| Term | Definition |
|---|
| recombinant DNA | fragment of DNA composed of sequences originating from at least two different sources |
| restriction endonulceases | enzymes that are able to cleave double-stranded DNA into fragments at specific sequences; also known as restriction enzymes |
| recognition site | a specific sequence within double-stranded DNA, usually palindromic and consisting of four to eight nucleotides, that a restriction endonuclease recognizes and cleaves |
| sticky ends | fragment end of a DNA molecule with short single-stranded overhangs, resulting from cleavage by a restriction enzyme |
| blunt ends | fragment ends of DNA molecule that are fully base paired, resulting from cleavage by a restriction enzyme |
| methylases | enzymes that add a methyl group to one of the nucleotides found in a restriction endonuclease recognition site, altering its chemical composition |
| DNA ligase | an enzyme used to join together DNA blunt or sticky ends |
| gel electrophoresis | separation of charged molecules on the basis of size by sorting through a gel meshwork |
| plasmids | small circular pieces of DNA that can exit and enter bacterial cells |
| multiple-cloning site | region in plasmid that has been engineered to contain recognition sites of a number of restriction endonucleases |
| cloned | a fragment of DNA that has been introduced into a foreign cell resulting in exact copies of the original DNA fragment being made when the foreign cell replicates and divides |
| transformation | introduction of foreign DNA, usually by a plasmid or virus, into a bacterial cell |
| vectors | vehicles by which DNA may be introduced into a host cell |
| host cell | a cell that has taken up a foreign plasmid or virus and whose cellular machinery is being used to express the foreign DNA |
| competent cell | a cell that readily takes up foreign DNA |
| genetic engineering | altering the sequence of DNA molecules |
| somatropin | a drug identical to human growth hormone (somatotropin) used to treat grwoth deficiency |
| polymerase chain reaction | amplification of DNA sequence by repeated cycles if strand separation and replication |
| DNA primers | short sequences of DNA nucleotides that are complementary to the opposing 3' to 5' ends of the DNA target sequence that is to be replicated |
| taq polymerase | DNA polymerase, extracted from thermus aquaticus, that is able to withstand high temperatures |
| polymorphism | any difference in DNA sequence, coding or non-coding, that can be detected between individuals |
| RFLP | a technique in which DNA regions are digested using restriction endonucleases and subjected to radioactive complementary DNA probes to compare the differences in DNA fragment lengths between individuals |
| autoradiogram | gel pattern imprinted on X-ray film by radioactive probes |
| sanger dideoxy method | DNA sequencing technique based on DNA replication that uses dideoxy nucleoside triphosphates |
| dideoxy analogue | nucleoside triphosphate whoe ribose sugar does not possess a hydroxyl group on the 2' and the 3' carbon |
| genetic screening | process by which an individual's DNA is scanned for genetic mutations |
| gene therapy | the alteration of genetic sequence in an organism to prevent or treat a genetic disorder |
| transgenic | organism in which foreign DNA has been artificially incorporated into its genome |
| DNA fingerprinting | pattern of bands on a gel, originating from RFLP analysis or PCR, that is unique to each individual |
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