| biotechnology |
The
use of microbes or their products in the commercial or industrial realm |
| clones |
A colony of cells (or
group of organisms) derived from a single cell (or single organism) by asexual
reproduction. All units share identical characteristics. Also used as a verb to refer to
the process of producing a genetically identical population of cells or genes |
| cloning host |
An
organism such as a bacterium or a yeast that receives and replicates a foreign piece of
DNA inserted during a genetic engineering experiment. |
| gene therapy |
The introduction of
normal functional genes into people with genetic diseases such as sickle-cell anemia and
cystic fibrosis. This is usually accomplished by a virus vector. |
| genetic
engineering |
A
field involving deliberate alterations (recombinations) of the genomes of microbes,
plants, and animals through special technological processes |
| hybridize |
A process that matches
complementary strands of nucleic acid (DNA-DNA, RNA-DNA, RNA-RNA). Used for locating
specific sites or types of nucleic acids. |
| plasmid |
Extrachromosomal
genetic units characterized by several features. A plasmid is a circular, double-stranded
DNA that is smaller than and replicates independently of the cell chromosome; it bears
genes that are not essential for cell growth; it can bear genes that code for adaptive
traits; and it is transmissible to other bacteria |
| polymerase chain reaction |
(PCR) A technique that
amplifies segments of DNA for testing. Using denaturation, primers, and heat-resistant DNA
polymerase, the number can be increased several million-fold. |
| recombinant DNA
technology |
A
technology, also known as genetic engineering, that deliberately modifies the genetic
structure of an organism to create novel products, microbes, animals, plants, and viruses. |
| restriction endonuclease |
An enzyme present
naturally in cells that cleaves specific locations on DNA. it is an important means of
inactivating viral genomes, and it is also used to splice genes in genetic engineering. |
| reverse
transcriptase |
The
enzyme possessed by retroviruses that carries out the reversion of RNA to DNA –
a form of reverse transcription. |
| transformation |
In microbial genetics,
the transfer of genetic material contained in "naked" DNA fragments from a donor
cell to a competent recipient cell. |
| transgenic
technology |
Introduction
of foreign DNA into cells or organisms. Used in genetic engineering to create recombinant
plants, animals, and microbes. |
| translation |
Protein synthesis; the
process of decoding the messenger RNA code into a polypeptide |
| vector |
An
animal that transmits infectious agents from one host to another, usually a biting or
piercing arthropod like the tick, mosquito, or fly. Infectious agents can be conveyed
mechanically by simple contact or biologically whereby the parasite develops in the vector |
