Transformation Glossary

• CRISPR – (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) a technique used in genetic engineering
• Embryo– a cell or group of cells that have the capability to develop into an entire multicellular organism
• Gene– a sequence of DNA that provides the instructions for making a protein. It consists of three parts: promoter, coding region, and termination sequence.
• Hood– the workspace of a transformation specialist.  This space is sterile and continually blows sterilized air to keep fungus and bacteria in the air from contaminating the E. coli and embryo cells
• Microinjection-the use of a glass micropipette to inject a liquid substance at a microscopic or borderline macroscopic level; the target is often a living cell but may also include intercellular space
• Oocyte– an egg; a cell in an ovary
• Pronuclear Injection– injection of copies of a transgene into the nucleus of a fertilized egg cell in order to create a transgenic animal
• Reproductive Physiology – the study of offspring production
• Surrogate Female – a female that has eggs that have been artificially fertilized with the intention of that female producing offspring
• Transformation– A process by which extra genetic material is inserted and integrated into a cell.  The method used in Enviropig is pronuclear injection.
• Transgene – a gene or genetic material that has been transformed from one organism to another
• Transgenic Organism – organisms that have altered genetic code
• Zygote– a single cell produced when the egg (female gamete) combines with the sperm (male gamete)