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Genetic Engineers Mini-dictionary
Anneal
Joining of complementary nucleotide sequences by
controlled lowering of temperature
Bacteriophage
Virus that attacks bacteria, used as a vehicle fro replicating
DNA inside bacteria
Biotechnology
Manipulation of living organisms or their components to
perform practical tasks
cDNA
DNA produced by copying RNA
Clone
A large number of genetically identical offspring produced by
the copying of an original type
DNA ligase
Enzyme that joins DNA fragments together, catalyses the
formation of Phosphodiester bonds
Explant
A small part removed from a plant and grown in tissue
culture to produce a plant genetically identical to the donor
plant
Process by which multiple copies of a gene are produced in
a bacterium or bacteriophage
Gene cloning
Gene Library
The entire genome of an organism, distributed as DNA
fragments in a large number of bacteriophages or bacteria
Gene Probe
A segment of single-stranded nucleic acid, used to find a
complementary piece of DNA
Genetic
Engineering
Manipulation of genetic material for a purpose
Genetic
Profiling
Technique by which fragments of as DNA in individuals are
compared to establish relationships between them
Genome
Name for all the genes of an organism
GMO
Genetically Modified Organism
In vitro
Inside test tubes, cells etc extracted and grown outside body
In vivo
Inside a living body eg humans, mice
Ligation
Joining DNA fragments by formation of phosphodiester
bonds (between sugars and phosphates in backbone)
Oligonucleotide A chain of up to about 20 nucleotides
Plaque
A small area in a dense population of bacteria resulting from
lysis of bacteria after infection with a bacteriophage
Plasmid
A small circular, independently replicating piece of bacterial
chromosome. Contains genes for resistance to antibiotics
and is us as a carrier for replicating DNA
Polymerase
PCR is a techniques used in which a small piece of DNA
Chain Reaction can be replicated many times
(PCR)
Primer
Oligonucleotide needed to start DNA synthesis
Promoter
Binding site recognised by RNA polymerase, controls
expression of gene
Recombinant
DNA
Artificially combining genes from different organisms
Recombinant
DNA
Produced in vitro splicing DNA from two different sources
Restriction
Enzymes
Enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sites
Reverse
Transcriptase
Enzyme used to make DNA from RNA template
Southern
Blotting
Technique used for transferring DNA fragments from a gel
to a membrane by capillary action prior to use for gene
probing
Having the ability to produce all cell types of the organism
Totipotent
Transformation
Process by which bacteria can take up ‘foreign’ DNA,
promoted by addition of Ca2+ ions
Transgenic
Transplanted from other species
Vector
A virus or bacterium into which DNA is inserted for
replication
VNTR Variable
Number
Terminal
Repeats
Used in DNA profiling