Food Biotechnology — page 33 of 34

3,375 terms

Food Biotechnology terms

  1. Transition-state intermediate In a chemical reaction, an unstable and high-energy configuration assumed by reactants on the way to making products.
  2. Translation The process of converting the genetic infor- mation of an mRNA on ribosomes into a polypeptide.
  3. translational initiation signal See: initiation codon.
  4. translational start codon See: initiation codon.
  5. translational stop signal See: termination codon.
  6. Translocation (TRANZ-loh-KAY-shun) A genetic change in which a piece of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome.
  7. Transposable genetic element See Transposon.
  8. transposase An enzyme encoded by a that catalyses the movement of a DNA sequence to a different site in a DNA molecule.
  9. transposition The movement of a DNA segment within the genome of an organism.
  10. transposon Synonym of transposable genetic element.
  11. Transposon (transposable, or movable genetic element) A relatively small DNA segment that has the ability to move from one chromosomal position to another.
  12. transposon tagging A method of gene isolation that exploits the disruption of normal gene expression that is the result of an insertion of a transposon within, or close to…
  13. transversion The substitution in DNA or RNA of one purine by a pyrimidine or vice versa. See: transition, base substitution.
  14. tri-hybrid The hybrid offspring of a cross between parents carrying contrasting alleles at three loci.
  15. tribrid protein A fusion protein that has three segments, each encoded by parts of different genes.
  16. trichome A short filament of cells, resulting in a hair-like structure.
  17. trinucleotide repeat Tandem repeats of three nucleotides that are present in many genes. Commonly trinucleotide repeats have undergone variable expansion in copy number…
  18. tripartite mating A process in which conjugation is used to transfer a plasmid vector to a when the plasmid vector is not self-mobilizable.
  19. triplet A sequential group of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA. See: codon.
  20. triploid A cell, tissue or organism containing three times the haploid number of chromosomes.
  21. trisomic (adj.) See: trisomy.
  22. trisomy The presence in a diploid cell or organism of an extra chromosome of one homologue (chromosome formula: 2n + 1). See: disomy; monosomic.
  23. triticale The hybrid man-made species formed by the crossing of tetraploid or hexaploid wheat with diploid rye.
  24. tRNA Abbreviation for transfer RNA. Small RNA molecules that transfer amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.
  25. tRNA (transfer RNA) The class of small RNA molecules that transfer amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis. See Transfer RNA.
  26. tropism Plant response to an external stimulus, resulting in the bending/turning of stem or root growth.
  27. true-to-type Conforming to the phenotype of the breed/variety.
  28. Trypsin A proteolytic enzyme that hydrolyzes peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of the amino acids arginine and lysine.
  29. trypsin inhibitor Substances inactivating trypsin, typically found in of certain plants, where they are thought to have evolved as anti-feedant agents against insect…
  30. TSCA The Toxic Substances Control Act. See Environmental Protection Agency.
  31. TTP Abbreviation for thymidine 5'-triphosphate. TTP is required for DNA synthesis since it is a direct precursor molecule. See: thymidine, thymidylic acid.
  32. tubulin (TOO-byuh-lin) One of a group of proteins found in high levels in the cell cytoplasm (fluid inside a cell but outside the cell's nucleus).
  33. tumble tube A glass tube mainly used in vitro to agitate and consequently aerate suspension cultures.
  34. Tumor DNA See T\-DNA.
  35. tumor suppressor gene (TOO-mer suh-PREH-ser jeen) A type of gene that makes a protein called a tumor suppressor protein that helps control cell growth.
  36. Tumor virus A virus capable of transforming a cell to a malignant phenotype. (See Virus.)
  37. Tumor-inducing plasmid See Ti plasmid.
  38. tumour virus A virus capable of transforming a cell to a malignant phenotype.
  39. tumour-inducing plasmid See: Ti plasmid.
  40. tunica The outer one- to four-cell layer region of the apical meristem, where cell division is anticlinal, i.e. perpendicular to the surface.
  41. turbidostat An open continuous culture in which a pre-selected biomass density is uniformly maintained by automatic removal of excess cells.
  42. turgid Swollen, distended; referring to a cell that is extended as a result of adequate water uptake. Loss of turgidity in plant cells is a sign of water deficit.
  43. turgor potential See: pressure potential.
  44. turgor pressure The pressure within a cell resulting from the absorption of water into the vacuole and the imbibition of water by the protoplasm.
  45. turion An underground bud or shoot from which an aerial stem arises. See: sucker.
  46. twin One of two individuals originating from the same zygote.
  47. U Abbreviation for uracil.
  48. U.S. Department of Agriculture The U.S. agency responsible for regulation of biotechnology products in plants and animals.
  49. ubiquitin A small protein, present in all eukaryotic cells, which plays an important role in tagging proteins destined for proteolytic cleavage (because they are…
  50. ultrasonication See: sonication.
  51. UMP Abbreviation for the (ribo)nucleotide uridine 5'-monophosphate. See: uridylic acid.
  52. understock Host plant for a grafted scion, a branch or shoot from another plant; an understock may be a fully grown tree or a stump with a living root system.
  53. Undifferentiated A term used to describe cells or tissues that do not have specialized ("mature") structures or functions.
  54. unencapsidated A virus not enclosed by a coat protein or capsid.
  55. unequal crossing over Abnormal meiotic event, in which one chromatid contains a duplication and the other a deletion.
  56. unicellular Tissues, organs or organisms consisting of a single cell.
  57. uniparental inheritance The inheritance of genes exclusively from one parent, e.g. chloroplast DNA is inherited either maternally (many angiosperms) or paternally (most…
  58. unisexual Higher organisms (animals or plants) possessing either male or female reproductive organs, but not both.
  59. univalent An unpaired chromosome at the first division of meiosis.
  60. universal donor cell Cells that, after introduction into a recipient, will not induce an immune response that leads to their rejection.
  61. universality Referring to the genetic code, the triplet codon s are translated to the same amino acid, with minor exceptions, in virtually all species.
  62. unorganized growth In vitro formation of tissues with few differentiated cell types and no recognizable structure; typical structure of calli formed in tissue culture.
  63. upstream The region extending in a 5' direction from a gene.
  64. upstream processing See: upstream (2).
  65. uracil (YOOR-uh-sil) One of four building blocks of ribonucleic acid (RNA), a type of nucleic acid found in all cells.
  66. uridine The (ribo)nucleoside resulting from the combination of the base uracil (U) and the sugar D-ribose. See: uridylic acid, uridine triphosphate.
  67. uridine triphosphate (uridine 5'-triphosphate) (Abbreviation: UTP). Required for RNA synthesis since it is a direct precursor molecule. See: uridylic acid.
  68. uridylic acid Synonym for uridine 5'-monophosphate (abbreviation: UMP), a (ribo)nucleotide containing the base uracil. See: uridine triphosphate.
  69. USDA See The U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  70. utilization of farm animal genetic resources The use and development of animal genetic resources for the production of food in a sustainable system of agriculture.
  71. UTP See: uridine triphosphate.
  72. V region Variable region in antibodies. See: CDR.
  73. V&V Abbreviation for volume per volume. The relative proportion of each liquid in a mixture.
  74. vaccination Treatment with a vaccine.
  75. vaccine A substance or group of substances meant to cause the immune system to respond to a tumor or to microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses.
  76. Vaccinia The cowpox virus used to vaccinate against smallpox and, experimentally, as a carrier of genes for antigenic determinants cloned from other disease…
  77. vacuole A fluid-filled membrane-bound cavity inside many plant cells, in which various plant products and by-products are stored.
  78. variable domain Regions of antibody molecules that have different amino acid sequences in different antibody molecules.
  79. variable expressivity Variation in the phenotype caused by different alleles of the same gene and/or by the action of other genes and/or by the action of non-genetic factors.
  80. variable number tandem repeat (Abbreviation: VNTR). A DNA sequence, present as tandem repeats, for which the number of copies varies greatly between unrelated genotypes.
  81. variable surface glycoprotein (Abbreviation: VSG). One of a battery of antigenic determinants expressed by a micro-organism to elude immune detection.
  82. Variable surface glycoprotein (VSG) One of a battery of antigenic determinants expressed by a microorganism to elude immune detection.
  83. Variance A special exemption of a zoning law to allow the property to be used in a manner different from an existing law.
  84. variant An individual that is genetically distinct from others in the population.
  85. Variation Differences in the frequency of genes and traits among individual organisms within a population.
  86. variegation The occurrence, within a single tissue, organ or organism, of mosaicism. Usually referring to plants showing either both green and albino colouration in a…
  87. Variety 1. A naturally occurring subdivision of a species, with distinct morphological characters. 2.
  88. Vascular Plant tissue specialized for the conduction of water or nutrients
  89. vascular bundle A strand of tissue containing and primary phloem (and procambium if present) and frequently enclosed by a bundle sheath of parenchyma or fibres.
  90. vascular cambium In biennials and perennials, cambium giving rise to secondary phloem and secondary xylem.
  91. vascular plant Plant species possessing organized vascular tissues.
  92. vascular system 1. A specialized network of vessels for the circulation of fluids throughout the body tissue of an animal. 2. The system of in plants.
  93. vector any living creature that transmits an infectious agent to humans.
  94. vegetative propagation See: asexual propagation.
  95. velocity density gradient centrifugation A procedure used to separate macromolecules based on their rate of movement through a density gradient.
  96. velogenetics The combined use of marker-assisted selection and embryo technologies such as OPU, IVM and IVF, in order to increase the rate of genetic improvement in…
  97. vermiculite Material made from expanded mica used as a rooting medium and as a soil additive.
  98. vernalization Chilling juvenile plants for a minimum period in order to induce flowering. Some plants require veRNA lization to flower, but others have no such…
  99. Vertical transmission Inheritance of a gene from parent to offspring.
  100. Vessel A series of xylem elements whose function is to conduct water and nutrients in plants.

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