Biotechnology and Genetics terms starting with E

203 terms

E site See: exit site.
E. coli See: Escherichia coli.
EBV A common virus that remains dormant in most people. It causes infectious mononucleosis and has been associated with certain cancers, including Burkitt…
EC See: Enzyme Commission number.
ecdysone A steroid hormone in insects stimulating the synthesis of proteins involved in moulting and metamorphosis.
eclosion 1. Emergence of an adult insect from the pupal stage. 2. Initial phase of germination of fungal spores.
ecological diversity See: biodiversity.
Ecology The study of the interactions of organisms with their environment and with each other.
economic trait locus (Abbreviation: ETL). A locus influencing a trait that contributes to producer's income.
Ecosystem A complex ecological community or environment forming a functioning whole.
ecotype A population or a strain of an organism that is adapted to a particular habitat.
Ectoderm The outer of three germ layers of the early embryo that gives rise in later development to the skin, cells of the amnion and chorion, nervous system…
ectopic Anomalous situation or relation, particularly with respect to pregnancy, where the foetus is implanted outside the uterus.
edible vaccine Edible antigen-containing material, that activates the immune system via gut-associated lymphoid tissues.
editing See: splicing (1).
Edmonton protocol A procedure (developed in Canada) for transplanting pancreatic islet cells to the liver of a patient with Type I diabetes.
EDTA See: ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
EDV Abbreviation for essential derivation of varieties.
effector cells Cells of the immune system that are responsible for the production of cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
effector molecule A molecule that influences the behaviour of a regulatory molecule, such as a repressor protein, thereby influencing gene expression.
egg 1. The fertilized zygote in egg-laying animals. 2. The mature female reproductive cell in animals and plants.
Egg cylinder An asymmetric embryonic structure that helps to determine the body plan of the mouse.
EGS See: external guide sequence.
EIA Electronic Industries Association EIM
elastin A fibrous protein that is the major constituent of the yellow elastic fibres of animal connective tissue.
electro-blotting The electrophoretic transfer of DNA, RNA or protein from a gel, in which they have been separated, to a support matrix, such as nitrocellulose.
electrochemical sensor Biosensors, such as an enzyme electrode, in which a biological process is harnessed to an electrical sensor system.
electron microscope (ee-LEK-tron MY-kroh-SKOPE) A microscope (device used to magnify small objects) that uses electrons (instead of light) to produce an enlarged image.
Electrophoresis a technique for the separation of charged molecules by migration on a support medium under the influence of an electrical charge.
Electroporation A method for transforrning DNA, especially useful for plant cells, in which high voltage pulses of electricity are used to open pores in cell membranes…
ELISA Abbreviation for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An immunoassay, i.e. an antibody -based technique for the diagnosis of the presence and quantity of…
elite tree A phenotypically superior tree in a tree breeding programme.
Ellis - van Creveld syndrome A rare autosomal recessive disorder that leads to dwarfism, extra fingers, and malformations of the heart, among other abnormalities. See also malformation
elongation factors Soluble proteins required for the elongation of polypeptide chains on ribosomes.
Embryo Early stage in the development of a plant or an animal. In vertebrate animals (have a backbone or spinal column), this stage lasts from shortly after…
embryo cloning The creation of identical copies of an embryo by embryo splitting or by nuclear transfer from undifferentiated embryonic cells.
embryo culture The culture of embryos on nutrient media.
embryo multiplication and transfer (Abbreviation: EMT). The cloning of animal embryos and their subsequent transfer to recipients via artificial inembryonation.
embryo rescue A sequence of tissue culture techniques utilized to enable a fertilized immature embryo resulting from an interspecific cross to continue growth and…
embryo sac The mature female gametophyte in angiosperms. Generally a seven-celled structure - two synergids, one egg cell, three antipodal cells (each with a single…
embryo sexing The determination of the sex of an embryo prior to birth. Typically achieved by the polymerase chain reaction -mediated amplification of DNA extracted…
embryo splitting The splitting of young embryos into several sections, each of which develops into an animal. A form of animal cloning, i.e.
embryo storage Cryogenic preservation of animal embryos, allowing inembryonation or other manipulations long after embryo formation.
embryo technology Generic name for any modification of mammalian embryos. It encompasses embryo cloning, embryo splitting, embryo storage, and in vitro fertilization.
embryo transfer (Abbreviation: ET). See: embryo multiplication and transfer, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer.
embryogenesis 1. (General) Development of an embryo. 2. (In plants) In vitro formation of plants from plant tissues, through a pathway closely resembling normal…
embryoid Plant biotechnology term no longer commonly used. An embryo-like body developing in vitro, forming a complete, self-contained plantlet with no vascular…
Embryoid bodies (EBs) Spheroid colonies seen in culture produced by the growth of embryonic stem cells in suspension.
Embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells A type of pluripotent stem cell derived from teratocarcinoma (usually a testis tumor).
Embryonic disk A group of cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, which later develops into an embryo.
Embryonic germ (EG) cells Cells found in a specific part of the embryo/fetus called the gonadal ridge that normally develop into mature gametes.
Embryonic germline cells Embryonic germline cells, also called EG cells, are pluripotent stem cells derived from the primitive germline cells (those cells that give rise to eggs…
Embryonic stem (ES) cells Cell lines derived from early embryos that have the potential to differentiate into all types of somatic cells as well as to form germ line cells, and…
Embryonic stem cell Also called ES cells, embryonic stem cells are cells derived from the inner cell mass of developing blastocysts.
Embryonic stem cell line Embryonic stem cells, which have been cultured under in vitro conditions that allow proliferation without differentiation for months to years.
Embryonic stem cells (Abbreviation: ES cells). Cells of the early embryo that can give rise to all differentiated cells, including germ line cells.
emission wavelength The specific wavelength of light emitted by a fluorescent molecule, such as a labelled probe, upon absorption of light at the (higher) excitation…
EMT See: embryo multiplication and transfer.
Encapsidation Process by which a virus' nucleic acid is enclosed in a capsid. See Coat protein.
encapsulating agents Anything which forms a shell around an enzyme or bacterium, common agents being polysaccharides such as alginate or agar.
encapsulation Any method packaging an enzyme or bacterium and maintaining its normal functions. Used to immobilize cells in a bioreactor.
encode The gene product specified by a particular nucleic acid sequence. See: genetic code.
end-labelling The introduction of a readily-visualized tag at the end of a DNA or RNA molecule.
end-product inhibition The inhibition of an enzyme by a metabolite. Typically, the enzyme is the first enzyme in a biosynthetic pathway, and the metabolite the product of the…
Endangered species A plant or animal species in immediate danger of extinction because its population number has reached a critical level, or its habitat has been…
Endemic Where disease occurs on a consistent basis.
endocrine gland Any gland in an animal that manufactures hormones and secretes them directly into the bloodstream to act at distant sites in the body, known as target…
endocrine interference Interference with the normal balance of hormones.
endocytosis The process by which materials enter a cell without passing through the cell membrane.
Endoderm The internal layer of cells of the gastrula, which develops into the alimentary canal (gut) and digestive glands of the adult.
endodermis The layer of living cells, with various characteristically thickened walls and no intercellular spaces, which surrounds the of certain plants and occurs…
endogamy See: inbreeding.
endogenous Produced inside an organism or cell. The opposite is external (exogenous) production.
Endogenous retrovirus Integrated retrovirus DNA (provirus) derived from infection of the germline of an ancestral animal.
Endogenous stem cells Stem cells that are already present in the body.
Endometrium (en-do-MEE-tree-um) The layer of tissue that lines the uterus.
endomitosis Duplication of chromosomes without division of the nucleus, resulting in a doubling (or more) in the chromosome number within a cell.
Endonuclease See Nuclease.
Endophyte An organism that lives inside another.
endoplasmic reticulum (Abbreviation: ER). A cytoplasmic net of membranes, adjacent to the nucleus, visible under the electron microscope. The sites of protein synthesis.
endopolyploidy The net result of endomitoses. The somatic chromosome number has doubled (or more), forming a polyploid cell line.
endoprotease An enzyme that cleaves internal peptide bonds within a polypeptide molecule. Site of cleavage is usually specific to certain amino acid residues.
endoreduplication Chromosome reproduction during interphase. Four-chromatid chromosomes (diplochromosomes) are seen during this phase.
endosperm The nutritive tissue that develops in the seed of most angiosperms, containing varying proportions of carbohydrate (usually starch), protein and lipid.
endosperm mother cell One of the seven cells of the mature plant embryo sac, containing the two polar nuclei and, which, following fertilization, gives rise to the primary…
Endothelial relating to a flat layer of cells lining the heart, for example, or blood vessels.
endotoxin A component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria that elicits, in mammals, an inflammatory response and fever.
Engraftment The process in which transplanted stem cells or bone marrow cells migrate to the bone marrow and begin producing healthy red blood cells, white blood…
enhancer 1. A substance or object that increases a chemical activity or a physiological process. 2.
enhancer element See: enhancer.
enhancer sequence See: enhancer.
enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (Abbreviation EPSP synthase or EPSPS). An enzyme produced by virtually all plants, which is essential for normal metabolism, and for the biosynthesis of…
enterotoxin A bacterial protein that, following release into the intestine, causes cramps, diarrhoea and nausea.
Enucleated A cell with its nucleus removed.
Enucleated oocyte (cytoplast) An egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed mechanically.
enucleated ovum Egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed, usually as a preparatory step for nuclear transfer.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established as an independent agency on December 2, 1970 during President Nixon's term in office.
enzyme A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.
enzyme bioreactor A reactor in which a chemical conversion reaction is catalysed by an enzyme.
Enzyme Commission number (Abbreviation: EC number). Systematic label which identifies an enzyme in the technical literature.