Biotechnology and Genetics terms starting with F

117 terms

F factor Abbreviation for fertility factor. A bacterial plasmid that confers the ability to function as a genetic donor in conjugation. See: Hfr.
F1 Abbreviation for filial generation 1. The initial hybrid generation resulting from a cross between two parents. See Fn.
F1, F2, Fn Subsequent hybrid generations, counting from the F1. Thus, for example, F4 describes the progeny of the F3, which is the progeny of the F2 generation…
F2 The second hybrid generation, produced either by intercrossing two F1 individuals, or by self-fertilizing an F1 individual. See Fn.
FAB A product of hydrolysis of an IgG antibody, consisting of the variable region with some of the constant region of a heavy chain, and an entire light chain.
FACS See: fluorescence-activated cell sorting.
factorial mating A mating scheme in which each male parent is mated with each female parent. Made possible in animals by means of in vitro embryo production.
facultative anaerobe An organism that will grow under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions.
FAD See: flavin adenine dinucleotide.
false fruit See: pseudocarp.
False negative test result that states that an analyte is absent, when, in fact, it is present above the established limit of detection for the analyte in question.
false positive test result that states that an analyte is present, when, in fact, it is not present or, is present in an amount less than a threshold or designated…
familial Mediterranean fever An inherited disease whose chief symptoms are recurrent fevers and severe abdominal pain due to inflammation of the abdominal cavity.
farm animal genetic resources Those animal species that are used, or may be used, for the production of food and agriculture, and the populations within each of them.
farmers' privilege Rights to hold germplasm, covered by plant variety protection, as a seed source for subsequent seasons.
farmers' rights Rights first recognized by Resolution 5 of the 1989 FAO Conference as "rights arising from the past, present and future contributions of farmers in the…
fascicle See: vascular bundle.
Fate (of cell progeny) The normal outcome of differentiation of a cell's progeny.
FC A product of hydrolysis of an IgG antibody, consisting of parts of the constant regions of two heavy chains held together by a disulphide bridge, but…
FDA An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are…
fed-batch fermentation Culture of cells or micro-organisms where nutrients are added periodically to the bioreactor.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Passed in 1972, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulates the manufacture and use of pesticides and allows EPA to restrict…
Federal Plant Pest Act (PPA) See U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Federal Seed Act See U.S. Department of Agriculture.
feedback inhibition The process by which the accumulated end product of a biochemical pathway stops synthesis of that product.
Feeder cell layer Cells that are utilized in co-culture to maintain pluripotent stem cells. Cells usually consist of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Feeder layer Cells used in co-culture to maintain pluripotent stem cells. Cells usually consist of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Feral Refers to an individual or population that has returned to the wild after a history of domestication.
Fermentation The anaerobic breakdown of complex organic substances, especially carbohydrates, by micro-organisms, yielding energy.
fermentation substrates Materials used as food for growing micro-organisms. The fermentation substrates and the trace materials needed, together with chemicals added to make the…
fermenter See: bioreactor.
fertile (FER-tul) Able to produce children.
fertility factor See: F factor.
Fertilization The union of two gametes from opposite sexes to form a zygote. Typically, each gamete contains a haploid set of chromosomes.
Fertilizer Any substance that is added to soil in order to increase its productivity. Fertilizers can be of biological origin (e.g.
Fetal calf serum A type of culture medium often used in the culture of stem cells. It provides a number of growth factors.
Fetus (FEET-us) The developing offspring from 7 to 8 weeks after conception until birth.
Feulgen staining A histochemical stain by which the distribution of DNA in the chromosomes of dividing cell nuclei can be observed.
FIA Abbreviation for fluorescence immunoassay.
Fibril A microscopic to sub-microscopic cellulose thread that is part of the cellulose matrix of plant cell walls.
Fibroblast A connective tissue cell that makes and secretes collagen proteins.
fibroblasts Irregularly shaped, branching cells distributed throughout vertebrate connective tissue. A cell type which is readily cultured in vitro.
fibrous root Root system in which both primary and lateral roots have approximately equal diameters. Opposite: tap root.
field gene bank See: gene bank (2).
FIFRA The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. See Environmental Protection Agency.
filial generation See: F1, F2, Fn.
Filial generation (F1, F2) Each generation of offspring in a breeding program, designated F1, F2, etc.
filter bioreactor A cell culture system, in which cells are grown on a fine mesh of an inert material, which allows the culture medium to flow past it but retains the cells.
filter sterilization Process of removing microbial contaminants from a liquid by passing through a filter with pores too small to allow the passage of micro-organisms and…
filtration 1. Separation of solids from liquids by using a porous material that only allows passage of the liquid or of solids smaller than the pore size of the…
Fingerprinting See: DNA fingerprinting.
Finished DNA Sequence High-quality, low error, gap-free DNA sequence of the human genome. Achieving this ultimate 2003 HGP goal requires additional sequencing to close gaps…
FISH A laboratory technique used to look at genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues.
Fission The splitting of heavier atomic nuclei into lighter ones. In the case of heavy atoms (e.g., uranium, plutonium), this will release energy.
Fitness The survival value and the reproductive capability of an individual, compared to that of competitor individuals of the same or other species within a…
fixation The situation in which only one allele for a given gene/locus is present in a population.
flag See affinity tag.
flaming A technique for sterilizing instruments, to remove live micro-organism contaminants.
Flanking region The DNA sequences extending on either side of a specific locus or gene.
flavin adenine dinucleotide (Abbreviation: FAD). A co-enzyme important in various biochemical reactions. It comprises a phosphorylated vitamin B2 (riboflavin) molecule linked to AMP…
flocculant A chemical agent that causes small particles to aggregate (flocculate).
floccule A micro-organism aggregate or colloidal particle floating in or on a liquid. The cloudy appearance of micro-organism contaminated liquid media illustrates…
Flow cytometry A method of measuring the number of cells in a sample, the percentage of live cells in a sample, and certain characteristics of cells, such as size…
Flow karyotyping Use of flow cytometry to analyze and separate chromosomes according to their DNA content.
fluorescence immunoassay (Abbreviation: FIA). An immunoassay based on the use of fluorescence-labelled antibody.
fluorescence in situ hybridization (floor-EH-sents in SY-too HY-brih-dih-ZAY-shun) A laboratory technique used to look at genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) A process which vividly paints chromosomes or portions of chromosomes with fluorescent molecules.
fluorescence-activated cell sorting (Abbreviation: FACS). A flow cytometry method in which targets (cells, individual chromosomes etc.
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) A technique that can separate and analyze cells, which are labeled with fluorochrome-conjugated antibody, by their fluorescence and light scattering…
fluorescent probe A probe which is labelled with a fluorescent dye, so that the signal emitted can be captured by photometric methods.
flush end See: blunt end.
flush-end cut See: blunt-end cut.
foetus Pre-natal stage of a viviparous animal, between the embryonic stage and birth. AlteRNA tive spelling: fetus. See: embryo.
Fog Fine particles of liquid suspended in the air, such as of water in a fog chamber used for acclimatizing recent ex vitro transplants. See: mist propagation.
fold-back The structure of a double-stranded DNA molecule formed when a molecule containing an inverted repeat sequence is denatured and then allowed to re-anneal…
folded genome The condensed state of the chromosomal DNA of a bacterium. The DNA is segregated into domains, and each domain is independently negatively supercoiled.
follicle (FOL-i-kul) A sac or pouch-like cavity.
follicle stimulating hormone (Abbreviation: FSH). A hormone, secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in mammals, that stimulates the ripening of the specialized structures in the…
Follistatin An inhibitory factor produced during embryonic development that affects the growth and differentiation of the pancreas.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Federal agency within HHS responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologics, vaccines, and medical devices used (among others) in…
food processing enzyme Enzyme used to control food texture, flavour, appearance, or nutritional value.
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act See Food and Drug Administration.
forced cloning The insertion of foreign DNA into a cloning vector in a predetermined orientation.
foreign DNA Exogenous DNA that is incorporated into a host genome.
Forensics Computer forensics is the scientific examination and analysis of data held on, or retrieved from, computer storage media in such a way that the…
formulation See: medium formulation.
forskolin A medicinal, diterpenoid, compound exclusive to plant roots and used in the preparation of drugs for the treatment of cardiomyopathy, glaucoma and certain…
fortify To add strengthening components or beneficial ingredients to a nutrient medium.
forward mutation A mutation from the wild type to the mutant type. Opposite: reverse mutation.
fouling The coating or plugging (by materials or micro-organisms) of equipment, thus preventing it from functioning properly.
founder animal An organism that carries a transgene in its germ line and can be used in matings to establish a pure-breeding transgenic line, or one that acts as a…
founder principle The possibility that a new, isolated population, initiated by a small number of individuals taken from a parent population, may be genetically different…
four-base cutter A type II restriction endonuclease with a four-nucleotide recognition site. Because any particular sequence of four bases occurs more frequently by chance…
fractionation Dividing the total dose of radiation therapy into several smaller, equal doses delivered over a period of several days.
Fragile X syndrome After Down syndrome, the second most frequent genetic cause of mental retardation.
fragment Partial structure. See: restriction fragment.
frameshift mutation A mutation that changes the reading frame of a DNA, either by the insertion or the deletion of nucleotides.
Fraternal twin Siblings born at the same time as the result of fertilization of two ova by two sperm.
free water The cellular water released into the intercellular spaces when tissue is frozen and thawed. Opposite: bound water.
free-living conditions Natural or greenhouse conditions experienced by plantlets upon transfer from in vitro conditions to soil.