Human's Playground: Genetic Engineering

Glossary

APHIS – (Animal and Plants Health Inspection Service) Responsible for the protection of the plants from diseases and pests.
base sequence – the order of the bases, providing the information necessary for a cell to make a specific protein.
bases – the four chemical compounds the rungs of the double helix ladder are made up of. A pair of bases forms each rung. Most genes consist of several thousand base pairs.
Bt toxin – (Bacillus thuringiensis) A Bt gene is implanted into plants, therefore the crops have a natural insecticide.
Cartagena Protocol – an international agreement regulating the trade of genetically engineered products, particularly Living Modified Organisms (LMO’s)
catalyst- a substance that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process
chromosome- a rod-shaped structure in a cell nucleus that carries genes. Each chromosome contains a single long molecule of a chemical substance called DNA
cleavage site – the point in which restriction enzymes break DNA molecule.
clone – a group of genetically identical cells.
DNA – acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA stores within its chemical structure the information that determines an organism’s hereditary properties. May contain thousands of genes.
dominant- used to describe a gene that causes a parental characteristic it controls to occur in any offspring or the characteristic itself
double helix –the physical structure of DNA which is similar in all organisms. The DNA molecule is shaped like a twisted rope ladder, called the double helix. The rungs of the ladder are made up of four chemical compounds. This structure allows for easy replication of the molecule.
enzyme- a protein produced by the body to speed up a specific chemical reaction in the body
EPA – (Environmental Protection Agency) Oversees the chemical and biological pesticides used in the production of the plants.
eukaryotic- having cells with “good” or membrane-bound nuclei
FDA – (Food and Drug Administration) Guarantees that the GE crops are safe for consumption.
gene splicing – a technique to alter the genetic makeup of DNA, in which a gene sized fragment of DNA is taken from one organism and joined to a DNA molecule from another organism or even from the same organism.
gene therapy – the treatment of medical disorders by introducing specific engineered genes into a patient’s cells
gene - a unit of heredity that is fixed on a specific point on the chromosomes and transmit and determines traits
germ line gene therapy – a process by which the DNA of an organism is modified at an early stage of development so all subsequent cells inherit the modification
herbicides – A pesticide used to get rid of not needed vegetation, such as weeds and grasses.
heredity- the passing of characteristics from parent to offspring by means of genes in the chromosomes
human Genome Project – an international effort to sequence the entire human genome
insulin – substance used to regulate blood sugar level, used to treat diabetes
interferon – peptides that promote the production of a protein that stimulates the immune system
ligase – an enzyme used to splice DNA fragment to another DNA molecule.
LMO – living modified organism
nucleotides - a type of chemical compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group
oncogenes – cancer causing genes
oxidation - a chemical reaction in which oxygen is added to an element or compound
peptides – short proteins
pharmacogenomics – branch of pharmaceutics which aims to tailor medicines to an individual’s genetic makeup
plasmid – small, free-floating rings of DNA found in bacteria
prokaryotic - having cells that lack membrane-bound nuclei
recessive - used to describe a gene that produces an effect in an organism only when its matching allele is identical
recombinant DNA – a kind of hybrid molecule formed when a gene sized DNA fragment is joined to another DNA molecule using ligase.
replication – a term for duplication.
restriction enzymes – enzymes used to isolate gene sized DNA fragments. The enzymes react chemically with a specific base sequence in the DNA molecule and break the molecule at that point. Restriction enzymes are made by bacteria.
somatic cell gene therapy – gene therapy that aims to modify nonreproductive (somatic) cells
spliced – a term for joined.
stem cell – an unspecialized cell that gives rise to a specific specialized cell, such as a brain cell
substrate - a surface on which an organism grows or is attached
synthesis - formation of chemical compounds
transformation – the process in which specially prepared cells mixed with recombinant DNA takes up the recombinant DNA.
USDA – (United States Department of Agriculture) The federal department that administers programs that offer services to the farmers.

Sources

“Genetic Engineering.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. 1 July 2004 http://www.search.eb.com/article?eu=37096. An excellent source for general information, but extremely helpful in vocabulary due to clear and precise definitions of the common terms appearing in text.
"Genetic Engineering." Compton's Encyclopedia. Vol. 9 ed. N.p.: n.p., 1997. Very prominent and detailed in descriptions, and a great aid for seeking vocabulary.