Genetic Engineering Cheat Sheet
The core ideas of Genetic Engineering distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.
Quick Reference
CRISPR-Cas9
A revolutionary genome-editing tool adapted from a bacterial immune defense system. It uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 nuclease to a specific DNA sequence, where it creates a double-strand break that can be repaired to delete, replace, or insert genetic material.
Recombinant DNA Technology
The set of techniques used to combine DNA molecules from two or more different sources into a single molecule, typically by inserting a gene of interest into a vector such as a plasmid. The recombinant molecule can then be introduced into a host organism for replication or expression.
Gene Therapy
A medical approach that treats or prevents disease by introducing, altering, or replacing genetic material within a patient's cells. It can be performed ex vivo (cells removed, modified, and returned) or in vivo (genetic material delivered directly into the body).
Plasmid Vectors
Small, circular DNA molecules found naturally in bacteria that can replicate independently of chromosomal DNA. In genetic engineering, plasmids are modified to carry foreign genes, selectable markers, and regulatory elements, serving as vehicles to introduce recombinant DNA into host cells.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques in ways that do not occur naturally through mating or natural recombination. GMOs include transgenic plants, animals, and microorganisms engineered for agriculture, medicine, or research.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
A technique that amplifies a specific segment of DNA by millions of copies through repeated cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension using a thermostable DNA polymerase. PCR is essential for cloning, diagnostics, forensics, and gene analysis.
Restriction Enzymes
Naturally occurring bacterial enzymes that recognize and cleave DNA at specific short nucleotide sequences called restriction sites. They are fundamental tools for cutting DNA at predictable locations, enabling the construction of recombinant DNA molecules.
Gene Drive
A genetic engineering technology that biases inheritance so that a modified gene is transmitted to offspring at rates greater than the normal 50%, allowing the engineered trait to spread rapidly through a wild population over successive generations.
Synthetic Biology
An interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles to biology, designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems or redesigning existing natural biological systems for useful purposes.
Gel Electrophoresis
A laboratory technique that separates DNA, RNA, or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge by drawing them through a gel matrix with an electric field. Smaller fragments migrate faster and farther through the gel.
Key Terms at a Glance
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