AP Bio: Biotechnology

Coupled Transcription and Translation

In prokaryotes, the simultaneous occurrence of transcription and translation in the cytoplasm.

Operon

A cluster of genes controlled by a single promoter that are regulated together.

Inducers

Molecules that activate gene transcription by disabling repressors.

Repressors

Proteins that bind to operator regions to prevent transcription.

Lac Operon Regulation

Regulation of the lac operon based on glucose availability and cAMP levels.

Catabolite Repression

Low transcription of genes due to the presence of glucose.

Constitutive Expression

Constant gene expression due to mutations in the operator sequence.

Attenuation

A regulatory mechanism using leader peptide sequences that halts transcription based on tryptophan availability.

Epigenetics

Changes in gene expression regulation via DNA methylation and histone modifications.

General Transcription Factors

Proteins that assist RNA polymerase in transcribing genes.

Enhancers

DNA sequences that increase the efficiency of transcription.

RNA Interference

A biological process where microRNA and siRNA inhibit gene expression.

Gel Electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA fragments by size.

Restriction Enzymes

Enzymes that cut DNA at specific sequences for genetic modification.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A method for amplifying DNA sequences for analysis.

Transformation

The introduction of foreign DNA into bacteria.

Lytic Cycle

A viral life cycle characterized by immediate replication and destruction of host cells.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Conditions under which allele frequencies remain constant in a population.

Selective Pressures

Environmental factors that drive evolution.

Speciation

The process by which new species arise through reproductive isolation.

Miller-Urey Experiment

An experiment that simulated early Earth conditions to show that organic molecules could form.

RNA World Hypothesis

The theory that RNA was the first genetic material.