DNA fingerprint
Unique sequence of DNA base pairs that can be used to identify a person at the molecular level
gel electrophoresis
Procedure used to separate and analyze DNA fragments by placing a mixture of DNA fragments at one end of a porous gel and applying an electrical voltage to the gel
restriction enzymes
Enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides
genetic engineering
Process of making changes in the DNA code of living organisms
bacterial transformation
ability of bacteria to alter their genetic makeup by uptaking foreign DNA from another bacterial cell and incorporating it into their own
Transgenic Organism (GMO)
genetically modified organism; any organism that contains genes from other organisms; ex. glow in the dark mouse
Recombinant DNA
DNA produced by combining DNA from different sources
Plasmid
A small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of the bacterial chromosome
Vector
A quantity that has magnitude and direction
Human Genome Project
An international collaborative effort to map and sequence the DNA of the entire human genome.
genetic screening
process of testing DNA to determine the chance a person has, or might pass on, a genetic disorder
gene therapy
The insertion of working copies of a gene into the cells of a person with a genetic disorder in an attempt to correct the disorder
stem cells
unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division