Title: Course Key Terms
Course: SAT 170 Introductory Biotechnology > Section: SAT 170 Introductory Biotechnology

Course Key Terms

Terms

Term | Definitions | Glossary
3'poly A tail | mRNA modification which is formed from the addition of several adenines at the 3’ end of the mRNA molecule | Unit 4 Key Terms
5'cap | mRNA modification which is formed from the addition of a modified guanine at the 5' end of the mRNA molecule | Unit 4 Key Terms
Acidophile | type of organism which thrives in acidic conditions | Unit 9 Key Terms
Active Site | the location within the enzyme where the substrate binds | Unit 5 Key Terms
Active Transport | is the movement of materials from low concentration to high concentration and it requires energy (ATP) as well as a transport protein | Unit 2 Key Terms
Adult stem cell | a type of stem cell located in the tissues and organs of adults which are used for repair, regeneration and growth of those tissues and organs; these cells are pluripotent | Unit 8 Key Terms
Agar | a material isolated from the cell walls of certain algae; serves as the source of agarose for agarose gel electrophoresis | Unit 6 Key Terms
Agarose | a polysaccharide (type of sugar/carbohydrate) that has been isolated from agar and is commonly used in gel electrophoresis of DNA samples | Unit 6 Key Terms
Agriculture | a science focused on cultivation of plants and animal farming; often uses large plots to grow single crops | Unit 1 Key Terms
Agriculture | a science focused on cultivation of plants and animal farming; often uses large plots to grow single crops | Unit 10 Key Terms
Agrobacterium tumefaciens | species of bacterium which carries the TI plasmid and causes crown gall disease in many significant agricultural crops; has received an updated scientific name of Rhizobium radiobacter | Unit 10 Key Terms
Algae | diverse group of organisms which includes unicellular and multicellular forms, most of which carry out the process of photosynthesis | Unit 13 Key Terms
Amino Acid | monomer subunit or, building block, of proteins | Unit 5 Key Terms
Angel investor | individual who provides financial investments for companies that are in the early stages of startup | Unit 16 Key Terms
Annealing | the process of allowing two complementary fragments of DNA to attach to one another; such as that which occurs during PCR as a primer binds to its complementary DNA fragment | Unit 6 Key Terms
Anti-codon | region of the tRNA molecule which binds to the mRNA codons | Unit 4 Key Terms
Antibiotic | a substance that can be used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microbes | Unit 9 Key Terms
Antibiotic resistance | a form of drug resistance characterized by the ability of a microbe to survive in the presence of an antibiotic | Unit 9 Key Terms
Antibiotics | substances that are produced by microorganisms that inhibit the growth of other microorganisms | Unit 1 Key Terms
Antibody | a substance produced by immune cells in response to the presence of an antigen to protect the body against that antigen | Unit 11 Key Terms
Antigen | a substance which can elicit an immune response and the production of antibodies | Unit 11 Key Terms
Antisense DNA | a strand of DNA that is complementary to the strand which carries the code for a particular protein | Unit 10 Key Terms
Antisense RNA | a strand of RNA that is complementary to the mRNA which codes for a particular protein | Unit 10 Key Terms
Antisera | blood serum which contains antibodies for one or more antigens | Unit 11 Key Terms
Apoptosis | a form of programmed cell death that often follows extensive cell or DNA damage | Unit 3 Key Terms
Aquaculture | the farming of aquatic organisms | Unit 13 Key Terms
Aseptic Technique | a set of practices that are used in the laboratory setting to inhibit contamination by microorganisms, especially in cell and tissue cultures | Unit 8 Key Terms
Bacillus thuringiensis | species of bacteria which is the source of the Cry gene which codes for the Bt toxin | Unit 10 Key Terms
Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) | a cloning vector which is capable of carrying up to 300 kb of nucleotide bases but can only be replicated and/or expressed in bacteria | Unit 7 Key Terms
Bacteriophage | a specific type of virus which infects bacterial cells | Unit 3 Key Terms
Biodegradable | a material which can be broken down in a relatively short period of time by living organisms | Unit 12 Key Terms
Biodiagnostics | the identification of biomarkers or gene variants to detect diseases and disorders | Unit 11 Key Terms
Biodiversity | the variety of different life forms present in a particular geographical area | Unit 9 Key Terms
Bioeconomy | an economy that is driven by research in the biosciences such as biotechnology; also referred to as a bio-based economy | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioelectronics | electronic devices which are highly compatible and interactive with biological matter | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioenergy | a renewable energy which is derived from biomass | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioethics | the ethics that applies to biological research, including biotechnological research | Unit 15 Key Terms
Biofouling | accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae and/or animals to a wet surface | Unit 13 Key Terms
Biofuel | a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biomass | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioinformatics | a field which focuses on the storage and analysis of large amounts of data such as the data generated from sequencing experiments | Unit 16 Key Terms
Biomarkers | a measurable characteristic that is used as an indicator of a biological process | Unit 11 Key Terms
Biomass | biological materials from living or recently dead organisms | Unit 12 Key Terms
Biomaterials | material that interacts with or comes in contact with living material | Unit 12 Key Terms
Biome | a particular geographical area of the planet that has a specific type of biodiversity and climate | Unit 9 Key Terms
Biomining | also known as bioleaching; the use of living organisms, usually microorganisms to remove minerals from ore | Unit 9 Key Terms
Bionics | a field which uses biological systems and processes as a template for the design and engineering of new technology | Unit 12 Key Terms
Biopharmaceuticals | medical drugs which are produced using biotechnology | Unit 11 Key Terms
Biopolymers | polymers which are made by living organisms | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioprocessing | the modification of industrial processes for the production of goods; also known as bioprocess engineering | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioreactor | a vessel or chamber that is used to grow living organisms or support biological processes | Unit 8 Key Terms
Bioreagent | substances that are captured from living cells and used as chemical reagents | Unit 12 Key Terms
Biorefineries | a facility which processes biomass into valuable products such as biofuels and bioreagents | Unit 12 Key Terms
Bioremediation | the use of biotechnology to reduce pollutants in the environment | Unit 1 Key Terms
Bioremediation | the use of living organisms, usually microorganisms, to remove pollutants from the environment | Unit 9 Key Terms
Biosensor | a device that using living organisms or their chemicals to detect a particular material, and a transducer to create a measurable signal of what was detected | Unit 12 Key Terms
Biotechnology | a field of science which relies on living organisms or their products to create technological advances, for human purposes | Unit 1 Key Terms
Bovine growth hormone (BGH) | a hormone which is used to stimulate and prolong milk production in dairy cows; also known as bovine somatotropin | Unit 10 Key Terms
Brackish water | water which has a higher salinity than freshwater and lower salinity when compared to saltwater | Unit 13 Key Terms
Bt toxin | an toxin that causes perforation of the intestinal tract of many insects; naturally produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis | Unit 10 Key Terms
Carcinogenic | an agent that causes cancer | Unit 15 Key Terms
Carrier Protein | membrane protein which is able to assist in the transport of materials across the cell membrane by changing its shape as it carries materials from one side of the membrane to the other | Unit 5 Key Terms
cDNA library | a type of DNA library which consists of cDNA molecules that correspond to the complete set of genes of a particular organism | Unit 7 Key Terms
Cell | the smallest unit of life; the smallest structure which is capable of sensing things in the environment, metabolism, reproduction, growth, development, and evolution | Unit 2 Key Terms
Cell Culture | cells grown in an artificial environment with the use of nutrient rich media and the appropriate environmental conditions | Unit 8 Key Terms
Cell Wall | rigid barrier which is located outside the cell membrane of certain cell types | Unit 2 Key Terms
Centrifuge | a piece of equipment that puts objects under rotational force using some type of motor; often used to separate materials based on their weight or density | Unit 5 Key Terms
Channel protein | membrane protein which contains a pore, or channel, for the passage of materials across the cell membrane | Unit 5 Key Terms
Chloroplast engineering | modifications of the DNA found within the cellular organelle known as the chloroplast | Unit 10 Key Terms
Chromatin | loose, uncondensed form of DNA which is commonly found in non-dividing cells where the DNA needs to be accessible | Unit 3 Key Terms
Chromatography | a laboratory technique used for separating components of a mixture using a mobile phase (or solvent) and a stationary phase (phase to which the mixture is applied) | Unit 5 Key Terms
Chromosome | loose, uncondensed form of DNA which is commonly found in non-dividing cells where the DNA needs to be accessible | Unit 3 Key Terms
Chromosome | tight, condensed form of DNA which is commonly found in dividing cells so that the DNA remains organized for proper separation | Unit 3 Key Terms
Cilia | short, hair-like extensions of the cell which move back and forth | Unit 2 Key Terms
Cisgenesis | the process of incorporating a foreign gene or segment of DNA into an organism from a closely related organism with which it could naturally breed | Unit 10 Key Terms
Climate change | a change in the world’s climate which is observed as significant variations from expected weather conditions | Unit 12 Key Terms
Clone | an organism whose genetic information is identical to a parent | Unit 1 Key Terms
Cloning | in the context of biotechnology, cloning is a process or set of methods used to make identical copies of DNA fragments (known as molecular cloning), cells or organisms | Unit 1 Key Terms
Cloning | in the context of biotechnology, cloning is a process or set of methods used to make identical copies of DNA fragments (known as molecular cloning), cells or organisms | Unit 6 Key Terms
Cloning | in the context of biotechnology, cloning is a process or set of methods used to make identical copies of DNA fragments (known as molecular cloning), cells or organisms | Unit 8 Key Terms
Codon | series of three nucleotides found within an mRNA molecule that correspond to an amino acid | Unit 4 Key Terms
Collagen | a class of proteins which are found in a variety of connective tissues in the bodies of animals | Unit 13 Key Terms
Complementary DNA (cDNA) | a DNA molecule which has been reverse transcribed from an mRNA molecule | Unit 7 Key Terms
Culture Medium | liquid or gel designed to support the growth of cells | Unit 8 Key Terms
Cytoplasm | cushy fluid found within the cell which contains all of the cell contents | Unit 2 Key Terms
Cytoskeleton | complex network of protein fibers which forms the basic framework for our cells | Unit 2 Key Terms
Deletion | a mutation in which a part of a chromosome or sequence of nucleotides is missing | Unit 4 Key Terms
Denaturation | the process by which a protein loses its functional, threedimensional shape | Unit 5 Key Terms
Deontological approach | an ethical approach which focuses on decision making based on compliance with a rule or set of rules | Unit 15 Key Terms
di-deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate (ddNTP) | a type modified nucleotide used for DNA sequencing which has hydrogen rather than a hydroxyl group at the 3’ end of the deoxyribose sugar | Unit 6 Key Terms
Dicotyledon | plants that develop from two seed halves; commonly referred to as dicots | Unit 10 Key Terms
Disease-focused model | a biotechnology company model which is based on developing treatments for diseases which currently have unmet needs | Unit 16 Key Terms
DNA | type of nucleic acid which serves as our genetic information | Unit 3 Key Terms
DNA library | a collection of DNA fragments from a particular organism | Unit 7 Key Terms
DNA Ligase | DNA replication enzyme that seals together the fragments of DNA created during the replication process to create continuous daughter strands | Unit 6 Key Terms
DNA Ligase | DNA replication enzyme that seals together the fragments of DNA created during the replication process to create continuous daughter strands | Unit 3 Key Terms
DNA methylation | an epigenetic modification where methyl chemical groups are attached to DNA nucleotides altering the accessibility of those nucleotides | Unit 8 Key Terms
DNA Microarray | a collection of different DNA samples on a microscope slide or another piece of glass that can be used to evaluate the level of gene expression of various genes in various cell and tissue samples | Unit 7 Key Terms
DNA polymerase | DNA replication enzyme which synthesizes complementary daughter strands of DNA using the parent strands as a template | Unit 3 Key Terms
Double-blind trial | a clinical trial in which neither the patient nor the individual administering the patient are informed of whether they have been placed in an experimental or control group | Unit 15 Key Terms
Duplication | a mutation in which a part of a chromosome or sequence of nucleotides has been copied | Unit 4 Key Terms
Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) | a global research project which aims to identify and classify the microorganisms inhabiting the various biomes on the planet | Unit 9 Key Terms
Eastern Blot | a lab method which takes proteins that have been separated by electrophoresis and then applies molecular tags to detect post-translational modifications of those proteins | Unit 5 Key Terms
Endocytosis | the movement of large materials into the cell  by forming vesicles around that material using portions of the cell membrane | Unit 2 Key Terms
Endonuclease | an enzyme that is able to cut in the middle of a chain of nucleic acids | Unit 6 Key Terms
Endoplasmic Reticulum | series of membrane bound structures which manufacture products such as proteins and lipids for the cell; may also carry out specialized functions for certain cell types | Unit 2 Key Terms
Enucleation | the removal of the nucleus from a cell | Unit 8 Key Terms
Enzyme | a protein catalyst which functions to speed up the rate of chemical reactions | Unit 5 Key Terms
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): | a lab method used for the detection of molecules by creating a sandwich of that molecule which binds to specific antibodies and labeled antibodies which bind to the specific antibodies | Unit 5 Key Terms
Epigenetics | the study of modifications to the genome that do not alter the DNA itself, but rather how that DNA is expressed | Unit 8 Key Terms
Estuary | body of brackish water | Unit 13 Key Terms
Ethics | a set of principles, often referred to as moral values, which govern and guide our actions, especially our actions towards other individuals | Unit 15 Key Terms
Eukaryote | large, complex cells which contain many membrane bound organelles including a nucleus where DNA is stored | Unit 2 Key Terms
Exocytosis | the movement of large materials out of the cell by fusing a vesicle with the cell membrane to dump that material out of the cell | Unit 2 Key Terms
Exon | coding region of mRNA | Unit 4 Key Terms
Exonuclease | an enzyme that is able to cut at the end of a chain of nucleic acids | Unit 6 Key Terms
Extracellular Fluid | the fluid which surrounds the exterior of the cell | Unit 2 Key Terms
Facilitated Diffusion | movement of substances from high concentration to low concentration until equilibrium is reached with the help of a transport protein | Unit 2 Key Terms
Feedstock | bulk raw materials or fuels that serve as the input for industrial processes | Unit 12 Key Terms
Fermentation | a metabolic process that is used by many organisms to convert carbohydrates into products such as alcohols and acids | Unit 1 Key Terms
Filtration | a process that uses some type of membrane or filter which contains pores of various sizes to separate materials based on their size | Unit 5 Key Terms
Fishery | a group of individuals, boats, and tools focused on raising or harvesting fish; includes both farmed and wild-caught fish | Unit 13 Key Terms
Flagella | long, hair-like extensions which move in a whip-like fashion | Unit 2 Key Terms
Fluorescence | the light that is emitted from a substance after it has absorbed light | Unit 6 Key Terms
Food security | a measure how available and how accessible food is to an individual or group of individuals | Unit 10 Key Terms
Frameshift Mutation | an insertion or deletion which alters the groupings of the codons, and thus alters the reading frame for gene expression | Unit 4 Key Terms
Freshwater | water containing small amounts of dissolved salts | Unit 13 Key Terms
Gamete | cells used for reproduction | Unit 7 Key Terms
Gel electrophoresis | a laboratory technique used for separating molecules using a gel matrix and a buffer that conducts an electrical current | Unit 5 Key Terms
Gel electrophoresis | a laboratory technique used for separating molecules using a gel matrix and a buffer that conducts an electrical current | Unit 6 Key Terms
Gene | segment of DNA which codes for a particular protein | Unit 4 Key Terms
Gene | segment of DNA that encodes for a protein | Unit 3 Key Terms
Gene gun | particle delivery device used to incorporate metal beads carrying segments of DNA into host cells | Unit 10 Key Terms
Gene therapy | a therapeutic technique which aims to introduce healthy, normal genes into individuals who carry abnormal, unhealthy versions of those genes | Unit 7 Key Terms
Gene therapy | a therapeutic technique which aims to introduce healthy, normal genes into individuals who carry abnormal, unhealthy versions of those genes | Unit 11 Key Terms
Genetic Engineering | type of biotechnology which manipulates an organism’s genome | Unit 1 Key Terms
Genetic Engineering | type of biotechnology which manipulates an organism’s genome | Unit 7 Key Terms
Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) | organisms which have been given a gene from a different organism so that they may exhibit a characteristic that they would not otherwise possess; often referred to as transgenic organisms | Unit 1 Key Terms
Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) | organisms which have been given a gene from a different organism so that they may exhibit a characteristic that they would not otherwise possess; often referred to as transgenic organisms | Unit 7 Key Terms
Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) | organisms which have been given a gene from a different organism so that they may exhibit a characteristic that they would not otherwise possess; often referred to as transgenic organisms | Unit 11 Key Terms
Genome | an organisms complete set of genes, encoded in their DNA | Unit 1 Key Terms
Genome | an organisms complete set of genes, encoded in their DNA | Unit 7 Key Terms
Genome | an organism’s complete set of genes | Unit 3 Key Terms
Genomic library | a type of DNA library which consists of DNA fragments from the genome of one organism | Unit 7 Key Terms
Germ-line | cells that will be used to produce gametes | Unit 7 Key Terms
Glycoprotein | protein which has a carbohydrate attached; typically embedded within the cell membrane and functions in cell recognition | Unit 5 Key Terms
Glycosylation | a post-translational modification in which a carbohydrate is added to a protein product | Unit 5 Key Terms
Golgi Apparatus | series of membrane bound structures which receive, modify, and package the products of the ER | Unit 2 Key Terms
Grafting | a form of plant cloning where a portion of one plant is removed and joined with the root system of another plant | Unit 8 Key Terms
Grafting | a form of plant cloning where a portion of one plant is removed and joined with the root system of another plant | Unit 10 Key Terms
Greenhouse gases | a gas that absorbs radiation within the atmosphere; water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere | Unit 12 Key Terms
Haplotype | a group or cluster of SNPs on a particular chromosome | Unit 11 Key Terms
Helicase | DNA replication enzyme which separates the strands of the parent DNA molecule | Unit 3 Key Terms
Histone acetylation | an epigenetic modification where acetyl chemical groups are attached to the histone proteins that associate with DNA | Unit 8 Key Terms
Homologue | a similar structure found in different species; often refers to an organ, structure or even a gene | Unit 11 Key Terms
Horticulture | a science focused on cultivation of plants; often uses small plots which incorporate a large variety of plants | Unit 1 Key Terms
Human Artificial Chromosome (HAC) | a cloning vector which is capable of carrying up to 10 megabses of nucleotide bases and can be replicated and/or expressed in human cells | Unit 7 Key Terms
Human Genome Project | international research project whose goal was to discover the specific sequence of nucleotides in the entire human genome | Unit 1 Key Terms
Human Genome Project | international research project whose goal was to discover the specific sequence of nucleotides in the entire human genome | Unit 6 Key Terms
Human Microbiome Project (HMP) | a research project which aims to identify and classify the microorganisms inhabiting the various parts of the human body | Unit 9 Key Terms
Hybridization | the crossing of two genetically distinct individuals to create hybrid offspring | Unit 10 Key Terms
Hybridoma | a cell which results from the fusion of a specific antibody producing cell with a myeloma cell | Unit 11 Key Terms
Hydrogels | natural or synthetic polymers which are very absorbent and highly biocompatible because they behave similar to biological material | Unit 12 Key Terms
Hydrogen Bond | weak chemical bond | Unit 3 Key Terms
Hypothesis | a possible explanation for a phenomena that can be tested with experimentation | Unit 1 Key Terms
Induced pluripotent stem(iPS) cell | a type of stem cell which is generated as a differentiated cell is reprogrammed into its undifferentiated state | Unit 8 Key Terms
Industrial Microbiology | type of biotechnology which uses microorganisms to produce food or other industrial products | Unit 1 Key Terms
Informed consent | the permission that a patient gives in order to be administered a treatment after being informed of all of the possible beneficial and adverse outcomes of the treatment | Unit 15 Key Terms
Initial public offering | the sale of a company’s stock to the general public for the first time; also known as a stock market launch | Unit 16 Key Terms
Intellectual property | results from expression of an individual’s or group of individual’s ideas and is defined as creations of the mind | Unit 16 Key Terms
Intron | non-coding region of mRNA | Unit 4 Key Terms
Inversion | a mutation in which a part of a chromosome or sequence of nucleotides has been put in the reverse order of its original sequence | Unit 4 Key Terms
Investigational new drug application | application which evaluates the results of preclinical studies to determine the potential benefits and risks of a new drug to patients before allowing that drug to be used in clinical trials | Unit 16 Key Terms
Karyotype | the shape, appearance and number of chromosomes in an individual’s cells | Unit 3 Key Terms
Karyotype | the shape, appearance and number of chromosomes in an individual’s cells | Unit 11 Key Terms
Knockout | a genetically engineered organism which has had one or more genes inactivated | Unit 11 Key Terms
Lithotroph | type of organism which is able to use inorganic nutrients, often minerals, as part of their metabolism | Unit 9 Key Terms
Lysosome | membrane bound structure which contains digestive enzymes to break down unwanted materials such as bacteria, food, worn out cell parts | Unit 2 Key Terms
Marine | a term used to describe anything related to the sea or ocean | Unit 13 Key Terms
Metabolites | intermediates and products of metabolism | Unit 9 Key Terms
Metabolome | complete collection of metabolites in a biological sample | Unit 9 Key Terms
Metagenome | a genome collected from an environmental sample | Unit 9 Key Terms
Metagenomics | the study of metagenomes | Unit 9 Key Terms
Microbial flora | the collection of microorganisms that live at different sites in and on your body | Unit 9 Key Terms
Microbiome | the complete collection of microorganisms in a given area | Unit 9 Key Terms
Micropropagation | modern plant cloning method which involves transferring cells or tissues from a plant to the appropriate growth medium | Unit 8 Key Terms
Micropropagation | modern plant cloning method which involves transferring cells or tissues from a plant to the appropriate growth medium | Unit 10 Key Terms
Missense Mutation | an alteration of a single nucleotide base within a gene that results in a change of a single amino acid of the protein product of that gene into a different amino acid | Unit 4 Key Terms
Missense Mutation | an alteration of a single nucleotide base within a gene that results in a change of a single amino acid of the protein product of that gene into a different amino acid | Unit 3 Key Terms
Mitochondria | membrane bound structure which contains digestive enzymes to break down unwanted materials such as bacteria, food, worn out cell parts | Unit 2 Key Terms
Mollusc | diverse group or multicellular animals which exhibit a variety of different body structures and includes organisms such as squids, octopus, clams, oysters and mussels | Unit 13 Key Terms
Monocotyledon | plants which develop from a single seed; commonly referred to as monocots | Unit 10 Key Terms
Moratorium | a suspension in activity such as that which occurs when all research in a particular field is halted until such research can be properly evaluated | Unit 15 Key Terms
mRNA | serves as a copyright of the gene and thus carries DNA's instructions from the nucleus out to the ribosomes | Unit 4 Key Terms
Mutagen | a physical or chemical agent that can cause DNA damage | Unit 4 Key Terms
Mutagen | a physical or chemical agent that can cause DNA damage | Unit 3 Key Terms
Myeloma | a cancer of plasma cells (which are white blood cells that are responsible for making antibodies) | Unit 11 Key Terms
Nanomedicine | applications of nanotechnology in the field of medicine | Unit 11 Key Terms
Nanotechnology | the manipulation (designing, building, using) of matter on the nanometer scale | Unit 11 Key Terms
New drug application | application which evaluates the results of clinical trials to determine the potential benefits and risks to patients, and evaluate manufacturing procedures and labeling of a new drug before allowi ... | Unit 16 Key Terms
Nonsense Mutation | an alteration of a single nucleotide base within a gene that results in a change of a single amino acid of the protein product of that gene into a stop signal for expressing that gene | Unit 4 Key Terms
Nonsense Mutation | an alteration of a single nucleotide base within a gene that results in a change of a single amino acid of the protein product of that gene into a stop signal for expressing that gene | Unit 3 Key Terms
Northern Blot | a lab method which takes mRNA molecules that have been separated by electrophoresis and then applies labeled probes to those molecules to confirm or identify whether or not specific mRNA molecules ... | Unit 7 Key Terms
Nuclease | enzyme that is able to cleave nucleic acids including DNA and RNA | Unit 4 Key Terms
Nucleoid | region of the cytoplasm in which the prokaryotic DNA is located | Unit 4 Key Terms
Nucleolus | site of ribosome synthesis | Unit 2 Key Terms
Nucleotide | a chemical compound which serves as the building block for nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA | Unit 3 Key Terms
Nucleus | large membrane bound organelle which serves as a repository for an organisms DNA | Unit 2 Key Terms
Nutrient Agar | growth medium used for the routine growth of non-fastidous bacteria | Unit 8 Key Terms
Objectivism | an ethical approach which focuses on the fact that there are certain absolutes which are independent of an individual’s hopes, fears or feelings and that these rules cannot be broken | Unit 15 Key Terms
Ore | a type of rock that contains valuable minerals | Unit 9 Key Terms
Organelle | intracellular compartment which often has a specific structure and function for the cell | Unit 2 Key Terms
Osmosis | the diffusion of water | Unit 2 Key Terms
Patent | grants exclusive rights to an inventor for a particular period of time and prevents others from profiting from the production, use, sale, or distribution of someone’s invention | Unit 16 Key Terms
Peroxisome | membrane bound structure which destroys harmful byproducts of metabolism | Unit 2 Key Terms
Petrochemical | chemical products that are derived from petroleum | Unit 12 Key Terms
Pharmacogenomics | a field which evaluates how the genetic make-up of an individual can influence that individuals response to drug therapy | Unit 11 Key Terms
Phosphodiester Bond | strong chemical bond found between the sugar of one nucleotide and the phosphate of the next nucleotide in the chain | Unit 3 Key Terms
Placebo | a safe but non-effective treatment that is administered in the same manner as the treatment to provide a control group for a clinical trial | Unit 15 Key Terms
Plant Cutting | a form of plant cloning where a portion of a plant (often a stem or root) is removed from the original plant and placed in the appropriate conditions for it to grow into a new complete plant | Unit 8 Key Terms
Plant Cutting | a form of plant cloning where a portion of a plant (often a stem or root) is removed from the original plant and placed in the appropriate conditions for it to grow into a new complete plant | Unit 10 Key Terms
Plasma Membrane | the selectively-permeable barrier which surrounds the cell and certain organelles | Unit 2 Key Terms
Plasmid | a small, circular, double-stranded, extra-chromosomal piece of DNA commonly found in bacteria | Unit 6 Key Terms
Plasmid | a small, circular, double-stranded, extra-chromosomal piece of DNA commonly found in bacteria; can be used as a cloning vector for DNA libraries | Unit 7 Key Terms
Pluripotent | the ability to differentiate into many different cell types | Unit 8 Key Terms
Polygalactonurase | an enzyme which is produced in plants that serves a role in the ripening process of that plants fruit | Unit 10 Key Terms
Polymerase Chain Reaction | a technique which is used to amplify the number of copies of a particular segment of DNA | Unit 6 Key Terms
Polymerase Chain Reaction | a technique which is used to amplify the number of copies of a particular segment of DNA | Unit 11 Key Terms
Post-translational modifications | a type of modification, such as the addition of a carbohydrate or lipid, to a polypeptide chain which occurs after the translation of that protein is complete | Unit 5 Key Terms
Primary Cells | a sample of cells that has been collected from an organism to establish a primary cell culture | Unit 8 Key Terms
Primase | DNA replication enzyme which creates primers for DNA replication | Unit 3 Key Terms
Primer | short fragment of RNA nucleotides used to initiate the process of DNA replication | Unit 3 Key Terms
Prokaryote | small, simple cells which lack membrane bound organelles | Unit 2 Key Terms
Promoter | region of the transcription unit to which RNA polymerase can bind | Unit 4 Key Terms
Protein therapy | a therapeutic technique which provides individuals with normal, functional proteins to replace their own non-functional or missing proteins | Unit 7 Key Terms
Protein therapy | a therapeutic technique which provides individuals with normal, functional proteins to replace their own non-functional or missing proteins | Unit 11 Key Terms
Proteome | an organisms complete set of proteins | Unit 5 Key Terms
Proteomics | a field of science dedicated to studying the types and functions of proteins in living things | Unit 5 Key Terms
Protoplast | plant, bacterial or fungal cell which has had its cell wall removed | Unit 10 Key Terms
Protoplast fusion | the fusion of two different protoplast cells to create a hybrid cell | Unit 10 Key Terms
Radioisotope | a radioactive isotope which is unstable and emits radiation as it decays | Unit 3 Key Terms
Recombinant DNA | a piece of DNA that results from two pieces of DNA from different origins being combined | Unit 6 Key Terms
Regenerative medicine | a field of medicine which aims to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues, and organs | Unit 11 Key Terms
Renne | a complex of enzymes needed for the conversion of milk into cheese products | Unit 10 Key Terms
Restriction enzyme | a type of endonuclease which cuts at a specific sequence of nucleotides known as a restriction site | Unit 6 Key Terms
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs | differences in the number and type of restriction sites within different DNA samples | Unit 11 Key Terms
Retrovirus | a type of virus which carries out reverse transcription and was the original source of the reverse transcriptase enzyme | Unit 7 Key Terms
Reverse transcriptase (RT) | an enzyme that is capable of synthesizing a cDNA molecule from an mRNA template | Unit 7 Key Terms
Ribosome | site of protein synthesis | Unit 2 Key Terms
Ribosome | intercellular structure which serves as the site of protein synthesis | Unit 4 Key Terms
Risk assessments | an evaluation of how probable an event or outcome is to occur as well as how strong of an effect such an event or outcome may have | Unit 15 Key Terms
RNA | type of nucleic acid which are involved in the expression of our genes | Unit 3 Key Terms
RNA splicing | the removal of introns from an mRNA transcript | Unit 4 Key Terms
rRNA | makes up the ribosomes | Unit 4 Key Terms
Sabouraud Agar | growth medium which inhibits the growth of many bacteria and promotes the growth of fungal organisms | Unit 8 Key Terms
Salinity | measure of the dissolved salt in a solution | Unit 13 Key Terms
Saltwater | water containing significant amounts of dissolved salts; also referred to as seawater | Unit 13 Key Terms
Scale-up processes | a set of processes that is used to transition from lab-scale production to large scale commercial production | Unit 16 Key Terms
Selective Breeding | the process of selecting parents with particular traits for the purposes of breeding in hopes that the offspring exhibit those desirable traits | Unit 1 Key Terms
Self-fertilization | the fusion of sperm and egg from the same individual to create like offspring | Unit 10 Key Terms
Senescence | a resting stage for cells where they stop dividing to produce new cells | Unit 8 Key Terms
Sessile | immobile or fixed in one place | Unit 13 Key Terms
Silent Mutation | an alteration of a single nucleotide base within a gene that results in no change to protein product of that gene | Unit 4 Key Terms
Silent Mutation | an alteration of a single nucleotide base within a gene that results in no change to protein product of that gene | Unit 3 Key Terms
Simple Diffusion | movement of substances from high concentration to low concentration until equilibrium is reached | Unit 2 Key Terms
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) | single nucleotide variations that exist within different DNA samples | Unit 11 Key Terms
Single Stranded Binding Proteins | DNA replication proteins which bind to the separated strands of the parent DNA molecule to hold them apart for replication | Unit 3 Key Terms
Situational ethics | an ethical approach which focuses on making decisions if the ends justify the means which involves weighing all of the possible answers to determine which would be able to provide the greatest pos ... | Unit 15 Key Terms
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) | a technique used to generate animal clones where the nucleus from a somatic cell is used to replace the nucleus of an enucleated egg | Unit 8 Key Terms
Somatic cells | body cells | Unit 7 Key Terms
Southern Blot | a lab method which takes DNA molecules that have been separated by electrophoresis and then applies labeled probes to those molecules to confirm or identify whether or not specific DNA molecules w ... | Unit 7 Key Terms
Spliceosome | molecular complex that carrious out the process of RNA splicing | Unit 4 Key Terms
Sponge | sessile, multicellular animals which lack well defined body structures and contain large pores through which water can easily flow bringing in the needed nutrients and removing wastes | Unit 13 Key Terms
Statistical probability | an estimate of how probable an event or outcome is to occur | Unit 15 Key Terms
Substantial equivalence | a new product that has the same or very similar characteristics as an existing product or does not raise any health concerns beyond that of the existing product | Unit 7 Key Terms
Substrate | a substance upon which an enzyme acts | Unit 5 Key Terms
Supply chain | group of organizations, people and practices that link the production, pre-processing, conversion and consumption of products from supplier to consumer | Unit 12 Key Terms
Symbiosis | an interaction between two organisms that are closely associated with one another | Unit 9 Key Terms
Taq Polymerase | a specific type of DNA polymerase that is used in PCR which was isolated from the bacterial species Thermus aquaticus | Unit 6 Key Terms
Technology platform model | a biotechnology company model which is based on developing the technologies involved in discovering and producing new compounds as well as storing and analyzing large amounts of sequencing data | Unit 16 Key Terms
Telomerase | enzyme that functions to synthesize telomeres | Unit 3 Key Terms
Telomere | sequence of nucleotides located on the ends of linear chromosomes | Unit 3 Key Terms
Teratrogenic | an agent that causes birth defects | Unit 15 Key Terms
Theory | a hypothesis that has been repeatedly supported through experimentation that is commonly accepted as the accurate explanation of a phenomena | Unit 1 Key Terms
Thermophile | a type of extremophile (inhabit extreme environments) which thrives at high temperatures | Unit 6 Key Terms
Thermophile | type of organism which thrives in high temperatures | Unit 9 Key Terms
Tissue Culture | tissue grown in an artificial environment, separate from an organism, with the use of nutrient rich media and the appropriate environmental conditions | Unit 8 Key Terms
Totipotent | the ability to differentiate into any cell type | Unit 8 Key Terms
Transcription | the process by which an mRNA molecule is synthesized from a DNA template | Unit 4 Key Terms
Transcription Unit | the segment of DNA that is involved in transcription which includes the promoter, the gene, and the start and termination sites for transcription | Unit 4 Key Terms
Transformation | the process by which cells become genetically altered by incorporating foreign DNA either from their environment or by artificial means | Unit 3 Key Terms
Transgene | a gene or segment of DNA that has been transferred from one organism into another organism | Unit 10 Key Terms
Transgenesis | the process of incorporating a foreign gene or segment of DNA into an unrelated organism that does not naturally carry that gene or DNA | Unit 10 Key Terms
Transgenic | an organism that has been genetically modified to carry a foreign gene or segment of DNA | Unit 10 Key Terms
Translation | the process by which an mRNA molecule is interpreted into a chain of amino acids for protein synthesis | Unit 4 Key Terms
Translocation | a mutation in which a part of a chromosome or sequence of nucleotides has been moved from its original location to a different chromosome | Unit 4 Key Terms
tRNA | considered the interpreter of translation, transfers amino acids to the growing protein chain | Unit 4 Key Terms
Tumor Inducing (TI) Plasmid | circular, double stranded piece of DNA that carries the necessary DNA for causing the tumors of crown gall disease into plant hosts; found in certain bacterial cells such as Agrobacterium tumefaci ... | Unit 10 Key Terms
Tunicate | sessile, multicellular animals which have a firm outer layer that covers their barrel shaped bodies | Unit 13 Key Terms
Utilitarian approach | an ethical approach which focuses on the consequences or outcomes of an action with the driving force behind decisions being trying to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number | Unit 15 Key Terms
Value chain | a broad term used to describe the facets of a particular industry including groups of organizations, people and practices that help to connect suppliers of raw materials with the market where they ... | Unit 12 Key Terms
Venture capital | financial investments which are made to companies that are in the early stages of startup | Unit 16 Key Terms
Virus | an acellular parasite that can only replicate inside the cells of a living organism | Unit 9 Key Terms
Western Blot | a lab method which takes molecules that have been separated by electrophoresis and then applies antibodies to those molecules to confirm or identify whether or not specific molecules were present | Unit 5 Key Terms
Xenotransplantation | the transplantation of cells, tissues or organs from one species to another species | Unit 11 Key Terms
Yeast Artificial Chromosome (YAC) | a cloning vector which is capable of carrying up to 2000 kb of nucleotide bases but can only be replicated and/or expressed in yeast | Unit 7 Key Terms