Genetics
15 ideas, each explained on one page with a 60-second lesson you can play right there.
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CRISPR
CRISPR is a microbial defense mechanism that stores virus DNA fragments and guides Cas enzymes to cut matching genetic sequences.
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DNA Sequencing
DNA sequencing determines the precise order of bases in genetic material, shrinking full-genome reads from thirteen years to under a day.
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Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is a medical technique that treats disease by directly altering the genetic material inside a patient's living cells.
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Gut Microbiome
The gut microbiome contains 10 to 100 trillion microbes that ferment fiber, make vitamins, and influence mood via the gut-brain axis.
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Major histocompatibility complex
Learn how the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) presents protein fragments on cell surfaces to help T cells detect viruses and cancers.
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mTOR
mTOR, or mechanistic target of rapamycin, is an enzyme inside your cells that acts as a master growth switch.
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Mutation
A mutation is a permanent change in the chemical sequence of an organism's DNA.
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Oncogene
An oncogene is a mutated or overactive gene that has the potential to cause cancer.
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P53
P53 is a protein that acts as a quality control inspector inside your cells, binding to DNA to control which genes get turned on.
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Plasmid
A plasmid is a small loop of DNA that sits outside a cell's main chromosome and can copy itself independently.
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a laboratory method that rapidly makes billions of copies of a specific piece of DNA.
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Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA combines genetic material from multiple sources into a single molecule, allowing host cells to produce new proteins.
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Sirtuin
Sirtuins are an ancient family of signaling proteins that act as master regulators of cellular metabolism and DNA repair.
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Tumor suppressor gene
A tumor suppressor gene is a stretch of DNA that produces proteins to control cell division and stop abnormal cell growth.
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Viral vector
A viral vector is a modified virus stripped of its disease-causing parts and used to deliver genetic material into living cells.