Study of the laboratory techniques used to isolate, analyze, and manipulate DNA, RNA, and proteins, including PCR, gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing.
DNA and RNA structure and function: Understanding the chemical structure of DNA and RNA and how they replicate and transcribe is fundamental to molecular biology techniques.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): A common molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific DNA sequence by repeatedly copying it in vitro.
Gel electrophoresis: A method used to separate, visualize, and purify nucleic acids or proteins based on their size and charge.
Restriction enzymes: Enzymes used to cut DNA at specific recognition sequences, enabling the mapping and cloning of DNA fragments.
Cloning: The process of creating identical copies of a DNA sequence in vitro or in vivo.
Gene expression analysis: Studying how genes are regulated and expressed in cells or tissues using methods such as Northern blotting, RT-PCR, and microarrays.
Recombinant DNA technology: The combination of DNA from different sources resulting in new genetic sequences that can be used in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
Protein purification and analysis: Techniques used to isolate, purify, and characterize proteins, including chromatography, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry.
Cell culture: In vitro cultivation of cells or tissues, allowing for the study of biological processes under controlled conditions.
CRISPR/Cas9 technology: A gene editing technique that allows for the precise modification of DNA sequences, making it a powerful tool in molecular biology and biotechnology.
DNA sequencing: The determination of the nucleotide sequence of DNA, enabling the study of genetic variation and the identification of mutations in genes.
Epigenetics: The study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without changes in the underlying DNA sequence.
Site-directed mutagenesis: Introducing specific mutations into a gene or DNA sequence to study the function of particular amino acids or nucleotides.
RNA interference (RNAi): Gene silencing by introducing a small RNA molecule that binds to and degrades specific mRNA sequences.
Protein-protein interactions: Techniques and assays to study interaction between proteins and their binding partners.
Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence: Techniques to visualize and analyze the distribution of specific proteins in cells and tissues.
Proteomics: The comprehensive analysis of protein expression and function in cells, tissues or organisms.
Metabolomics: The identification and quantification of metabolites in cells, tissues, or biological fluids.
Next-generation sequencing: The high-throughput sequencing of DNA or RNA, allowing for the analysis of large data sets and enabling the study of complex biological systems.
Bioinformatics: Developing and using computational tools to analyze and interpret large biological data sets from molecular and cellular biology research.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): A technique used to amplify or replicate a specific DNA sequence in a sample.
Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-PCR): A PCR-based technique used to transcribe RNA into cDNA for amplification.
Gel Electrophoresis: A technique used to separate DNA, RNA, or proteins based on their size and charge using a gel matrix and an electrical current.
Western Blotting: A technique used to detect and identify specific proteins in a sample based on their size and charge using antibodies.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): A technique used to detect and quantify specific proteins or antibodies in a sample using an enzyme-linked antibody.
Protein Purification: A technique used to isolate and purify proteins from complex mixtures, such as cells or tissues.
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP): A technique used to investigate the interactions between proteins and DNA by selectively enriching for specific protein-DNA complexes.
Northern Blotting: A technique used to detect and quantify specific RNA molecules in a sample based on their size using probes.
Southern Blotting: A technique used to detect and quantify specific DNA molecules in a sample based on their size using probes.
DNA sequencing: A technique used to determine the sequence of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis: A technique used to introduce specific mutations into a DNA sequence.
RNAi (RNA interference): A technique used to silence or inhibit the expression of a specific gene by introducing complementary RNA molecules.
CRISPR/Cas9: A technique used to edit or modify a specific DNA sequence through the introduction of specific target sequences and Cas9 nuclease.
Protein-protein interaction assays: A technique used to investigate protein-protein interactions and complex formation.
Microarray Analysis: A technique used to measure the expression levels of a large number of genes in a sample.
Mass spectrometry: A technique used to analyze the mass and structure of molecules, such as proteins or lipids.
Fluorescence microscopy: A technique used to visualize and monitor the location and interaction of specific molecules, using fluorescent probes.
Flow cytometry: A technique used to analyze and sort cells based on their size, shape, and molecular characteristics.
X-ray crystallography: A technique used to determine the three-dimensional structure of molecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: A technique used to analyze the structure and dynamics of molecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, in solution.