The Process of Genetic Engineering

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Polymerase Chain Reaction Noun

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[pol-uh-mer-eys cheyn ree-ak-shuhn]

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Polymerase Chain Reaction

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A laboratory technique used to rapidly make millions to billions of copies of a specific segment of DNA.

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Example: This diagram shows the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) process, where a DNA strand is repeatedly copied through three steps: denaturation, annealing, and extension.

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Recombinant DNA Noun

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[ree-kom-buh-nuhnt dee-en-ey]

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Recombinant DNA

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Artificially created DNA molecules formed by combining genetic material from different sources to create a new genetic sequence.

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Example: A target gene (like the one for insulin) is cut and pasted into a bacterial plasmid, creating a new combined DNA molecule called recombinant DNA.

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Plasmid Noun

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[plaz-mid]

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Plasmid

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A small, circular DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently.

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Example: This diagram shows that plasmids are small, circular pieces of DNA found inside a bacterium, separate from the main, larger chromosomal DNA.

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Genetic Marker Noun

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[juh-net-ik mar-ker]

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Genetic Marker

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A specific gene or DNA sequence with a known location used to identify cells that have undergone genetic transformation.

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Example: This diagram shows how a genetic marker, like the GFP gene, is read to create a protein that glows, visually 'marking' a cell that has been genetically engineered.

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Transgenic Adjective

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[tranz-jen-ik]

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Transgenic

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Describing an organism that contains genetic material into which DNA from an unrelated organism has been artificially introduced.

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Example: This diagram shows how a transgenic organism is made by injecting foreign DNA into a fertilized egg, which then develops into an animal with the new gene.

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Clone Noun

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[klohn]

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Clone

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A population of genetically identical cells, or a whole organism, produced asexually from a single ancestor or parent.

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Example: Dolly the lamb is a clone because she is a genetic copy of the Finn Dorset sheep, not the Scottish Blackface sheep that gave birth to her.

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Restriction Enzyme Noun

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[ri-strik-shuhn en-zahym]

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Restriction Enzyme

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An enzyme produced by certain bacteria that cleaves DNA molecules at or near a specific sequence of bases.

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Example: A restriction enzyme, like a pair of molecular scissors, recognizes a specific sequence on a DNA strand and cuts it at that precise location.

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Gel Electrophoresis Noun

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[jel uh-lek-troh-fuh-ree-sis]

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Gel Electrophoresis

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A laboratory method used to separate mixtures of DNA, RNA, or proteins according to their molecular size and charge.

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Example: An electric current pulls negatively charged DNA through a gel, separating the fragments by size. Shorter DNA pieces move faster and farther than longer ones.

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Primer Noun

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[prahy-mer]

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Primer

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A short, single-stranded nucleic acid sequence that serves as the starting point for DNA synthesis in the PCR process.

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Example: A primer is a short nucleic acid strand that provides a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin synthesizing a new strand of DNA.

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DNA Ligase Noun

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[dee-en-ey lahy-geys]

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DNA Ligase

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A specific type of enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA strands together by forming a new chemical bond.

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Example: This image shows how a new piece of DNA (insert) is joined to an existing DNA strand (backbone) at their 'sticky ends' to create recombinant DNA.