Untitled Flashcards Set

Sequencing

The process of determining the order of nucleotides in a DNA fragment.

Autoradiogram

A photographic or digital image showing the distribution of radioactively labeled probes after hybridization.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from RNA.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that may alter protein function.

Protein function

The specific role a protein plays in a biological process.

Monohybrid cross

A genetic cross involving a single trait controlled by one gene with two alleles.

Dihybrid cross

A genetic cross involving two traits, each controlled by different genes.

Dominance

The phenomenon where one allele masks the expression of another allele.

Multiple alleles

The presence of more than two allele variants for a particular gene.

Epistasis

A genetic interaction where one gene's expression is affected by another gene.

Gene expression regulation

The process of controlling the timing and amount of gene expression.

Inheritance of genetic material

The transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

The process of cell division that produces gametes with half the chromosome number.

Recombinant DNA

DNA molecules formed by combining DNA from different sources.

Restriction enzymes

Proteins that cut DNA at specific sequences.

Gel electrophoresis

Technique for separating DNA fragments based on size.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A method used to amplify specific DNA sequences.

Gene cloning

The process of making multiple identical copies of a gene.

Transgenic organism

An organism that contains a gene or genes which have been artificially inserted.

Gene therapy

The introduction of therapeutic genes into a patient's cells to treat disease.

X inactivation

The process by which one of the two X chromosomes in females is inactivated.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that is a controlled process.

Neoplasm

An abnormal growth of tissue or tumor.

Oncogenes

Mutated genes that can promote the development of cancer.

Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that normally inhibit cell division and prevent tumor formation.

Aneuploidy

Abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell.

Clonal evolution

The process by which tumor cells accumulate mutations and evolve.

Immune rejection

The response of the immune system to attack foreign tissues.

Signal transduction pathway

A series of molecular events by which a cell responds to external signals.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels from existing ones.

Telomerase

An enzyme that extends telomeres, allowing cells to divide indefinitely.