q Agrobacterium -
a natural bacterium that can be used to transfer DNA
genes into broadleaf plants, such as tobacco, tomato, or soybean.
q Chromosome -
a cellular structure comprised of a long, folded DNA
molecule and protein.
q DNA -
deoxyribonucleic acid, the substance within cells
that carries the "recipe" for the organism and is inherited by
offspring from parents.
q DNA
fingerprinting -
cutting a DNA chromosome with restriction enzymes
and separating the pieces by electrophoresis to generate a unique pattern,
the "fingerprint" for each species, breed, hybrid, or individual,
depending on which enzymes and probes are use d.
q Electrophoresis -
a lab technique for determining DNA fragment sizes
by separating them in a gel placed in an electric field.
q Electroporation -
using an electric shock to transfer DNA into the
cells of an organism; one of several procedures called transformation.
q Gene -
a functional unit of DNA, one "word" in
the DNA recipe.
q Genetic code -
the information contained in DNA molecules that
scientists describe on the basis of a 4-letter alphabet (A, C, G, and T).
q Genetic
engineering -
the process of transferring DNA from one organism
into another that results in a genetic modification; the production of a
transgenic organism.
q Genetic map -
the locations of specific genes along a chromosome
marked with probes.
q Genome -
the entire DNA "recipe" for an organism,
found in every cell of that organism.
q Mutation -
a change of one of the "letters" in the
DNA "recipe" caused by chemicals, ultraviolet light, X-rays, or
natural processes.
q Particle gun -
a gun that shoots DNA into the cells of an organism;
the most versatile of a series of procedures called transformation.
q PCR -
polymerase chain reaction, which rapidly duplicates
specific DNA molecules in response to temperature changes in a
computer-controlled heater.
q Plasmid -
a small, circular DNA that is used to transfer genes
from one organism into another.
q Probe -
a very short piece of DNA used to find a specific
sequence of "letters" in a very long piece of DNA from a chromosome
or genome.
q Recombinant DNA -
DNA formed by joining pieces of DNA from two or more
organisms.
q RFLP -
restriction fragment length polymorphism, which
describes the patterns of different (polymorphism) sizes of DNA (fragment
length) that result from cutting with restriction enzymes (restriction). See DNA
fingerprinting above.
Sequence - the order of "letters" in the DNA "recipe."
The DNA sequence is the chemical structure that contains information.
q Transformation -
a procedure to transfer DNA into the cells of an
organism. Can be done with Agrobacterium (most dicots), calcium chloride
(bacteria), electroporation (any organism), or the particle gun (any
organism).
q Transgenic -
an organism that has been modified by genetic
engineering to contain DNA from an external source.
q Vector -
any DNA structure that is used to transfer DNA into
an organism; most commonly used are plasmid DNA vectors or viruses.
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