Auxotroph an organism that has developed a nutritional requirement through mutation Cloning vector genetic element into which genes can be recombined and replicated Conjugation transfer of genes from one prokaryotic cell to another by a mechanism involving cell-to-cell contact and a plasmid Diploid a eukaryotic cell or organism containing two sets of chromosomes Electroporation the use of an electric pulse to induce cells to take up free DNA Gene disruption use of genetic techniques to inactivate a gene by inserting within it a DNA fragment containing an easily selectable marker. The inserted fragment is called a cassette, and the process of insertion, cassette mutagenesis WORKING GLOSSARYAuxotroph an organism that has developed a nutritional requirement through mutation Cloning vector genetic element into which genes can be recombined and replicated Conjugation transfer of genes from one prokaryotic cell to another by a mechanism involving cell-to-cell contact and a plasmid Diploid a eukaryotic cell or organism containing two sets of chromosomes Electroporation the use of an electric pulse to induce cells to take up free DNA Gene disruption use of genetic techniques to inactivate a gene by inserting within it a DNA fragment containing an easily selectable marker. The inserted fragment is called a cassette, and the process of insertion, cassette mutagenesis WORKING GLOSSARY