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http://www.wordcentral.com/
http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/search/dict-search.html
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/glossary/
www.genome.gov/glossary.cfm
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd/index.html
Allele: One member of a pair or series of genes that
occupy a specific position on a specific chromosome.
Amino acid: Any of a class of 20 molecules that are combined to
form proteins in living things. The sequence of amino acids in a protein
and hence protein function are determined by the genetic code.
Aryan race: A member of the Indo-European-speaking people first
living in Iran and later entering India and conquering the people living
there.
In Nazism and neo-Nazism, a non-Jewish Caucasian, especially one of Nordic
type, supposed to be part of a master race.
See also Eugenics
Asexual reproduction: Reproduction in which an organism produces
one or more clones of itself, such as by fission or budding.
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Biotechnology:
The use of microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeasts, or biological
substances, such as enzymes, to perform specific industrial or
manufacturing processes. Applications include the production of certain
drugs, synthetic hormones, and bulk foodstuffs as well as the
bioconversion of organic waste and the use of genetically altered bacteria
in the cleanup of oil spills.
Blastocyst: See Blastula
Blastula: An early embryo typically having the form of a hollow
fluid-filled rounded cavity bounded by a single layer of cells.
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Cancer:
Diseases in which abnormal cells divide and grow unchecked. Cancer can
spread from its original site to other parts of the body and can also be
fatal if not treated adequately.
Carbon Copy: Also known as CC, Carbon copy was the first cloned
cat. She was cloned by a team at Texas A&M University in February 2002.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/clone_zone/pet02.shtml
Carrier: An individual that carries one gene for a particular
recessive trait. A carrier does not express the trait but, when mated with
another carrier, can produce offspring that do.
Cells: One of the tiny units that are the basic building blocks of
living things, that carry on the basic functions of life either alone or
in groups, and that include a nucleus and are surrounded by a membrane.
Chromosomes: One of the threadlike "packages" of genes and other
DNA in the nucleus of a cell. Different kinds of organisms have different
numbers of chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, 46 in all: 44
autosomes and two sex chromosomes. Each parent contributes one chromosome
to each pair, so children get half of their chromosomes from their mothers
and half from their fathers.
Clones:
An exact copy made of biological material such as a DNA segment (e.g., a
gene or other region), a whole cell, or a complete organism.
Cloning: Using specialized DNA technology to produce multiple,
exact copies of a single gene or other segment of DNA to obtain enough
material for further study.
CopyCat: See Carbon Copy
Cryogenesis: The science concerned with the production and effects
of very low temperatures.
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Designer babies:
Popular press term for selecting which babies will be born on the basis of
their genetics.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/wild_west/designer_babies.shtml
Detective: A person, usually a member of a police force, who
investigates crimes and obtains evidence or information.
Double helix: The coiled structure of double-stranded DNA in which
strands linked by hydrogen bonds form a spiral configuration, with the two
strands oriented in opposite directions.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid. The chemical inside the nucleus of a
cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.
DNA bank: A service that stores DNA extracted from blood samples or
other human tissue.
DNA database: See DNA bank
DNA detectives: See Detective
DNA fingerprint: An individual's unique sequence of DNA base pairs,
determined by exposing a sample of the person's DNA to molecular probes.
DNA fingerprints are often used as evidence in criminal law cases. Also
called genetic fingerprint.
DNA fingerprinting: A method of identification (as for forensic
purposes) by determining the unique pattern of a person's DNA.
See also DNA fingerprint
Dominant: A gene that almost always results in a specific physical
characteristic, for example, a disease, even though the patient's genome
possesses only one copy. With a dominant gene, the chance of passing on
the gene (and therefore the disease) to children is 50-50 in each
pregnancy.
Dolly: Dolly was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell.
She was created by scientists at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh in
1996.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/factfiles/dolly.html
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Egg cell:
A female gamete; an ovum. See also Gamete
Embryo: An organism at any time before full development, birth, or
hatching.
Eugenics:
The study of improving a species by artificial selection; usually refers
to the selective breeding of humans.
Evolution: Change in the genetic composition of a population during
successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the
genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of
new species.
Extinct species/Extinction: The death of an entire species.
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Forensic:
Relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and
establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law.
Forensic evidence: See Forensic
Forensic science: See Forensic
Frankenstein: The fictional Swiss scientist who was the protagonist
in a gothic novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; he created a monster
from parts of corpses.
Fraternal twin: Either of two twins who developed from two separate
fertilized eggs.
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Gamete:
A mature sex cell that usually has half of the normal number of
chromosomes and is capable of uniting with a gamete of the opposite sex to
begin the formation of a new individual.
Genes: The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from
parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the
information for making a specific protein.
Gene pool: The collective genetic information contained within a
population of sexually reproducing organisms.
Gene therapy: An experimental procedure aimed at replacing,
manipulating, or supplementing nonfunctional or misfunctioning genes with
healthy genes.
Genetic counselling: A short-term educational counselling process
for individuals and families who have a genetic disease or who are at risk
for such a disease. Genetic counselling provides patients with information
about their condition and helps them make informed decisions.
Genetic engineering: Altering the genetic material of cells or
organisms to enable them to make new substances or perform new functions.
Genetic testing for disease: Analysing an individual's genetic
material to determine predisposition to a particular health condition or
to confirm a diagnosis of genetic disease.
Genomes: An organism's genetic material.
Genotype: The genetic makeup, as distinguished from the physical
appearance, of an organism or a group of organisms.
Gregor Mendel:
An Austrian monk and botanist who lived from 1822 to 1884; his breeding
experiments on garden peas and subsequent formulation of the laws of
heredity formed the basis for the field of genetics.
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Hetrozygote:
Possessing two different forms of a particular gene, one inherited from
each parent.
Homozygote: Possessing two identical forms of a particular gene,
one inherited from each parent.
Human Genome Project: An international research effort to map and
identify the role of all genes in the human genome.
Hybrid: The offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock,
especially the offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of
different varieties, species, or races.
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Identical twins:
Twins derived from the same fertilized ovum that at an early stage of
development becomes separated into independently growing cell
aggregations, giving rise to two individuals of the same sex, identical
genetic makeup, and closely similar appearance.
Immortality: Living or lasting forever.
Implantation: The process by which a fertilized egg implants in the
uterine lining.
Inheritance: The process of genetic transmission of characteristics
from parents to offspring.
IVF: In vitro fertilisation. (Literally, "in glass") Fertilization
outside the body in a laboratory; the term "test tube baby" is inaccurate
since fertilization occurs in a small circular dish, not a test tube.
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Karyotype:
A photomicrograph of an individual's chromosomes arranged in a standard
format showing the number, size, and shape of each chromosome type; used
in low-resolution physical mapping to correlate gross chromosomal
abnormalities with the characteristics of specific diseases.
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Locus:
The position that a given gene occupies on a chromosome.
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Microscope:
A piece of laboratory equipment that is used to magnify small things that
are too small to be seen by the naked eye, or too small for the details to
be seen by the naked eye, so that their finer details can be seen and
studied.
Mutation: A permanent structural alteration in DNA. In most cases,
DNA changes either have no effect or cause harm, but occasionally a
mutation can improve an organism's chance of surviving and passing the
beneficial change on to its descendants.
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Nucleus:
The central cell structure that houses the chromosomes.
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Petri dish: A shallow circular dish with a
loose-fitting cover, used to culture bacteria or other microorganisms.
Pharm animals: Popular press term for animals that have been
genetically engineered to produce medicines in their milk or urine.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/pharm/a_pharming.shtml
Pharming: Popular press term for the production of genetically
engineered animals that produce medicines in their milk or urine.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/pharm/a_pharming.shtml
Phenotype: The visible characteristics of a plant or animal that
result from the combined effects of the genes and the environment.
Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino
acids in a specific order; the order is determined by the base sequence of
nucleotides in the gene that codes for the protein. Proteins are required
for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues,
and organs; and each protein has unique functions. Examples are hormones,
enzymes, and antibodies.
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Recessive: A gene which will be expressed only if
there are 2 identical copies or, for a male, if one copy is present on the
X chromosome.
Reproductive cloning: making a full living copy of an organism.
RNA: Ribonucleic acid. A chemical found in the nucleus and
cytoplasm of cells; it plays an important role in protein synthesis and
other chemical activities of the cell. The structure of RNA is similar to
that of DNA.
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Saviour siblings: Popular press term for embryos
selected to be born to help save a sibling suffering from a particular
disorder.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/wild_west/designer_babies.shtml
Selective breeding: Combining the desirable traits of at least two
genotypes, in order to breed new varieties.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/genes/
Spare organs: In the future, it may be possible to create spare
organs from stem cells for replacement in the case of damage or disease.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/genes/gene_safari/clone_zone/human_cloning04.shtml
Sperm: A reproductive cell produced by the male of an animal
species which, when united with an egg (of the same species), results in
conception and the development of an embryo.
Stem cells: An undifferentiated cell whose daughter cells may
differentiate into other cell types.
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Test tube: A clear, cylindrical glass tube usually
open at one end and rounded at the other, used in laboratory
experimentation.
Test tube babies: Conceived by or developed from fertilization in
laboratory apparatus or by artificial insemination.
The term "test tube baby" is inaccurate since fertilization occurs in a
small circular dish, not a test tube.
Therapeutic cloning: Can create cloned human cells, but not whole
embryos beyond the 14-day stage. May be used to better understand human
development, provide resources for stem cell therapy research, and develop
new treatments for disease.
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/pdf_therapeutic_cloning.pdf
Transgenic: Of, relating to, or being an organism whose genome has
been altered by the transfer of a gene or genes from another species or
breed.
Transgenic animal: See Transgenic.
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Wildtype: The typical form of an organism, strain,
gene, or characteristic as it occurs in nature, as distinguished from
mutant forms that may result from selective breeding.
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Xenotransplantation: See Xenograft
Xenograft: Tissue or organs from an individual of one species
transplanted into or grafted onto an organism of another species, genus,
or family. A common example is the use of pig heart valves in humans.
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Print off your own copy of
the glossary [PDF]
Links
The BBC’s site on
the ‘basic’s of being’. Contains information on genes and genetic
technology, great games and fun quizzes.
The Human Genectics
Commission (HGC) is the UK Government’s advisory body on how new
developments in human genetics will impact on people and on health care.
It gives Ministers advice on the ‘bigger picture’ of human genetics, with
particular focus on social and ethical issues.
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