Definitions of some technical biological terms as defined in: 'A History of Genetically Modified Plants', Paul.F. Lurquin, Columbia University Press 2001 [L] or Henderson's Dictionary of Biological Terms [H]
Aberrant [H]: with characteristics not in accordance
with type [as in 'aberration']
Aneuploidy [H]
...chromosomal abnormalities that disrupt relative gene dosage,
such as deletions
Biolistics [H] technique of
introducing DNA into a cell by firing minute DNA-coated particles
into the cell using a device powered by pressurised helium - the
biolistic gun or 'gene gun'
Cotyledon: [H] -part of
plant embryo in which food is stored and which may form a leaf or
be left below ground when seed germinates
DNA: [H] deoxyribonucleic
acid, a very large linear molecule which acts as the store of
genetic information in all cells
Chromosome: [H] ... a
structure composed of DNA and associated proteins, and which
carries the genetic information
Cytogenetics: [H] study of
the microscopic structure of chromosomes
Direct gene transfer [L]: the
action of introducing DNA molecules into organisms using physical
or chemical helpers
Genome: [H] the complete
set of different genes carried by an organism or virus
Geomics: [H] the study of
complete genomes
Homologous [H] ... [DNA]
molecules which share the same base sequence [as in 'homology']
Meiosis: [H] a type of
nuclear division which results in daughter nuclei each containing
half the number of the parent, i.e. chromosome number is reduced
reduced from diploid to haploid.....
Ploidy [H] - number of
chromosomes or DNA molecules in a cell or organelle
Recombinant DNA: [H] DNA
produced by joining together in vitro [in the
laboratory] genes from different sources, or which has in some
way been modified in vitro to introduce novel genetic
information
Transformation [L]: ....
introduction of new, foreign genes into an organism by transfer
of DNA
Transgene [L]: a foreign
gene introduced into a cell or organism by transformation
Transgenesis [H]: the
deliberate introduction of a gene from one species into another
species by genetic engineering techniques
Transposon [L]: also called
a jumping gene. A segment of DNA able to excise itself from a
chromosomal locus [position] and reintegrate itself elsewhere in
the genome