Week #20 AP Bio Vocab

Transgenic Organism

An organism whose genome has been altered by the insertion of genes from another species.

Cloning

Production of identical copies. In organisms, the production of organisms with the same genes; In genetic engineering, the production of many identical copies of a gene.

Gene Cloning

DNA cloning to produce many identical copies of the same gene.

Recombinant DNA

DNA that contains genes from more than one source.

Vector

In genetic engineering, a means to transfer foreign genetic material into a cell- e.g., a plasmid. Alternatively, an organism, such as a biting insect, that transmits a disease or parasite between other organisms.

Plasmid

Extrachromosomal ring of accessory DNA in the cytoplasm of eukaryotes.

Restriction Enzyme

Bacterial enzyme that stops viral reproduction by cleaving viral DNA; Used to cut DNA at specific points during production of recombinant DNA; also referred to as a restriction endonuclease.

Genome Editing

Form of DNA targeting that utilizes endonucleases to target specific sequences of DNA for the addition or removal of nucleotides.

Gene Pharming

Production of pharmaceuticals using transgenic organisms, usually agricultural animals.

Ex Vivo Gene Therapy

Gene therapy in which cells are removed from an organism, and DNA is injected to correct a genetic defect; The cells are returned to the organism to treat a disease or disorder.

In Vivo Gene Therapy

Form of gene therapy where vectors containing genes of interest are delivered directly to the cells of the organism.

Genomics

Area of study that examines the genome of a species or group of species.

Human Genome Project

Initiative to determine the complete sequence of the human genome and to analyze this information.

Structural Genomics

Study of the sequence of DNA bases and the amount of genes in organisms.

Proteome

Sum of the expressed proteins in a cell.

Proteomics

Study of the structure, function, and interaction of the complete collection of proteins in a cell.

Bioinformatics

Area of scientific study that utilizes computer technologies to analyze large sets of data, typically in the study of genomics and proteomics.

Homologous Gene

Gene that codes for the same protein, even if the base sequence may be different.

Evolution

Genetic change in a species over time, resulting in the development of genetic and phenotypic differences that are the basis of natural selection; Descent of organisms from a common ancestor.

Extant

Species, or other levels of taxa, that are still living.

Vestigial Structures

Remnant of a structure that was functional in some ancestor but is no longer functional in the organism in question.