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  Home >> Molecular Biology Dictionary >> Ligase - Linearized Vector Ligation


Ligase

A technique for determining the presence or absence of a specific nucleotide pair within a target gene.

Ligate (to)
The process of joining two or more DNA fragments.

Ligation
1. The joining of two linear nucleic acid molecules by the formation of phosphor-diester bonds. In cloning experiments, a restriction fragment is often ligated to a linearized vector molecule using T4 DNA ligase.

2. The process of splicing two pieces of DNA together. In practice, a pool of DNA fragments are treated with ligase (see “Ligase”) in the presence of ATP, and all possible splicing products are produced, including circularized forms and end-to-end ligation of 2, 3 or more pieces. Usually, only some of these products are useful, and the investigator must have some way of selecting the desirable ones.

Lignification
(L. lignum, wood + facere, to make) Impregnation of a cell wall with lignin.

Lignocellulose
The combination of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose that forms the structural framework of plant cell walls.

Limnology
The study of freshwater ecosystems.

Lineage
Several individuals originating from a common descent, such as the production of a cell line from a single cell plated in vitro.

Linear phase
When cell numbers constantly increases. The linear phase is located between the exponential growth and the deceleration phases. See growth phases.

Linearized vector
See ligation.

 

 

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