Transgenes and Gene Targeting in Mice

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to transgenes, gene targeting in mice, and sickle cell disease.

Sickle Cell Disease

A human blood disorder caused by a mutation in the β-globin gene, leading to sickle-shaped red blood cells.

Transgenic Mice

Mice that have been genetically modified to carry genes from other species.

Knockout Mice

Mice that have had specific genes intentionally disrupted or deleted.

Heterozygous

An organism that has two different alleles for a particular gene, in this case, one normal allele and one sickle cell allele.

β-globin

A subunit of hemoglobin; mutation in this gene causes sickle cell disease.

Glutamine to Valine Mutation

The specific amino acid change in β-globin that leads to the sickle cell phenotype.

Pseudogene

A gene that resembles a functional gene but does not produce a functional protein.

Malaria Resistance

The survival advantage in heterozygous individuals carrying the sickle cell trait, which provides resistance to malaria.

Gene Targeting

A method used to modify specific genes in the genome, often involving the deletion of a gene.

Transgene

A gene that has been transferred from one organism to another by any of a number of genetic engineering techniques.

Aggregated Fibers

Structures formed by HbS molecules in deoxygenated state, leading to distorted red blood cells.

Autosomal Recessive Disorder

A genetic condition where two copies of an abnormal gene must be present for the disease to develop.

Developmentally Regulated

A term describing genes whose expression is controlled by developmental stage.

Gene Duplication

A process by which a region of DNA is duplicated, leading to multiple copies of a gene.

Hemoglobin A

The normal form of hemoglobin found in healthy individuals.

Transgenic Offspring

Progeny of transgenic animals that inherit the introduced transgene.

Endogenous Genes

Genes that originate from the organism's own genome, as opposed to introduced genes.