Biotechnology and Genetics — page 14 of 40

Biotechnology and Genetics terms

1301. Fetus (FEET-us) The developing offspring from 7 to 8 weeks after conception until birth.
1302. Feulgen staining A histochemical stain by which the distribution of DNA in the chromosomes of dividing cell nuclei can be observed.
1303. FIA Abbreviation for fluorescence immunoassay.
1304. Fibril A microscopic to sub-microscopic cellulose thread that is part of the cellulose matrix of plant cell walls.
1305. Fibroblast A connective tissue cell that makes and secretes collagen proteins.
1306. fibroblasts Irregularly shaped, branching cells distributed throughout vertebrate connective tissue. A cell type which is readily cultured in vitro.
1307. fibrous root Root system in which both primary and lateral roots have approximately equal diameters. Opposite: tap root.
1308. field gene bank See: gene bank (2).
1309. FIFRA The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. See Environmental Protection Agency.
1310. filial generation See: F1, F2, Fn.
1311. Filial generation (F1, F2) Each generation of offspring in a breeding program, designated F1, F2, etc.
1312. 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.
1313. 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…
1314. 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…
1315. Fingerprinting See: DNA fingerprinting.
1316. 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…
1317. FISH A laboratory technique used to look at genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues.
1318. Fission The splitting of heavier atomic nuclei into lighter ones. In the case of heavy atoms (e.g., uranium, plutonium), this will release energy.
1319. 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…
1320. fixation The situation in which only one allele for a given gene/locus is present in a population.
1321. flag See affinity tag.
1322. flaming A technique for sterilizing instruments, to remove live micro-organism contaminants.
1323. Flanking region The DNA sequences extending on either side of a specific locus or gene.
1324. flavin adenine dinucleotide (Abbreviation: FAD). A co-enzyme important in various biochemical reactions. It comprises a phosphorylated vitamin B2 (riboflavin) molecule linked to AMP…
1325. flocculant A chemical agent that causes small particles to aggregate (flocculate).
1326. floccule A micro-organism aggregate or colloidal particle floating in or on a liquid. The cloudy appearance of micro-organism contaminated liquid media illustrates…
1327. 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…
1328. Flow karyotyping Use of flow cytometry to analyze and separate chromosomes according to their DNA content.
1329. fluorescence immunoassay (Abbreviation: FIA). An immunoassay based on the use of fluorescence-labelled antibody.
1330. 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.
1331. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) A process which vividly paints chromosomes or portions of chromosomes with fluorescent molecules.
1332. fluorescence-activated cell sorting (Abbreviation: FACS). A flow cytometry method in which targets (cells, individual chromosomes etc.
1333. 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…
1334. fluorescent probe A probe which is labelled with a fluorescent dye, so that the signal emitted can be captured by photometric methods.
1335. flush end See: blunt end.
1336. flush-end cut See: blunt-end cut.
1337. foetus Pre-natal stage of a viviparous animal, between the embryonic stage and birth. AlteRNA tive spelling: fetus. See: embryo.
1338. 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.
1339. 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…
1340. 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.
1341. follicle (FOL-i-kul) A sac or pouch-like cavity.
1342. 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…
1343. Follistatin An inhibitory factor produced during embryonic development that affects the growth and differentiation of the pancreas.
1344. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (FDA) Federal agency within HHS responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologics, vaccines, and medical devices used (among others) in…
1345. food processing enzyme Enzyme used to control food texture, flavour, appearance, or nutritional value.
1346. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act See Food and Drug Administration.
1347. forced cloning The insertion of foreign DNA into a cloning vector in a predetermined orientation.
1348. foreign DNA Exogenous DNA that is incorporated into a host genome.
1349. 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…
1350. formulation See: medium formulation.
1351. forskolin A medicinal, diterpenoid, compound exclusive to plant roots and used in the preparation of drugs for the treatment of cardiomyopathy, glaucoma and certain…
1352. fortify To add strengthening components or beneficial ingredients to a nutrient medium.
1353. forward mutation A mutation from the wild type to the mutant type. Opposite: reverse mutation.
1354. fouling The coating or plugging (by materials or micro-organisms) of equipment, thus preventing it from functioning properly.
1355. 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…
1356. 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…
1357. 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…
1358. fractionation Dividing the total dose of radiation therapy into several smaller, equal doses delivered over a period of several days.
1359. Fragile X syndrome After Down syndrome, the second most frequent genetic cause of mental retardation.
1360. fragment Partial structure. See: restriction fragment.
1361. frameshift mutation A mutation that changes the reading frame of a DNA, either by the insertion or the deletion of nucleotides.
1362. Fraternal twin Siblings born at the same time as the result of fertilization of two ova by two sperm.
1363. free water The cellular water released into the intercellular spaces when tissue is frozen and thawed. Opposite: bound water.
1364. free-living conditions Natural or greenhouse conditions experienced by plantlets upon transfer from in vitro conditions to soil.
1365. freeze preservation See: cryobiological preservation.
1366. freeze-dry The removal of water as vapour from frozen material under vacuum. Used to measure water content and to preserve samples, particularly spores.
1367. fresh weight The weight, including the water content, of a specimen. Synonym: wet weight.
1368. Friable A term commonly used to describe a crumb-like callus. In this state, the callus is easily dissected and readily dispersed into single cells or clumps of…
1369. FSH See: follicle stimulating hormone.
1370. Full gene sequence The complete order of bases in a gene. This order determines which protein a gene will produce.
1371. functional food A foodstuff that provides a health benefit beyond basic nutrition, demonstrating specific health or medical benefits, including the prevention and…
1372. functional gene cloning See: candidate-gene strategy.
1373. Functional genomics The field of research, that aims to determine patterns of gene expression and interaction in the genome, based on the knowledge of extensive or complete…
1374. Fungicide An agent, such as a chemical, that kills fungi.
1375. fungus A plant-like organism that does not make chlorophyll. Mushrooms, yeasts, and molds are examples. The plural is fungi.
1376. Fusarium spp. A group of fungal pathogens of many economic crop species, particularly cereals, where severe infestation leads to losses in both grain yield and quality.
1377. fusion biopharmaceuticals Fusion proteins with pharmaceutical properties. Their advantages are: 1. Synergistic activities in one molecule, i.e.
1378. fusion gene (FYOO-zhun JEEN) A gene made by joining parts of two different genes. Fusion genes may occur naturally in the body by transfer of DNA between chromosomes.
1379. fusion protein (FYOO-zhun PROH-teen) A protein made from a fusion gene, which is created by joining parts of two different genes.
1380. fusion toxin A fusion protein that consists of a toxic protein domain plus a cell receptor binding domain.
1381. fusogenic agent Any chemical or virus, etc., that causes cells to fuse together.
1382. G Abbreviation for guanine.
1383. 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'?
1384. G protein Proteins found on the inner surface of the plasma membrane, which bind to the guanine nucleotides, GTP and GDP.
1385. G-protein coupled receptor See: G protein.
1386. 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.
1387. gall A tumorous growth in plants. See: crown gall.
1388. Gamete A haploid sex cell, egg or sperm, that contains a single copy of each chromosome.
1389. gamete and embryo storage Storage of ova, sperm or fertilized embryos outside their original source. Almost invariably this means cryopreservation.
1390. 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…
1391. 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 .
1392. gametoclone A plant regenerated from a tissue culture originating from gametic tissue.
1393. gametogenesis The process of the formation of gametes.
1394. 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…
1395. 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…
1396. Gamma-interferon A type of small protein with antiviral activity, made by T lymphocytes.
1397. gap A missing section on one of the strands of double-stranded DNA. The DNA will therefore have a single-stranded region.
1398. 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.
1399. gapped DNA A double-stranded DNA molecule with one or more internal single-stranded regions.
1400. 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…