What is biotechnology?
The use of living cells or their derivatives to make or modify materials and processes useful to people
What do restriction enzymes do?
Make cuts in double-stranded DNA, creating fragments of various lengths
How can DNA fragments be separated by size?
Gel electrophoresis
How is recombinant DNA made?
DNA fragments from different sources are joined by DNA ligase
What are commonly used as hosts for recombinant DNA?
Bacteria, yeasts, and cultured plant and animal cells
What is transformation?
Insertion of foreign DNA into host cells
What is transfection?
Insertion of foreign DNA into animal host cells
What are some methods used to get recombinant DNA into cells?
Chemical and physical treatments for plasmids and use of viral vectors
What are selectable markers used for?
To select for host cells that have taken up a foreign gene
What are reporter genes and what is one type?
Genetic markers with easily identifiable phenotypes; selectable markers
How is a genomic library made?
DNA fragments from a genome can be inserted into host cells
How are genes knocked out?
Homologous recombination
What are two gene silencing techniques used to prevent translation?
miRNA and siRNA
What is the function of expression vectors?
Allow transgenes to be expressed int ohostcells
What is pharming?
Use of transgenic plants or animals to produce pharmaceuticals