Glossary
Bioethics
The study of the ethical implications and moral questions arising from advances in biology and medicine, especially in biotechnology.
Example:
Discussions around the use of gene editing in human embryos fall under the complex field of bioethics.
Biotechnology
The application of cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that improve human lives and the health of the planet.
Example:
Modern medicine uses biotechnology to produce insulin for diabetics, leveraging genetically modified bacteria.
CRISPR-Cas9
A revolutionary gene editing technology that allows scientists to make precise, targeted changes to an organism's genome.
Example:
Researchers are using CRISPR-Cas9 to investigate potential cures for genetic disorders by correcting specific DNA errors.
DNA Sequencing
The process of determining the precise order of nucleotides (A, T, C, G) within a DNA molecule.
Example:
Understanding the genetic basis of a disease often begins with DNA sequencing to identify specific mutations.
Gel Electrophoresis
A laboratory technique used to separate DNA fragments, RNA molecules, or proteins by size and charge as they migrate through a gel matrix in an electric field.
Example:
Forensic scientists use gel electrophoresis to create DNA fingerprints, comparing crime scene DNA to suspect samples.
Gene Therapy
A medical approach that involves introducing, removing, or changing genetic material in a patient's cells to treat or prevent disease.
Example:
Clinical trials for gene therapy are exploring ways to correct the faulty gene responsible for cystic fibrosis.
Genetic Engineering
The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology techniques.
Example:
Scientists used genetic engineering to create 'golden rice,' which produces beta-carotene to combat Vitamin A deficiency.
Plasmids
Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria, separate from the main bacterial chromosome, often carrying genes for antibiotic resistance.
Example:
In gene cloning, a desired gene is often inserted into a bacterial plasmid to be replicated and expressed.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
A laboratory technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA, creating millions of copies from a very small initial sample.
Example:
Even a tiny drop of blood from a crime scene can yield enough DNA for analysis thanks to Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
DNA molecules created in the laboratory by combining genetic material from multiple sources, forming sequences not naturally found together.
Example:
To produce human growth hormone, scientists insert the human gene into a bacterial plasmid, creating recombinant DNA.
Restriction Enzymes
Enzymes that recognize and cut DNA molecules at specific nucleotide sequences, often leaving 'sticky ends'.
Example:
A molecular biologist might use restriction enzymes to precisely excise a gene of interest from a larger DNA strand.
Transformation
The process by which foreign DNA is introduced into a bacterial or eukaryotic cell, often leading to a change in the cell's genetic makeup.
Example:
In a lab experiment, bacteria undergo transformation when they take up a plasmid containing a gene for antibiotic resistance, allowing them to survive on selective media.
Vectors
Vehicles, such as plasmids or viruses, used to carry foreign genetic material into another cell for replication or expression.
Example:
Adenoviruses are commonly engineered as vectors in gene therapy to deliver therapeutic genes into human cells.