Biotechnology I: Analysis of DNA

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on DNA technology and biotechnology.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Phosphate Backbone

The structural framework of DNA formed by alternating phosphate groups and sugar molecules.

DNA polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes new strands of DNA by adding nucleotides to a growing chain.

Recombinant DNA

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

Gene therapy

A technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease by inserting a gene into a patient's cells.

Mutagenic primers

Primers designed to create specific mutations in the DNA during the PCR process.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A method used to amplify a specific DNA segment, producing millions of copies of that segment.

Reverse Transcriptase

An enzyme that converts RNA into DNA, often used in the process of creating cDNA from mRNA.

cDNA

Complementary DNA synthesized from an RNA template via reverse transcription; lacks introns.

Gel electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA fragments by size through a gel matrix under an electric field.

Restriction enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sequences, used in molecular cloning and genetic modification.

Vector

A DNA molecule used to deliver genetic material into a host cell, often a plasmid or virus.

Site-directed mutagenesis

A molecular biology method used to make specific and intentional changes to the DNA sequence of a gene.

Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)

A technique used to quantify RNA levels in a sample, providing insights into gene expression.

DNA ligase

An enzyme that joins two DNA strands together by forming a covalent bond between the sugar-phosphate backbones.

Antibiotic resistance gene

A gene that provides resistance to antibiotics, allowing for selection of genetically modified organisms.

Genome

The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

Sticky ends

Single-stranded overhangs produced by some restriction enzymes, allowing for the easy joining of different DNA fragments.

Gene cloning

The process of making copies of a particular gene or segment of DNA.

Amplification

The process of making multiple copies of a specific DNA segment using PCR.