BIOL212 W5-2

Moving a gene from its original source to a smaller, manipulable genetic element (vector).

DNA created from combining DNA fragments from different sources.

A small, self-replicating genetic element that carries and replicates cloned DNA into a host organism.

Enzymes that cut DNA at specific sequences, creating either blunt or sticky ends.

An enzyme that joins/anneals DNA fragments.

A small, circular DNA molecule commonly used as a cloning vector.

The effectiveness of transferring a gene into a host.

Vectors used to control the expression of cloned genes in bacteria.

Regulating gene expression by controlling how much mRNA is made.

Promoters that efficiently initiate mRNA production.

A strong promoter, often used in expression vectors, especially in E. coli.

Enzymes that make mRNA copies of DNA using the T7 promoter.

Expression vectors that use the T7 promoter along with other elements to control specific gene expression

A molecule that triggers the transcription of specific genes, often the lac operon in bacteria.

A sequence in mRNA that signals the ribosome where to bind and begin translation.

Changing the codons (DNA code) of a gene to better match the codon usage of the host organism.

Generating many identical copies of a gene.

Complementary DNA (cDNA) is a DNA copy of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. It's created through reverse transcription, which uses the mRNA as a template to synthesize a complementary DNA strand.

Codon bias refers to the uneven distribution of codons (triplets of nucleotides) that code for the same amino acid in a genome. Different organisms have different codon biases.

A fusion protein is a protein created by joining two or more genes together. It consists of parts from different proteins, linked in a single polypeptide chain.

A reporter gene is a gene that is easily detectable and used to study gene regulation. When fused with another gene's regulatory region, changes in reporter gene expression reveal changes in the other gene's regulation.

The use of living organisms for the production of valuable products.

A human growth hormone that can be used to treat stunted growth. It is a single polypeptide encoded by a single gene and can be produced by genetically engineered microorganisms.

A genetically engineered hormone that stimulates milk production in cows.

An organism that contains a gene (transgene) from another organism.

A common genetic tool used to transfer a gene into plants. Consists of two parts: a cloning vector and a helper plasmid.

Vaccines can be composed of weakened or killed versions of a pathogen, or just specific proteins from the pathogen.

Using purified proteins for vaccines allows for large doses, minimizing risks associated with live or attenuated pathogens. This approach offers a high level of immunogenicity.

Certain bacteria, like Listeria monocytogenes, can be engineered to carry drugs or radioactive substances directly to tumor cells and kill them.

Gene mining involves searching and extracting useful genes from environmental samples, without needing to cultivate the organisms containing them.

CinderBio utilizes hyperstable enzymes for cleaning industrial food processing equipment, offering a more eco-friendly and efficient approach compared to traditional methods.

A device used to deliver foreign DNA into plant cells by firing microscopic particles coated with DNA.

A protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria, toxic to certain insect larvae.

A vaccine created using genetic engineering to modify a pathogen, making it less harmful but still able to trigger an immune response.

A vaccine that uses a harmless carrier virus to deliver genes from a pathogenic virus, inducing immunity against the pathogen.

A vaccine that contains only specific proteins from a pathogen (e.g., coat protein of a virus) that trigger an immune response.

The ability of a plant to survive exposure to herbicides that kill weeds.

A common herbicide that inhibits the synthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants.

The process of directly introducing foreign DNA into cells, often using methods like microprojectile bombardment.

A single vaccine that immunizes against two or more different diseases.

Fuels derived from biological sources, like plants or algae. Common examples include ethanol and biodiesel.

Ethanol is a biofuel produced by fermenting sugars from plant materials, often corn in the US. Yeast converts sugars into ethanol and CO2.

Switchgrass is a potential source of biofuel due to its high cellulose content. However, requires pretreatment to break down into fermentable sugars.

A type of bacteria that can break down cellulose in switchgrass into fermentable sugars, a key step in ethanol production.

Genetically modified bacteria, like Escherichia coli, can convert glucose into fuels like propane and other hydrocarbons.

Microalgae are single-celled organisms that produce oils, which can be converted into biodiesel.

Genetic engineering improves the production of triacylglycerides (TAG), or storage lipids, in microalgae for biodiesel.

A life-threatening disease caused by a parasite (Plasmodium) transmitted through mosquito bites. It is often found in tropical and subtropical regions and can lead to fever, chills, headache, and other symptoms.

The Anopheles mosquito acts as a vector, carrying the Plasmodium parasite and transmitting it to humans through bites.

The Plasmodium parasite undergoes a complex life cycle involving both humans and mosquitoes. This cycle includes various forms, such as sporozoites, merozoites, and gametocytes.

Malaria can be prevented and treated using medications like chloroquine and primaquine. These drugs target different stages of the parasite's life cycle.

The Semi-Synthetic Artemisinin Project aims to engineer microorganisms, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), to efficiently produce artemisinic acid, used to create artemisinin – a powerful antimalarial drug.

A field of science that uses genetic engineering to create new biological systems using basic building blocks like promoters, enhancers, operators, and enzymes.

Standard genetic parts that can be combined and rearranged to design new biological systems.

An international competition where undergraduate teams design and build biological systems using synthetic biology.

Vanillin produced by genetically engineered organisms like E. coli, using glucose as a starting material.

An antimalarial drug naturally produced by the sweet wormwood plant, but difficult to synthesize chemically.

Synthetic artemisinin allows for large-scale production of the drug, making it more accessible to treat malaria.

The protist parasite responsible for causing malaria.

Synthetic biology can be used to create novel pharmaceuticals, like artemisinin, to treat diseases.

Synthetic biology has applications in creating new food products, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels.

A prokaryotic immune system that defends against viral infections and maintains genome stability.

Segments of foreign DNA (from past invaders) that are stored within a CRISPR locus, enabling the bacteria to recognize and destroy similar invaders.

A type of RNA molecule, generated from the CRISPR locus, that guides the Cas proteins to target and destroy invading nucleic acids.

A set of proteins associated with the CRISPR locus, which have various functions including cleaving crRNA and targeting invading DNA.

A 'Trans-activating crRNA,' a type of RNA molecule that helps in the processing and activation of crRNA.

CRISPR uses spacer sequences within its locus to remember past invaders. It then transcribes a long RNA molecule that is processed into crRNAs, which guide Cas proteins to target and destroy any invading DNA that matches the stored spacer sequences.

A gene-editing technology using a guide RNA (sgRNA) to precisely target and cut DNA sequences. Cas9, a protein, acts like molecular scissors.

Insertions or deletions of DNA sequences. CRISPR-Cas9 can cause indels, leading to gene mutations.

A natural process used by cells to repair DNA breaks. CRISPR can be used to direct homologous recombination, inserting new DNA sequences.

A short DNA sequence that's needed for Cas9 to recognize the target DNA. It's usually located near the cutting site.

Using tools like CRISPR-Cas9 to change the DNA sequence of an organism. This can be used to correct genetic defects, create new traits, or study gene function.

CRISPR-Cas9 technology has numerous applications, including gene therapy, disease modeling, agriculture, and synthetic biology.

The use of CRISPR-Cas9 has raised ethical concerns about unintended consequences, potential misuse, and the ethical implications of altering human genes.

Scientists who made significant contributions to understanding the CRISPR-Cas9 system, earning them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.

Researchers who were among the first to demonstrate CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in human cells.