Studying the Human Genome

Front

Genome Noun

---

[jee-nohm]

Back

Genome

---

The complete set of genetic information in an organism, containing all of the DNA found within a single cell.

---

Example: This diagram shows how an organism's complete set of DNA, its genome, is organized from a cell down to the DNA molecule.

Front

Restriction Enzyme Noun

---

[ri-strik-shuhn en-zahym]

Back

Restriction Enzyme

---

A protein produced by bacteria that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides, acting like molecular scissors.

---

Example: A restriction enzyme acts like molecular scissors, cutting a DNA strand at a specific recognition sequence to create fragments with 'sticky ends'.

Front

Bacteriophage Noun

---

[bak-teer-ee-oh-feyj]

Back

Bacteriophage

---

A type of virus that specifically infects and replicates within bacteria, often used in genetic engineering research.

---

Example: This diagram shows the structure of a bacteriophage, a type of virus that infects bacteria and is used as a tool in genetic research.

Front

Sticky Ends Noun

---

[stik-ee endz]

Back

Sticky Ends

---

The single-stranded overhangs of DNA left after being cut by a restriction enzyme, able to bond with complementary fragments.

---

Example: A restriction enzyme cuts a target gene and a plasmid, creating matching, single-stranded overhangs of DNA called 'sticky ends' that allow them to join together.

Front

Gel Electrophoresis Noun

---

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

Back

Gel Electrophoresis

---

A laboratory technique used to separate DNA fragments based on their size by moving them through a gel using electricity.

---

Example: An electric current pulls DNA or RNA fragments through a gel, separating them by size; smaller fragments move farther and faster than larger ones.

Front

DNA Polymerase Noun

---

[dee-en-ey pol-uh-muh-reys]

Back

DNA Polymerase

---

An essential enzyme that synthesizes new strands of DNA by using an existing strand as a template during replication.

---

Example: This diagram shows the enzyme DNA polymerase moving along an old DNA strand to build a new, complementary strand by adding matching nucleotide bases.

Front

Nucleotide Noun

---

[noo-klee-uh-tahyd]

Back

Nucleotide

---

The basic structural unit of nucleic acids like DNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

---

Example: This diagram shows that a nucleotide is made of three parts: a phosphate molecule, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base (like adenine).

Front

DNA Sequencing Noun

---

[dee-en-ey see-kwuhn-sing]

Back

DNA Sequencing

---

The process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule to read its genetic code.

---

Example: This diagram shows the result of DNA sequencing, where a machine reads the order of DNA bases (A, T, C, G) by detecting different colored signals for each base.

Front

Shotgun Sequencing Noun

---

[shot-guhn see-kwuhn-sing]

Back

Shotgun Sequencing

---

A method for sequencing long DNA strands by breaking them into random fragments and reassembling the sequence with a computer.

---

Example: This diagram shows how a large DNA molecule is broken into small, random pieces, which are then sequenced and reassembled by finding their overlapping ends.

Front

Transcription Factor Noun

---

[trans-krip-shuhn fak-ter]

Back

Transcription Factor

---

A protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the rate of transcription of genetic information to messenger RNA.

---

Example: This diagram shows a transcription factor (an activator) binding to a specific site on DNA, which helps start the process of transcribing a gene.