bacteriophage (phage)

a virus that infects bacterial cells

base substitution

the replacement of a single case in DNA by another base, causing a mutation; also called a point mutation

donor cell

a cell that gives DNA to a recipient cell during genetic recombination 

gene 

genetic code

the mRNA condons and the amino acids they encode

genotype

the genetic makeup of an organism

mutagen

an agent in the environment that brings about mutations

phenotype

the external manifestations of an organism's genotype, or genetic makeup

repression

the process by which a repressor protein can stop the synthesis of a protein

recipient cell

a cell that receives DNA from a donor cell during genetic recombination

Artificial selection

choosing one organism from a population to grow because of their desirable traits

Biotechnology

the industrial application of microorganisms, cells, or cell  components to make a useful product 

DNA probe

a short, labeled, single strand of DNA or RNA used to locate its complementary strand in a quantity of DNA 

Clone

a population of cells arising from a single parent cell

complimentary DNA (cDNA)

DNA made in vitro from an mRNA template

DNA sequencing

a process by which the nucleotide sequence of DNA is determined

Genetic screening

techniques for determining which genes are in a cell's genome

Protoplast

a gram-positive bacterium or plant cell treated to remove the cell wall

recombinant DNA (rDNA)

a DNA molecule produced by combining DNA from two different sources

transformation

1. The process in which genes are transferred from one bacterium to another as "naked" DNA in solution, and
2. The changing of a normal cell into a cancerous cell

Capsid

the protein coat of a virus that surrounds the nucleic acid

contact inhibition

the cessation of animal cell movement and division as a result of contact with other cells

envelope

an outer covering surrounding the capsid of some viruses

fusion

the merging of plasma membranes of two different cells, resulting in one cell containing cytoplasm from both original cells

lysis

1. Destruction of a cell by the rupture of the plasma membrane, resulting in a loss of cytoplasma, and
2. In disease, gradual period of decline

lysogenic cycle

stages in viral development that result in the incorporation of viral DNA into host DNA

lysogeny

a stage in which phage DNA is incorporated into the host cell without lysis

lytic cycle

a mechanism of phage multiplication that results in host cell lysis

plaque

a mechanism of phage multiplication that results in host cell lysis

prophage

phage DNA inserted into the host cell's DNA