Biotechnology

bacterial transformation

ability of bacteria to alter their genetic makeup by uptaking foreign DNA from another bacterial cell and incorporating it into their own

binary fission

A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size

cell differentiation

the process by which a cell becomes specialized for a specific structure or function.

clone

An organism that is genetically identical to the organism from which it was produced

DNA fingerprint

Unique sequence of DNA base pairs that can be used to identify a person at the molecular level

gel electrophoresis

Procedure used to separate and analyze DNA fragments by placing a mixture of DNA fragments at one end of a porous gel and applying an electrical voltage to the gel

gene therapy

a technique that places a gene into a cell to correct a hereditary disease or to improve the genome

genetic engineering

A technology that includes the process of manipulating or altering the genetic material of a cell resulting in desirable functions or outcomes that would not occur naturally.

GMO (genetically modified organism)

Organism that contains functional recombinant DNA from different organism

Human Genome Project

An international collaborative effort to map and sequence the DNA of the entire human genome.

Phloem

the vascular tissue in plants that conducts sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.

polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A method of producing thousands of copies of DNA segment using the enzyme DNA polymerase

Recombinant DNA

DNA produced by combining DNA from different sources

restriction enzymes

Enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides

Transgenic Organism (GMO)

genetically modified organism; any organism that contains genes from other organisms; ex. glow in the dark mouse

Vector

a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell, where it can be replicated and/or expressed

Xylem

vascular tissue that carries water upward from the roots to every part of a plant