Biotech Glossary

A collection of biomolecules made from DNA fragments of a genome that represent the genetic information of an organism that can be propagated and then systematically screened for particular properties. The DNA may be derived from the genomic DNA of an organism or from DNA copies made from messenger RNA molecules. A…

Crops that are genetically engineered to carry a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The bacterium produces proteins that are toxic to some pests but non-toxic to humans and other mammals. Crops containing the Bt gene are able to produce this toxin, thereby providing protection for the plant. Bt…

A soil bacterium that produces toxins that are deadly to some pests. The ability to produce Bt toxins has been engineered into some crops. See Bt crops. Biopharming: The production of pharmaceuticals such as edible vaccines and antibodies in plants or domestic animals.

 (Gr. en, in + zyme, yeast or leaven)  A protein produced in living cells, which, even in very low concentration, catalyses specific chemical reactions but is not used up in the reaction. Enzymes are classified into six major groups, according to the type of reaction they catalyse: 1. Oxidoreductase; 2. Transferases;…

The aggregate of all the external conditions and influences affecting the life and development of an organism.

(deoxyribonucleic acid; formerly spelt desoxyribonucleic acid)  The long chain of molecules in most cells that carries the genetic message and controls all cellular functions in most forms of life. The information-carrying genetic material that comprises the genes. DNA is a macro-molecule composed of a long chain of…

 A small glass surface to which has been fixed an array of DNA fragments, each with a defined location. A typical DNA chip would contain 10 000 discrete spots (each containing a different DNA fragment) in an area of just a few square centimetres. When a solution of fluorescently labelled DNA fragments is hybridized to…

An enzyme that catalyses a reaction that links two DNA molecules via the formation of a phospho-diester bond between the 3´ hydroxyl and 5´ phosphate of adjacent nucleotides. It plays an important role in DNA repair and replication. DNA ligase is one of the essential tools of recombinant DNA technology, enabling (among…

The pairing of two DNA molecules, often from different sources, by hydrogen bonding between complementary nucleotides. This technique is frequently used to detect the presence of a specific nucleotide sequence in a DNA sample.

A gene that is likely to be located in the same region as a DNA marker that has been shown to be linked to a single-locus trait or to a quantitative trait locus (QTL), where the gene's likely location in the genome of the species in question is based on its known location in the map of another species, i.e., is based…