Gene trapping
Gene Trapping
Gene trapping (/dʒiːn træpɪŋ/) is a high-throughput approach that is used to introduce transposon-mediated mutations into the genome of an organism. It is a method of choice for researchers who are interested in identifying and characterizing the function of genes in a systematic and unbiased manner.
Etymology
The term "gene trapping" is derived from the process itself. "Gene" refers to the basic physical and functional unit of heredity, while "trapping" refers to the method of capturing or "trapping" these genes to study their function.
Methodology
Gene trapping involves the random insertion of a gene trap vector into a cell's genome. This vector contains a promoter-less or enhancer-less reporter gene, which is only expressed when it is inserted within an active gene. The location of the insertion can then be identified, allowing researchers to determine which gene has been disrupted.
Related Terms
- Gene Knockout: A genetic technique in which one of an organism's genes is made inoperative.
- Gene Therapy: The therapeutic delivery of nucleic acid polymers into a patient's cells as a drug to treat disease.
- Transposon: A segment of DNA that can move to different positions within a genome of a single cell.
- Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that affects genetic information.
- Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
- Promoter (genetics): A region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene.
- Enhancer (genetics): A short region of DNA that can be bound by proteins to increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gene trapping
- Wikipedia's article - Gene trapping
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