Biology Vocabulary Flashcards

Selective Breeding

• Selective breeding involves mating organisms with desirable traits to enhance those characteristics in future generations.

Hybridization

• Hybridization creates offspring that inherit beneficial traits from two different parent organisms, aiming for optimal characteristics.

Inbreeding

• Inbreeding refers to the mating of similar organisms, which can amplify certain traits but also increase the risk of genetic disorders.

Biotechnology

• Biotechnology applies technological techniques to manipulate living organisms and biological systems for various applications in fields such as medicine and agriculture.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

• PCR is a powerful technique for amplifying specific DNA segments, allowing scientists to obtain numerous copies from a small initial sample.

Recombinant DNA

• Recombinant DNA technology combines genetic material from different sources, enabling researchers to produce organisms with new traits.

Plasmid

• Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules found in many bacteria, used in biotechnology for gene cloning and manipulation.

Transgenic

• Transgenic organisms possess genes from different species, created through genetic engineering to introduce new traits or improve existing ones.

Clone

• A clone is a genetically identical entity produced from a single parent cell, often used in research and agriculture for replicating desirable traits.

Gene Therapy

• Gene therapy is a medical approach that alters genes to treat or prevent diseases, often replacing faulty genes with functional ones.

DNA Microarray

• DNA microarrays consist of thousands of DNA fragments arranged on a chip, facilitating the measurement of gene expression across many genes simultaneously.

DNA Fingerprinting

• DNA fingerprinting analyzes unique patterns in an individual's DNA, serving as a critical tool for identifying genetic relationships and forensic investigations.

Forensics

• Forensics encompasses the scientific examination of crime scene evidence, applying biological techniques to solve legal cases and establish facts.

This quiz contains flashcards focusing on key terms in biology related to breeding techniques and biotechnology. Each card includes a word and its definition, providing a clear understanding of concepts such as selective breeding, hybridization, inbreeding, and biotechnology. Test your knowledge and enhance your vocabulary in the field of biology!