Glossary of Terms


All the definitions you need can be found below:
 
 

amino acids - Nitrogen-containing molecules. The "building blocks" of proteins.

bacteriophage - A virus which infects a bacterium.

chromosome - A linear arrangement of genes and other DNA, sometimes associated with protein and RNA.

developmental noise - Random events in an organism's development which cause a variation in its eventual phenotype.

DNA - Deoxyribosenucleic acid. The genetic material. It consists of two polynucleotide chains, each forming a right-handed helical spiral, which coil around one another to form a double helix. The molecule carries the genetic code as a sequence of bases along its length and is capable of accurate replication.

enzyme - A protein which functions as a biological catalyst.

gamete - Specialised haploid cell which forms the zygote by fusion with a gamete from the opposite sex or mating type.

gene - The fundamental unit of heredity. A functional region of a DNA molecule containing the genetic code for the production of a specific protein. Consists of a transcribed region and a regulatory sequence.

gene therapy - Correction of a genetic defect by the insertion of new DNA into the genome.

genome - An organism's complete complement of genetic material.

genotype - The inherited genetic code of an organism.

linkage - The association of genes on the same chromosome.

organism - Any individual living creature.

phenotype - An organism's morphology, physiology, behaviour, and ecological relationships.

progeny - Offspring.

protein - A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. May consist of more than one polypeptide chain.

restriction enzyme - An enzyme which "cuts" DNA molecules, often at precise regions.

RNA - Ribonucleic acid. Single-stranded nucleic acid similar to DNA, but possessing ribose instead of deoxyribose sugar units, and uracil instead of thymine.
 
 
 
 
 

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