Glossary

Here are some of the technical terms used in the website and their definitions.


 * Bacteriaphage:** Virus that infects bacteria
 * Bacterial Transformation:** bacteria that has been modified with foreign DNA
 * Cloning:** placing specific DNA into an organism in order to make specific proteins.
 * DNA Technology:** the chemical manipulation of the genotypes and resulting phenotypes of organisms such that living organisms are modified
 * Foreign DNA:** DNA that is not natural to the cell
 * Gene:** the unit of heredity of every living organism
 * Genetic Engineering:** the process of manipulating genes, usually outside the organism's natural reproductive process
 * Genome:** the complete set of genes or genetic material in the cell or organism.
 * Ligase:** an enzyme which promotes ligation of DNA
 * Plasmid:** a structure in the cell that can duplicate independently from the chromosomes.
 * Recombinant Bacteria:** bacteria that has been made by combining different parts from other organisms.
 * Recombinant DNA:** DNA that has been made by combining different parts from other organisms.
 * Restriction Enzymes:** Enzymes that cut double-stranded DNA.
 * Sticky Ends:** Digestions of double-stranded DNA by many restriction enzymes generate ends with a short single-stranded sequences. Such ends are called sticky ends.
 * Transgenic Organism:** an organism that contains genetic material from another organism.
 * Vector:** A bacteriophage or plasmid that transfers genetic material into a cell.