A terms

ACC Synthase

- aminocyclopropane-2-carboxylate synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of ethylene in plants, and one of the targets of delayed fruit ripening technology.

Acrocentric chromosome

- A chromosome whose centromere is located near one end

Adaptation

- A functional or structural characteristic of an organism that allows it to cope better with its environment

Adaptor

- A synthetic single-stranded non self-complementary oligonucleotide used in conjunction with alinker to add cohesive ends to DNA molecules

Additive genes

- Genes that interact but do not show dominance. They do not have individually recognizable phenotypic effects; rather, these genes have cumulative or additive effects.

Additive variance

- The fraction of the genetic variance that is due to additive genes

Adenine (A)

- Nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

- The energy molecule of cells, synthesized mainly in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Energy from its breakdown drives many important cellular reactions.

Adventitious Presence of Genetically Modified (GM) Material in Non-GM Products

The adventitious presence of GM material is the unintended occurrence of plant material from crops improved through modern biotechnology in other seed, food and feed. It occurs through natural pollen flow or from co-mingling of grain that occurs in the production/distribution system. It is the logical and unavoidable consequence of the development of GM crops in many parts of the world. In contrast to off-types mentioned in the previous section, which are checked on phenotypic characteristics, adventitious presence of GM material are in general checked based on DNA characteristics.

For more on this topic, go to: http://www.worldseed.org/FAQ/FAQap.htm

Agarose

- Jelly-like matrix, extracted from seaweed, used as support in the separation of nucleic acid by gel electrophoresis

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

- A common soil bacterium that causes crown gall disease by transferring some of its DNA to the plant host. Scientists alter Agrobacterium so that it no longer causes the disease but is still able to transfer DNA. They then use this altered Agrobacterium to ferry desirable genes into plants.

Alkaline phosphatase

- An enzyme that removes 5'-phosphate groups from the ends of DNA molecules, leaving 5'-hydoxyl groups

Allele

- One of two or more alternative forms of a gene which are usually recognizable by phenotypes

Alzheimer's disease (AD)

- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia (a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities) among older people. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Every day scientists learn more, but right now the causes of AD are still unknown, and there is no cure.

Source: Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center http://www.alzheimers.org

Amino acid

- The fundamental building blocks of a protein molecule. A protein is composed of a chain of hundreds or thousands of amino acids. Our bodies can synthesize most of the amino acids. However, eight amino acids (called "essential amino acids") must be obtained from food.

Ampicilin (Ap)

- A semisynthetic ß-lactam antibiotic

Angiosperms

- Angiosperms are flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruit. They are the dominant type of plant today; there are over 250,000 species. Their flowers are used in reproduction. Angiosperms evolved 125 million years ago and became the dominant plants about 100 million years ago. Angiosperms are divided into the monocots (like corn) and dicots (like beans).

Source: http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/rainforest/glossary/

Antibody

- A protein produced in response to the presence of a specific antigen.

Anticodon

- The three adjacent nucleotides in a tRNA molecule that are complementary to and that pairs with the three nucleotides of a codon in the mRNA during the protein synthesis

Antigen

- A foreign substance that elicits the production of antibodies.

Antioxidants

- Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals otherwise might cause. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E, and A, and other substances.

Source: National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.gov

Anti-parallel

- The arrangement of complementary DNA strands, which run in different directions with respect to their 5' 3' polarity

Anti-sense technology

- The use of an RNA molecule to block gene expression by interfering with protein production. This technique is used commercially in tomatoes to slow ripening for better shipping and longer shelf life.

Anthocyanins

- Anthocyanins are naturally occurring compounds that impart color to fruit, vegetables, and plants. Derived from two Greek words meaning plant and blue, anthocyanins are the pigments that make blueberries blue, raspberries red, and are thought to play a major role in the high antioxidant activity levels observed in red and blue fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins are also largely responsible for the red coloring of buds and young shoots and the purple and purple-red colors of autumn leaves. More than 200 anthocyanins have been discovered.

Source: http://www.wholehealthmd.com

Apomixis

- Mode of asexual production in which there is no fusion of gametes but the structure involved are commonly concerned in sexual reproduction.

Arabidopsis

- The first flowering plant to have its entire genome sequenced. Commonly known as thale cress, a relative of the mustard plant, it has become a model organism in plant biology research because Arabidopsis has almost all of the same genes as other flowering plants and has relatively little "non-coding" DNA.

Source: http://pbi-ibp.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/media/glossary.htm

Arthropod

- A large group of invertebrate animals with jointed legs, including the insects, scorpions, crustaceans and spiders.

Source: http://www.reefed.edu.au/glossary/a.html

Assay

- A method for determining the presence or quantity of a component.

Autoradiogram

- Image produced on X-ray film in response to the emmission of radioactive particles

Autosome

- A body chromosome or a chromosome other than the sex xhromosome