The manipulation of living organisms or their components to achieve specific practical goals.
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Genetic Engineering
Alteration of genomes for medical or industrial processes.
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GMO
An organism that has been produced through genetic engineering.
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DNA Fingerprinting
Use of restriction enzymes to cut DNA into unique sequences that can be used to compare individuals with the use of electrophoresis.
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DNA Extraction
The process of obtaining DNA from a living organism for analysis.
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
Method used to amplify the amount of DNA.
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Gel electrophoresis
Method in which DNA fragments are separated by size by placing samples in a gelatinous material exposed to electric current.
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Restriction enzyme
An enzyme that cuts double stranded DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence.
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The International Consortium
Labs in different countries that are supported by public funds.
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Celera Genomics
A private company
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Genetic Map
Type of map that shows location of genes along chromosomes.
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Contact Inhibition
When cells come into contact with neighboring cells, they stop dividing.
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Proto-oncogenes
Genes that encode for proteins that promote cell cycle and prevent apoptosis.
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Tumor-Suppressor Genes
Encode for proteins that inhibit the cell cycle and promote apoptosis.
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Carcinogens
Environmental agents that are mutagenic.
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Tumor Marker Tests
Blood tests for antigens or antibodies created by body to fight tumor.
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Genetic Tests
Test for mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
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Chemotherapy
Use of chemicals that interfere with DNA synthesis to destroy cancer cells that have spread throughout the body.
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Radiation Therapy
Powerful rays administered to specific areas to destory cells.
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Mutation
Permanent genetic change.
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Gene Mutation
Random change in the sequences of bases within a gene.
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Chromosomal Mutation
Change in chromosome structure that can be detected microscopically.
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Frameshift Mutation
A type of mutation that occurs when one or more nucleotides are inserted or deleted from DNA.
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Point Mutation
A type of mutation that occurs when one nucleotide is substituted for another.
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Cloning
Production of identical copies of a gene or organism through asexual means.
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Vector
A means of transferring something into an organism.
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Plasmid
Small accessory ring of DNA from bacterium that is not a part of the bacterium chromosome and is capable of replicating on its own.
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Transgenic Organisms
Free living organism that has foreign genes in its cells.
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Transgenic Plants
Plants that have been engineered to secrete a toxic that kills insects and to be resistant to herbicides.
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Transgenic Animals
Fish, cows, pigs, rabbits, and sheep have been engineered to produce growth hormone in order to increase the size of the animals.
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Animal Pharming
The process of making transgenic animals to produce pharmaceuticals.
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Gene Therapy
Insertion of genetic material into human cells for treatment of a disorder.
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Ex vivo gene therapy
A type of gene therapy in which cells are removed from the patient to be treated outside the body and returned to the patient.
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In vivo gene therapy
A type of gene therapy in which a patient is given a foreign gene directly and this gene is incorporated into the genome within the body.
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Reproductive Cloning
Type of cloning in which desired end is an individual organism.
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Therapeutic Cloning
Type of cloning in which desired end is a specific cell type.
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Silent Mutation
A type of point mutation in which there is no change in the sequence of amino acids.
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Nonsense Mutation
A type of point mutation in which the mutation creates a stop codon.
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Missense Codon
A type of point mutation in which the mutation changes the amino acid.
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Mutagens
Environmental factors such as UV, x-rays, and chemicals which can cause mutations.
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Angiogenesis
A process which describes how as a tumor grows, it produces growth factors to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to cancerous cells
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Cancerous Cells
Cells that invade the underlying tissue.
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Metastatic Tumor
Cancer cells that are motile and start tumors in new locations.
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Malignant Tumor
When cells of a tumor have the ability to spread away from the original site through vessels
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Benign Tumor
tumor that is composed of noncancerous cells that stays a single mass
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Stem Cells
Any cells that can divide and differentiate into more functionally specific cell types such as nerves, blood, or muscle
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p53
A gene that normally prevents cell division if there is damage to the DNA. If p53 mutates, the cells may continue to divide indefinitely
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Human Genome Project
Effort began in 1990 to construct base sequence map/genetic map of each chromosome.