Human Genome terms starting with P

39 terms

  1. P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) One type of vector used to clone DNA fragments (100- to 300-kb insert size; average, 150 kb) in Escherichia coli cells.
  2. p53 A gene which normally regulates the cell cycle and protects the cell from damage to its genome.
  3. Parkinson's disease A common progressive neurological disorder that results from degeneration of nerve cells in a region of the brain that controls movement.
  4. patent A grant to an inventor of the right to exclude others, for a limited time, from making, using, or selling his invention in the United States.
  5. pedigree A record of one's ancestors, offspring, siblings, and their offspring that may be used to determine the pattern of certain genes or disease inheritance…
  6. Penetrance The proportion of individuals in a population that express the phenotype expected from their genotype with respect to a specific gene.
  7. peptide Any compound consisting of two or more amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
  8. Phage Abbreviation for bacteriophage.
  9. Pharmacogenomics The study of the interaction of an individual's genetic makeup and response to a drug.
  10. Phenocopy An environmentally induced, non hereditary variation in an organism, resembling a genetically determined trait.
  11. Phenotype The observable characteristics of an organism, the expression of gene alleles (genotype) as an observable physical or biochemical trait. See Genotype.
  12. Physical map A map showing physical locations on a DNA molecule, such as restriction sites, and sequence-tagged sites. (See Mapping.)
  13. Plasmid An circular self-replicating non-chromosomal DNA molecule found in many bacteria, capable of transfer between bacterial cells of the same species, and…
  14. Pleiotropy The simultaneous effect of a given gene on more than one apparently unrelated trait.
  15. Pluripotency The potential of a cell to develop into more than one type of mature cell, depending on environment.
  16. polydactyly An abnormality in which a person is born with more than the normal number of fingers or toes. See also
  17. Polygenic disorder Genetic disorder resulting from the combined action of alleles of more than one gene (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers).
  18. polymerase chain reaction (PCR) A procedure that en- zymatically amplifies a DNA polymerase. (See Polymerase.)
  19. Polymerase, DNA or RNA Enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of nucleic acids on preexisting nucleic acid templates, assembling RNA from ribonucleotides or DNA from…
  20. polymorphism (PAH-lee-MOR-fih-zum) A common variation or mutation in DNA.
  21. Polypeptide A linear polymer composed of covalently linked amino acids. Each link is formed by a single peptide bond.
  22. Population genetics The branch of genetics that deals with frequencies of alleles and genotypes in breeding populations.
  23. positional cloning A strategy for gene cloning that relies on the identification of closely linked markers to the target trait, and then uses chromosome walking to identify…
  24. Premature chromosome condensation (PCC) A method of studying chromosomes in the interphase stage of the cell cycle.
  25. primary immunodeficiency A group of rare inherited disorders of the immune system, including adenosine deaminase deficiency, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and…
  26. Primer A short DNA or RNA fragment annealed to single-stranded DNA, from which DNA polymerase extends a new DNA strand to produce a duplex molecule.
  27. Privacy In genetics, the right of people to restrict access to their genetic information.
  28. Probe A sequence of DNA or RNA, labeled or marked with a radioactive isotope, used to detect the presence of complementary nucleotide sequences. See Nucleotide.
  29. Prokaryote A bacterial cell lacking a true nucleus; its DNA is usually in one long strand. See Eukaryote.
  30. Promoter Any person who, directly or indirectly, organizes or assists in the organization of a tax shelter or who participates in the sale of any interests in a…
  31. Pronucleus Either of the two haploid gamete nuclei just prior to their fusion in the fertilized ovum.
  32. prostate cancer (PROS-tayt KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the…
  33. protease An enzyme that cleaves peptide bonds that link amino acids in protein molecules.
  34. protein (PRO-teen) A molecule made up of amino acids that are needed for the body to function properly.
  35. Proteome The complete complement of proteins made by a given species in all its tissues and growth stages.
  36. proteomics The study of the structure and function of proteins, including the way they work and interact with each other inside cells.
  37. pseudogene An incomplete or mutated copy of a gene which is not transcribed because it lacks a continuous open reading frame.
  38. Purine A double-ring, nitrogen-containing base present in nucleic acids . Adenine (A) and guanine (G) are the two purines normally present in DNA and RNA…
  39. Pyrimidine A single-ring, nitrogen-containing base present in nucleic acid s. Cytosine (C) and thymine (T) are present in DNA, whereas uracil (U) replaces T in RNA.