Procedure that uses an electrical current to seperate DNA, RNA or protein fragments based on thier size
electroporation
the use of a very tiny electric current to transfer genetically engineered plasmids into bacteria or to get DNA fragments directly into eukaryotic cells.
forensics
the application of science to the law, commonly in solving crimes.
gene sequencing
working out the sequence of genes on a strand of DNA
gene therapy
Altering alleles inside cells to cure genetic disorders
genetic engineering
The manipulation of an organism's DNA
germ line cell gene therapy
inserting a healthy allele into the germ cells or into a very early embryo.
High throughput sequencing
new methods of sequencing DNA that are automated, very rapid and much cheaper than the original techniques.
Palindromic sequences
sections of DNA that base pairs that read the same in opposite directions
polymerase chain reaction
a process by which a small sample of DNA can be amplified using specific enzymes and temperature changes.
Recognition sites / sequences
A specific palindromic sequence recognised by a restriction enzyme
recombinant
new combination of alleles/DNA from two sources.
restriction endonuclease (enzyme)
enzyme that digests a strand of DNA into small pieces at specific recognition sites
somatic cell gene therapy
replacing a faulty gene with a healthy allele in affected somatic cells.
Sticky ends
Small tails of unpaired basis at the end of a section of DNA
synthetic biology
the design and construction of novel biological pathways, organisms or devices, or the redesign of existing natural biological systems.
Transformed organisms
Organisms that have had their DNA altered by genetic engineering
Transgenic organism
Organisms that have DNA from more than one species
Vector DNA
Used to transfer DNA into a cell; usually a plasmid or bacteriophage
vector (in genetic modification)
a means of inserting DNA from one organisms into the cells of another organism.