Biotechnology and Genetics terms starting with G

237 terms

G Abbreviation for guanine.
G cap The 5'-terminal methylated guanine nucleoside that is present on many eukaryotic mRNA s. It is joined to the mRNA, via a 5'?
G protein Proteins found on the inner surface of the plasma membrane, which bind to the guanine nucleotides, GTP and GDP.
G-protein coupled receptor See: G protein.
galactomannan A gum in which the structural chain is made up of D-mannose units with 1?4 linkages. The ratio of galactose to mannose is 1:2.
gall A tumorous growth in plants. See: crown gall.
Gamete A haploid sex cell, egg or sperm, that contains a single copy of each chromosome.
gamete and embryo storage Storage of ova, sperm or fertilized embryos outside their original source. Almost invariably this means cryopreservation.
gametic (phase) disequilibrium In relation to any two loci, the occurrence of haplotypes (gametes) at a frequency other than that predicted from the product of the respective allele…
gametic (phase) equilibrium In relation to any two loci, the occurrence of haplotypes (gametes) at a frequency equal to the product of the frequency of the two relevant alleles .
gametoclone A plant regenerated from a tissue culture originating from gametic tissue.
gametogenesis The process of the formation of gametes.
gametophyte The phase of the plant life cycle that carries the gamete producing organs. In flowering plants, the pollen grain is the male gametophyte and the embryo…
gametophytic incompatibility A phenomenon in plants, in which a pollen grain is genetically incapable of fertilizing a particular egg, because both gametes carry the identical allele…
Gamma-interferon A type of small protein with antiviral activity, made by T lymphocytes.
gap A missing section on one of the strands of double-stranded DNA. The DNA will therefore have a single-stranded region.
Gap junctions Communicating cell-cell junctions that allow ions and small molecules to pass from the cytoplasm of one cell to the cytoplasm of another cell.
gapped DNA A double-stranded DNA molecule with one or more internal single-stranded regions.
gas transfer The rate at which gases are transferred from gas into solution, an important parameter in fermentation systems because it controls the rate at which the…
Gastrula An early animal embryo consisting of two layers of cells; an embryological stage following the blastula.
Gastrulation The process whereby the cells of the blastocyst are translocated to establish three germ layers.
GC island A segment of double-stranded DNA that is rich in GC base pairs. This type of sequence is characteristic of eukaryotic genomic regions with a high gene…
GC-rich area Many DNA sequences carry long stretches of repeated G and C which often indicate a gene-rich region.
GDP See Gross domestic product (GDP)
gel support medium (agarose) that holds DNA molecules in place during the separation phase of electrophoresis.
Gel electrophoresis See: electrophoresis.
gel filtration A method of protein or DNA purification, where differences in size are used to separate the components of a complex mixture.
gelatin A glutinous, protein aceous gelling and solidifying agent. Gelatin is produced by the partial hydrolysis (via boiling) of collagen, found in the…
gelatinization The swelling of starch when added to hot water. Hydrolysis causes the molecule to lose structure, and technically gelatinization is not complete until…
GelriteTM The brand name of a Pseudomonas-derived refined polysaccharide used as a gelling agent and agar substitute.
GEM A genetically engineered microorganism.
Gene 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…
gene (resources) conservation The conservation of species, populations, individuals or parts of individuals, by in situ or ex situ methods, to provide a diversity of genetic materials…
gene addition The addition of a functional copy of a gene to the genome of an organism.
Gene amplification The presence of multiple genes. Amplification is one mechanism through which proto-oncogenes are activated in malignant cells.
gene bank 1. The physical location where collections of genetic material in the form of seeds, tissues or reproductive cells of plants or animals are stored. 2.
Gene chip technology Development of cDNA microarrays from a large number of genes. Used to monitor and measure changes in gene expression for each gene represented on the chip.
Gene cloning The process of synthesizing multiple copies of a particular DNA sequence using a bacteria cell or another organism as a host. See DNA, Host.
gene construct See: construct.
gene conversion A process, often associated with recombination, during which one allele is replicated at the expense of another, leading to non-Mendelian segregation…
gene expression (JEEN ek-SPREH-shun) The process by which a gene gets turned on in a cell to make RNA and proteins.
Gene family Group of closely related genes that make similar products.
Gene flow The exchange of genes between different but (usually) related populations.
Gene frequency The percentage of a given allele in a population of organisms. See Allele.
Gene gun See: biolistics.
gene imprinting The differential expression of a single gene according to its parental origin.
Gene insertion The addition of one or more copies of a normal gene into a defective chromosome.
gene interaction The modification of the action of one gene by another, non-allelic gene.
gene knockout See: knockout.
Gene library See: library.
Gene linkage The hereditary association of genes located on the same chromosome.
gene machine See: transposon tagging.
gene mapping See: mapping.
Gene modification The chemical repair of a gene's defective DNA sequence. See DNA.
Gene pool The totality of all alleles of all genes of all individuals in a particular population.
Gene prediction Predictions of possible genes made by a computer program based on how well a stretch of DNA sequence matches known gene sequences
gene probe See: probe.
Gene product The biochemical material, either RNA or protein, resulting from expression of a gene.
gene recombination See: recombination.
gene regulation The process of controlling the synthesis or suppression of gene products in specific cells or tissues.
gene replacement The incorporation of a transgene into a chromosome at its normal location by homologous recombination, thus replacing the copy of the gene originally…
gene sequencing See: DNA sequencing.
gene shears See: ribozyme.
gene silencing See: silencing.
Gene splicing Combining genes from different organisms into one organism. See recombinant DNA.
gene stacking See: stacked genes.
Gene testing See: genetic testing, genetic screening
gene therapy (jeen THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment that alters a gene. In studies of gene therapy for cancer, researchers are trying to improve the body's natural ability to…
gene tracking Following the inheritance of a particular gene from generation to generation.
gene transfer The insertion of genetic material into a cell.
Gene translocation The movement of a gene fragment from one chromosomal location to another, which often alters or abolishes expression.
genera Plural form of genus.
generally regarded as safe (Abbreviation: GRAS). Designation given to foods, drugs, and other materials with a long-term history of not causing illness to humans, even though formal…
generation time See: cell generation time.
generative See: germ line.
generative nucleus In many flowering plants, shed pollen is two-celled (in others it is three-celled or has a variable number).
genet The individual(s) descended vegetatively from a single sexually produced zygote, including all entities derived from it.
Genetic assimilation Eventual extinction of a natural species as massive pollen flow occurs from another related species and the older crop becomes more like the new crop.
Genetic code The three-letter code that translates nucleic acid sequence into protein sequence.
genetic code (ATGC) The instructions in a gene that tell the cell how to make a specific protein. A, T, G, and C are the "letters" of the DNA code; they stand for the…
genetic complementation When two DNA molecules that are in the same cell together produce a function that neither DNA molecule can supply on its own.
genetic counseling (jeh-NEH-tik KOWN-suh-ling) A communication process between a specially trained health professional and a person concerned about the genetic risk of…
Genetic discrimination Prejudice against those who have or are likely to develop an inherited disorder.
Genetic disease A disease that has its origin in changes to the genetic material, DNA. Usually refers to diseases that are inherited in a Mendelian fashion, although…
genetic distance A measure of the genetic similarity between any pair of populations. This is measured on the basis of variation in a combination of phenotypic traits…
genetic distancing The collection of the data on phenotypic traits, marker allele frequencies or DNA sequences for two or more populations, and estimation of the genetic…
Genetic diversity The variety of different types of genes in a species or population.
Genetic drift Random variation in gene frequency from one generation to another.
Genetic engineering The manipulation of an organism's genetic endowment by introducing or eliminating specific genes through modern molecular biology techniques.
Genetic engineering technology See: recombinant DNA technology
genetic equilibrium The maintenance of a steady state with respect to allele frequencies in a group of interbreeding organisms.
genetic erosion The loss over time of allelic diversity, particularly in farmed organisms, caused by either natural or man-made processes. See: genetic drift.
genetic fingerprinting See: DNA fingerprinting.
genetic gain The increase in productivity achieved following a change in gene frequency effected by selection.
genetic heterogeneity Occurs where the genetic determination of a given phenotype differs between individuals.
Genetic illness Sickness, physical disability, or other disorder resulting from the inheritance of one or more deleterious alleles.
genetic immunization Delivery to a host organism of a cloned gene that encodes an antigen. After the cloned gene is expressed, it elicits an antibody response that protects…
Genetic informatics See: bioinformatics
genetic information Information contained in a nucleotide base sequence in chromosomal DNA or RNA.
genetic linkage See: linkage.