Glossary
- Anode = Positive electrode in an electrolytic cell
- Cathode = Negative electrode in an electrolytic cell
- Denaturation = Separating a double stranded DNA into two single strands
- Deoxynucleosidetriphosphate (dNTP) = A nitrogenous base bounded to a deoxyribose sugar and three phosphates. The nitrogenous base is incorporated into DNA.
- Dideoxy Chain Termination Reaction = Use of ddNTPs to sequence DNA by stopping DNA strand elongation once a ddNTP is incorporated.
- Dideoxynucleosidetriphosphate (ddNTP) = dNTPs that lack a hydroxyl group on the 3' end therefore DNA polymerase cannot add any more nucleotides
- DNA = Genetic material of organisms. Composed of nucleotides.
- DNA amplification = Creating copies of DNA.
- DNA polymerase = Enzyme used to create another DNA strand from a template strand. Can only add nucleotides to the 3' (hydroxyl) end of DNA.
- DNA primer = A short oligonucleotide required for DNA polymerase to initiate DNA replication.
- DNA sequencing = Obtaining the DNA sequence of an organism.
- Gel electrophoresis = Using an electricity to pull DNA through a gel matrix to separate DNA molecules by size.
- Nucleotide = Building block of nucleic acids such as DNA.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) = A technology used to amplify DNA.
- Sanger Method = A method that uses dideoxy chain termination reactions to sequence genomes. Named after its inventor, Frederick Sanger.