BMSC 240 Laboratory Techniques Lecture 20: Module 9

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the BMSC 240 Laboratory Techniques lecture, focusing on cutting, cloning, and isolating DNA.

Vector

A plasmid or virus used to introduce foreign DNA into a host cell.

Restriction Enzymes

Enzymes that cut DNA at specific sequences, used in molecular cloning and DNA manipulation.

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

A technique to separate DNA fragments based on size through a gel matrix, using an electric field.

Ethidium Bromide

A nucleic acid stain that intercalates between base pairs of DNA, allowing visualization of DNA under UV light as orange bands.

Palindromic Sequence

A sequence of DNA that reads the same forward and backward, often recognized by restriction enzymes.

Ligation

The process of joining two DNA fragments together, typically using the enzyme ligase.

Transformation

The process of introducing foreign DNA into a bacterial cell to produce a genetically modified organism.

Miniprep

A procedure to extract plasmid DNA from bacterial culture, resulting in a purified plasmid suitable for further analysis.

Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)

A technique used to separate large DNA fragments by periodically changing the direction of the electric field.

Colony Screening

A method to identify bacteria that carry recombinant plasmids, often using antibiotic resistance and colorimetric indicators.

Gel Matrix

A semi-solid medium, typically made of agarose, used in gel electrophoresis to restrict and separate DNA fragments.

R/M System

Restriction/Modification system used by bacteria to differentiate between self and foreign DNA.

DNA Ladder

A mixture of known DNA fragment sizes used as a standard for estimating the size of unknown DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis.

Star Activity

A phenomenon where restriction enzymes lose specificity and cut at non-specific sites under suboptimal conditions.

Insert Differentiation

Identification of cells carrying a plasmid with an inserted DNA versus those with an empty plasmid.

Bacterial Fingerprinting

A technique used to identify and compare DNA patterns or strains for epidemiological studies.

pulse net

A surveillance system that monitors foodborne illnesses by using DNA fingerprinting techniques to track outbreaks.