Plasmid

Gene traps are the plasmid or retrovirus-based vectors having a reporter gene that is only expressed when integrated in a functional gene. They were originally developed for the study of insertional mutagenesis in mouse. The gene traps were used to identify and characterize genes which were regulated by exogenous stimuli or during development process. The gene trap is a process which makes it possible to identify genes that gives rise to phenotypic effects when they are switched off, and also…

Eukaryotes (which contain a nucleus) have their genetic information stored in the nucleus in the form of chromosomes; while prokaryotes, (which do not contain a nucleus) have DNA floating in the cytoplasm in the form of plasmid. Nucleotides that make up DNA are very similar except for the difference in nitrogenous base that each one contains. These bases include adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine. When nucleotides join together they form a shape that looks like a twisted…

of Nebraska, gene cloning refers to when DNA is removed from an organism. Enzymes are then used to break the bonds between nucleotides and are snipped into gene size pieces. Plasmids are combined with the genes and transferred into living bacteria. The bacteria can be manipulated to create millions of copies of the same plasmid. Gene cloning is usually associated with gene modification which occurs when a genetic engineer cuts the gene and replaces some of it with new material. Reproductive…

housed only in skin and mucosal cells (WHO). This DNA virus doesn’t contain an envelope like the others it has less protection (WHO). Due to this difference of structure the way of entry the cell will occur is adsorption, which result in only the plasmid (DNA) will be allowed within the cell (POWERPOINT). Papillomaviridae is a virus (not living) which means that…

Despite humans encountering if for millennia, pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae remains one of the deadliest microbiological threats facing humanity today. S. pneumoniae is a Gram positive, diplococcus bacteria with ore than 90 serotypes1. Along with pneumococcus pneumonia, S. pneumonia can cause meningitis, sepsis, bacteremia, and otitis media1,2. It is the leading cause of community acquired pneumonia, as well as fatal respiratory infections globally, across all age ranges; severe…

Crossing certain crops to induce certain traits in offspring is not a new process. In fact, farmers around the world have used conventional breeding practices such as artificial selection to produce higher-yielding crops for centuries. Those practices were not frowned upon, but instead considered necessary if agriculture was to continue to support the world’s growing population. Today, we face a similar problem. The Earth’s population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, and world…

engineered to produce a specific protein or express specific traits from inserted DNA. This is done using the processes of gene cloning and somatic cell nuclear transfer as referenced earlier. The specified gene is isolated and combined with bacterial plasmids and restriction enzymes and is further replicated in bacterial colonies creating recombinant DNA. This recombinant DNA is then extracted from the colonies and is then inserted into a fertilized egg cell, via the process of the somatic cell…

Gene therapy is an experimental form of treatment that modify the expression of an individual’s genes or correct abnormal genes by replacing a faulty disease-causing gene with a working version, or by introducing a new gene to cure a condition or modify its effects. For example, diseases such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and many cancers result from the presence of defective genes. Gene transfer first appeared in 1960s. The first therapeutic use of gene transfer was…

Have you ever wondered what exactly is in that delicious Trix cereal you eat every morning? Of the many ingredients used to manufacture cereal, one prominent ingredient in Trix cereal is corn. However, this is not just any corn but rather genetically engineered corn. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are utilized in many of our favorite brands due to its prominent use in agriculture. In fact, “up to 92% of the U.S. corn is genetically engineered” ("About Genetically Engineered Foods").…

III. Plans for Candidates Training and Research Career Development. a. Mentorship Plans to Enhance her Technical Repertoire. Dr. Rizvi will work in my laboratory, acquiring technical expertise in a wide variety of experimental approaches including use of genetically engineered mouse models of CCA, and patient derived xenografts of CCA (PDX). She will also become adept at cell biology approaches including confocal microscopy coupled with computer-based 3-D image reconstruction, expression and…