Biotechnology

DNA Ligase acts as 'molecular glue' to join DNA fragments by forming phosphodiester bonds.

PCR is a technique used to exponentially amplify specific DNA sequences.

Bt cotton is engineered to express a toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which kills specific insect pests like bollworms.

Plasmids are small, circular, extrachromosomal DNA molecules found in bacteria that are extensively used as vectors to transport foreign genes.

Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size and electrical charge as they migrate through a gel matrix under an electric field.

Golden Rice is genetically engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A, to combat Vitamin A deficiency.

ELISA is a widely used laboratory technique to detect and measure antibodies, antigens, or hormones in a sample.

Recombinant DNA technology involves inserting the human insulin gene into E. coli to produce synthetic human insulin.

A terminator sequence marks the end of a gene and signals the transcription machinery to stop processing.

Sir Alec Jeffreys developed the techniques for DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling.

Totipotency is the ability of a single cell (usually a plant cell) to divide and produce all the differentiated cells in an organism.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is known as nature's genetic engineer because it naturally transfers its Ti-plasmid DNA into plant cells.

DNA Fingerprinting analyzes specific regions of DNA to create a unique profile for individual identification.

Bioreactors provide an optimal environment for microorganisms or cells to grow and produce desired biological products on a large scale.

Hybridoma technology involves fusing antibody-producing B-cells with cancer cells to create hybrid cells that produce monoclonal antibodies.

Reporter genes (like GFP) are attached to regulatory sequences to track where and when a gene is expressed.

Bioremediation uses microorganisms or plants to degrade or detoxify environmental contaminants.

Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteomes, focusing on the structures and functions of proteins.

Taq polymerase is a heat-stable enzyme isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus, essential for the high-temperature cycles in PCR.

Plasmids are small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules distinct from a cell's chromosomal DNA, widely used as vectors to transport foreign genetic material into a host cell.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules.

Ex-situ conservation involves the preservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats, such as seed banks, gene banks, and botanical gardens.

A selectable marker, such as an antibiotic resistance gene, allows scientists to distinguish between host cells that have successfully taken up the recombinant vector and those that have not.

The lag phase is the initial period after inoculation where cells adjust to the culture medium conditions, showing little to no increase in cell number.

Western blotting is an analytical technique used to detect specific proteins in a sample of tissue homogenate or extract, usually involving gel electrophoresis.

Cryopreservation uses liquid nitrogen (-196°C) to suspend biological activity, allowing for the long-term storage of gametes, embryos, and stem cells.

Transfer RNA (tRNA) acts as an adapter molecule because it carries specific amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the mRNA codon sequence.

Protoplast fusion involves the fusion of cells whose walls have been removed, allowing the creation of somatic hybrids that are impossible through traditional breeding.

A genomic library is a collection of the total genomic DNA from a single organism, stored in a population of identical vectors, each containing a different insert of DNA.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is known as nature's genetic engineer because it naturally transfers a portion of its DNA (T-DNA) into the genome of host plants.

Bio-mining (or bio-leaching) utilizes microorganisms to convert insoluble metal sulfides into soluble metal sulfates, making it easier to extract metals like copper and gold.

ESTs are short sub-sequences of a cDNA sequence that are used to identify gene transcripts and are instrumental in gene discovery and mapping.

A good cloning vector should have a single unique restriction site for each restriction enzyme; multiple sites would lead to the vector being fragmented upon digestion.

Somatic embryogenesis is a process in plant tissue culture where somatic cells (non-reproductive cells) are induced to form embryos, which can then develop into new plants.

Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template, a key step in cloning expressed genes.

DNA microarrays allow researchers to monitor the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously by hybridizing labeled mRNA to DNA probes attached to a solid surface.

A point mutation is a genetic mutation where a single nucleotide base is changed, inserted, or deleted from a DNA or RNA sequence.

Chimeric antibodies are antibodies that have been engineered to contain both human and animal protein sequences to minimize the immune response when administered to humans.

Southern blotting is a method used for detection of a specific DNA sequence in DNA samples. Northern blotting is for RNA and Western for proteins.

Sanger sequencing, also known as the 'dideoxy chain termination method', is the classic technique used to determine the exact nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment.

The origin of replication (ori) is the specific DNA sequence where replication is initiated, ensuring the vector and the inserted DNA are copied within the host.

Electroporation uses brief high-voltage electrical pulses to create temporary pores in the cell membrane, allowing DNA molecules to enter the cell.

Flavr Savr tomatoes were genetically modified to suppress the production of polygalacturonase, an enzyme that causes the tomato to soften, thereby increasing shelf life.

Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template, a vital step in gene cloning and expression analysis.

Cosmids are hybrid vectors (combining features of plasmids and bacteriophage lambda) used to clone large segments of DNA (up to 45 kb).

Northern blotting is the laboratory technique used to study gene expression by detecting specific RNA molecules within a mixture of RNA.

Xenotransplantation involves the transplantation of living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another, typically from animals to humans.

A callus is a mass of unorganized, undifferentiated plant cells that develops from an explant (piece of plant tissue) in a culture medium.

Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, such as bacteria or plants, to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site (e.g., soil or water).