Biotechnology and Genetics terms starting with C

393 terms

  1. C Abbreviation for cytosine.
  2. CAAT box A conserved DNA sequence found within the promoter region of the protein -encoding genes of many eukaryotic organisms.
  3. cabinet See: growth cabinet.
  4. callipyge An inherited trait in livestock (e.g. sheep) that results in thicker, meatier hind-quarters, and hence a higher meat yield per animal.
  5. callus (pl.: calli) A protective tissue, consisting of parenchyma cells, that develops over a cut or damaged plant surface. 2.
  6. callus culture A technique of plant tissue culture, usually on solidified medium and initiated by inoculation of small explants .
  7. cambial zone Region in stems and roots consisting of the cambium and its recent derivatives.
  8. cambium (pl.: cambia) A one or two cells thick layer of plant meristematic tissue, between the xylem and phloem tissues, which gives rise to secondary tissues…
  9. cAMP Abbreviation for cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
  10. CaMV Abbreviation for cauliflower mosaic virus.
  11. CaMV 35S Abbreviation for cauliflower mosaic virus 35S ribosomal. See: cauliflower mosaic virus.
  12. Cancer (KAN-ser) A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the…
  13. candidate gene A gene whose deduced function (on the basis of DNA sequence) suggests that it may be involved in the genetic control of an aspect of phenotype.
  14. candidate-gene strategy An experimental approach in which knowledge of the biochemistry and/or physiology of a trait is used to identify candidate gene s.
  15. canola A specific subgroup of oilseed rape cultivars; canola oil is the highly mono-unsaturated fatty acid and low in erucic acid product produced in the seed of…
  16. Cap A cap is a ceiling, or the highest level to which something can go. For example, an interest rate cap limits the amount by which an interest rate can be…
  17. cap site The site on a DNA template where transcription begins. It corresponds to the nucleotide at the 5' end of the RNA transcript which accepts the G cap.
  18. capacitation The final stage, inside the female genital tract, in the maturation process of a spermatozoon, as it penetrates the ovum.
  19. Capillary array Gel-filled silica capillaries used to separate fragments for DNA sequencing. The small diameter of the capillaries permit the application of higher…
  20. capillary electrophoresis A form of electrophoresis used widely in current large-scale DNA sequencing facilities, where the sample is passed through a long, very-narrow-bore tube…
  21. CAPS See: cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence.
  22. Capsid See Coat protein.
  23. capsule (KAP-sool) In medicine, a sac of tissue and blood vessels that surrounds an organ, joint, or tumor.
  24. carbohydrate A sugar molecule. Carbohydrates can be small and simple (for example, glucose) or they can be large and complex (for example, polysaccharides such as…
  25. carboxypeptidase A class of enzymes which catalyse the cleavage of peptide bonds, requiring a free carboxyl group in the substrate.
  26. carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin) Any substance that causes cancer.
  27. carcinoma (KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
  28. Cardiomyoctes Heart muscle cells.
  29. carotene A reddish-orange plastid pigment involved in photosynthesis. A carotenoid and precursor of vitamin A.
  30. carotenoid A substance found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables and in dark green, leafy vegetables. Carotenoids may reduce the risk of developing cancer.
  31. carpel Female reproductive organ of flowering plants, consisting of stigma, style and ovary.
  32. carrier A heterozygous individual bearing a recessive mutant allele for a defective condition that is "masked" by the presence of the dominant normal allele; the…
  33. carrier DNA DNA of undefined sequence which is added to the transforming (plasmid ) DNA used in physical DNA -transfer procedures.
  34. carrier molecule 1. A molecule that plays a role in moving electrons through the electron transport chain.
  35. Cartagena protocol See: biosafety protocol.
  36. Cartilage (KAR-tih-lij) A tough, flexible tissue that lines joints and gives structure to the nose, ears, larynx, and other parts of the body.
  37. casein A group of milk protein s.
  38. casein hydrolysate The mixture of amino acids and peptides produced by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis of casein.
  39. cassette See: construct.
  40. CAT box See: CAAT box.
  41. catabolic pathway A pathway by which an organic molecule is degraded in order to release energy for growth and other cellular processes.
  42. catabolism The breakdown of large molecules in living organisms, with the accompanying release of energy.
  43. catabolite activator protein (Abbreviation: CAP). A protein which combines with cyclic AMP. The cAMP-CAP complex binds to the promoter regions of E.
  44. catabolite repression Glucose-mediated reduction in the rates of transcription of genes that encode enzymes involved in catabolic pathways (e.g. the lac operon).
  45. catalase A metalloenzyme, present in both plants and animals, that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.
  46. catalysis The process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by the addition of a substance that is not itself changed by the reaction (the catalyst ).
  47. catalyst A substance that promotes a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of a chemical reaction, but which itself remains unaltered at the end of…
  48. catalytic antibody An antibody selected for its ability to catalyse a chemical reaction by binding to and stabilizing the transition-state intermediate. Synonym: abzyme.
  49. Catalytic antibody (abzyme) An antibody selected for its ability to catalyze a chemical reaction by binding to and stabilizing the transition state intermediate.
  50. catalytic RNA See: ribozyme.
  51. Catalytic RNA (ribozyme) A natural or synthetic RNA molecule that cuts an RNA substrate.
  52. catalytic site The part of the surface of an enzyme molecule (usually only a small portion of the total) necessary for the catalytic process.
  53. Cation A positively charged ion.
  54. cauliflower mosaic virus (Abbreviation CaMV). A DNA virus affecting cauliflower and many other dicot species.
  55. cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (Abbreviation CaMV 35S). A promoter sequence isolated from the ribosomal gene of the cauliflower mosaic virus
  56. caulogenesis Stem organogenesis; induction of shoot development from callus.
  57. Cavitation A process that occurs during the formation of the blastocyst and establishes the polarity of embryonic cells.
  58. CBD Abbreviation for Convention on Biological Diversity.
  59. ccc DNA Abbreviation for covalently-closed circle DNA . See: circularization.
  60. CD molecules Abbreviation for: cluster of differentiation molecules . Any group of surface antigens associated with a specific sub-population of T cells.
  61. cDNA DNA synthesized from an RNA template using reverse transcriptase.
  62. cDNA clone A double-stranded cDNA molecule propagated in a vector, and used as a probe in RFLP analyses, as template for the production of EST sequences, and for…
  63. cDNA cloning A method of cloning the coding sequence of a gene, starting with its mRNA transcript.
  64. cDNA library A library composed of complementary copies of cellular mRNAs. (See Library.)
  65. CDR Abbreviation for complementarity-determining regions.
  66. Cell The fundamental level of structural organization in complex organisms. Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus (with chromosome s) and cytoplasm with the…
  67. Cell culture (SEL KUL-chur) The growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast, or human, plant, or animal cells in the laboratory.
  68. cell cycle (SEL SY-kul) The process a cell goes through each time it divides. The cell cycle consists of a series of steps during which the chromosomes and other…
  69. cell differentiation The process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function.
  70. Cell division Formation of two or more daughter cells from a single parent cell. The nucleus divides first, followed by the formation of a cell membrane between the…
  71. cell fusion Formation in vitro of a single hybrid cell from the coalescence of two cells of different species origin.
  72. cell generation time The interval between the beginning of consecutive divisions of a cell, equivalent to the time that it takes for a population of single-celled organisms to…
  73. cell hybridization See: cell fusion.
  74. Cell line 1. A cell lineage that can be maintained in vitro. Significant genetic changes can occur during lengthy periods in culture, so that the genotype of…
  75. cell membrane See: plasmalemma.
  76. cell number The number of cells per unit volume of a culture.
  77. cell plate The precursor of the cell wall, formed at the beginning of cell division. The cell plate develops in the region of the equatorial plate and arises from…
  78. cell sap Water and dissolved substances, sugar, amino acids, waste substances, etc., in the plant cell vacuole.
  79. cell selection The process of selecting cells exhibiting specific traits within a group of genetically different cells.
  80. cell sorter See: fluorescence-activated cell sorting, flow cytometry.
  81. cell strain An in vitro culture initiated by asexual reproduction from a single cell. Such cell lines should represent a population of genetically homogenous cells.
  82. cell suspension Cells in culture in moving or shaking liquid medium, often used to describe suspension cultures of single cells and cell aggregates.
  83. Cell type A specific subset of cells within the body, defined by their appearance, location and function.
  84. cell wall A rigid external structure which surrounds plant cells. It is formed outside the plasmalemma and consists primarily of cellulose.
  85. Cell-based therapies Treatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues.
  86. cell-free protein synthesis See: in vitro translation.
  87. cell-free transcription See: in vitro transcription.
  88. cell-free translation See: in vitro translation.
  89. cell-mediated (cellular) immune response See: T-cell-mediated (cellular) immune response.
  90. cellular oncogene See: proto-oncogene.
  91. Cellular oncogene (proto-oncogene) A normal gene that when mutated or improperly expressed contributes to the development of cancer. (See Oncogene.)
  92. Cellular therapy A field of medicine that uses cells to repair tissues that have been damaged by human disease or to generate new tissues with desired functional…
  93. Cellulase Enzyme catalysing the breakdown of cellulose.
  94. Cellulose (SEL-yoo-lose) A building block of plant cells and fiber. Cellulose cannot be digested by people, and is used to add bulk to the diet.
  95. cellulose nitrate See: nitrocellulose.
  96. cellulosome A multi-protein aggregate present in some micro-organisms which degrade cellulose.
  97. Centers of origin Usually the location in the world where the oldest cultivation of a particular crop has been identified.
  98. centiMorgan (Abbreviation: cM). Unit of map distance. For small recombination fractions, cM and % recombination frequency are equivalent.
  99. Centimorgan (cM) A unit of measure of recombination frequency. One centimorgan is equal to a 1% chance that a marker at one genetic locus will be separated from a marker…
  100. Central dogma Francis Crick's seminal concept that in nature genetic information generally flows from DNA to RNA to protein.