Antigen-a substance
whcih reacts with the products of specific humoral of cellular
immunity, even those induced by related heterologous immunogens.
Antisense-a strand
of DNA having sequence to messenger ribonucleic acid (in our case
RNA, this method is used frequently in gene therapy. A gene which
causes a disease is replaced by a gene lacking the code for the
disease. The new gene is introduced into the cells using vectors,
and the old DNA will incorporate the new information).
Blotting Techniques-
Fragments are denatured and seperated by gel electrophoresis.
Fragments are blotted onto a sheet of nitrocellulose and fixed
by heating. A probe is used that binds the specific piece of
DNA, RNA, or protein. Audioradiography is used to detect radioactive
fragments. Southern blotting is used to search for a specific
DNA fragment; Northern blotting is used to search for a specific
RNA fragment; Western blotting is used to search for a specific
protein (Purves, Orians, and Heller, 321).
Clone- genetically
identical cells or organisms produced from a common ancestor by
asexual means (Purves, Orians, and Heller, G7).
Dengue Virus (DEN virus)-
an acute viral disease of humans charaterized by fever, rash,
prostration, and lymphadenopathy; transmitted by the mosquito
(Aedes aegypti). Also known as breakbone fever or dandy fever.
Encephalitis- inflammation
of the brain.
Flaviviridae- a
type of virus. In the case of the DEN virus, there are four types
of this virus. Each virus causes a different blood reaction called
a serotype.
Genetic Engineering-
Use of techniques involving recombinat DNA technology to produce
molecules and/or organisms with new properties (Hallick and Grimes,
163). For a greater explanation, click here.
Gene Therapy- Treatment
of a genetic disease by providing patients with cells containing
wild type alleles for the genes that are nonfunctional in their
bodies (Purves, Orians, and Heller, G13).
Genome- The genes
in a complete haploid set of chromosomes (Purves, Orians, and
Heller, G13).
Immunofluorescence-
fluorescence as the result of, or identifying, an immune response;
a specifically stained antigen fluoresces in ultraviolent light
and can thus be easily identified with a homologous antigen.
Plasmid- A DNA
molecule distinct from the chromosome(s); that is, an extrachromosomal
element. May replicate independently of the chromosome (Purves,
Orians, and Heller, G25).
Probe- a segment
of single stranded nucleic acid to identify DNA molecules containing
a complementary sequence (Purves, Orians, and Heller, G26).
Positive Sense RNA-
directly codes for desired product.
Proteases- They
cut up proteins.
Recombinat DNA-
DNA molecule produced artifically and containing sequences from
unrelated organisms (Hallick and Grimes, 163).
Recombinat DNA technology-
The application of genetic tools (restriction endonucleases, plasmids,
and transformation) to the production of specific proteins by
biological "factories" such as bacteria. For a greater
explanation, click here (Purves, Orians, and Heller, G27).
Sticky ends- On a piece of two-stranded DNA, short, complementary,
one-stranded regions produced by the action of a
restriction endonuclease. Sticky ends allow the joining of segments
of DNA from different sources (Purves, Orians, and Heller, G30).
Transcription-
the synthesis of RNA, using one strand of DNA as the template
(Purves, Orians, and Heller, G32).
Transduction- (1)
Transfer of genes from one bacterium to another, with a bacterial
virus acting as the carrier of the genes. (2) In sensory cells,
the transformation of a stimulus (e.g., light energy, sound pressure
waves, chemical or electorcal stimulants) into action potentials
(Purves, Orians, and Heller, G32).
Translation- the
synthesis of a protein (polypeptide). This occurs on ribosomes,
using the information encoded in messenger RNA (Purves, Orians,
and Heller, G32).
