Flash Cards: Gene Cloning

Gene cloning is the process of making multiple copies of a specific DNA fragment containing a gene of interest.

A vector is a DNA molecule used to carry foreign genetic material into a host cell to facilitate cloning.

Restriction enzymes, or restriction endonucleases, cut DNA at specific sequences, allowing for the insertion of foreign DNA.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a technique used to amplify specific DNA sequences, making millions of copies for analysis.

A host organism is a living cell that is used to introduce and replicate cloned DNA or recombinant DNA.

DNA ligase is an enzyme that joins DNA fragments by forming phosphodiester bonds, essential for stabilizing recombinant DNA.

Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that can replicate independently and are often used as vectors in gene cloning.

Transformation is the process of introducing foreign DNA into a host cell, resulting in a genetically modified organism.

Challenges include the vast genomic size, low concentration of the target gene, and susceptibility of DNA to physical or chemical degradation.

Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that synthesizes cDNA from an RNA template, crucial for cloning genes expressed as mRNA.

EDTA chelates divalent cations, preventing the action of nucleases that could degrade DNA during extraction.

Sticky ends are short single-stranded overhangs produced by restriction enzyme cuts, allowing DNA fragments to anneal together easily.

Genomic DNA is the complete DNA content of an organism, containing both coding (genes) and non-coding regions.

Gene cloning is used to create genetically modified crops that can resist pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.

Nucleic acids are biopolymers (DNA and RNA) essential for the storage, transmission, and expression of genetic information.

SDS is a detergent used to lyse cell membranes and denature proteins during nucleic acid extraction.

Exonuclease removes nucleotides from the ends of DNA, while endonuclease cuts internal phosphodiester bonds within a DNA strand.

A genome library is a collection of cloned DNA fragments from a particular organism, used for gene identification and research.