Introduction
Abiotic Stress - The stress caused to plants due to herbicides, water deficiency, ozone, intense light etc.
Active Site - The site on the enzyme at which the substrate binds.
Adherent Cells - The cells which grow adhering to cell culture vessel and are adherent dependent are called adherent cells
Aerobe - A microorganism dependent on oxygen for it’s growth.
Affinity Chromatography - A type of chromatography in which the matrix contains chemical groups that can selectively bind (ligands) to the molecules being purified.
Affinity Tag - The tagged amino acid sequence which forms a part of the recombinant protein and acts as an identification tag.
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis - Electrophoresis carried out on agarose gel to separate DNA fragments.
Agrobacterium Tumefaciens – A rod shaped bacterium that causes crown gall disease by inserting it’s DNA into plant cells.
Amino Acids - The building blocks or monomeric units of protein.
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) - A sensitive method for the detection of polymorphism in the genome. It is based on the principle of RFLP and RAPD.
Anaerobe - A microorganism that can grow in the absence of O2
Androgenesis - Development of plants from male gametophytes.
Aneuploidy - An abnormal condition of chromosomes, differing from the usual diploid constitution. This may be due to a loss or gain of chromosomes.
Annealing - The pairing of complementary single strands of DNA to form a double helix.
Anticodon - A set of three nucleotides in a tRNA molecule that are complementary to a set of three nucleotides (codon) in mRNA.
Antisense therapy - The in vivo treatment of a genetic disease by blocking translation (protein synthesis) with a DNA or RNA sequence that is complementary to specific mRNA.
Apoptosis - Programmed cell death.
ARS - Autonomously Replicating Sequence.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) - The manipulations of reproduction in animals and humans.
ATCC - American Type Culture Collection.
ATP - Adenosine Triphosphate.
Autoradiography - The process of detection of radioactively labeled molecules by exposure of an X-ray sensitive film.
Auxins - A group of plant growth regulators which are involved in cell elongation, root initiation etc. e.g. indole acetic acid.
Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) - A vector system based on the F-factor plasmid of E.coli, BAC is used for cloning large (100–300 kb) DNA segments.
Bacteriophage - A virus that infects a bacterium, also called a phage.
Baker’s yeast - The living cells of aerobically grown yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used in bread making.
Base pair (bp) - The hydrogen bonded structure formed between two complementary nucleotides (i.e. partnership of A with T or C with G) in DNA structure.
Base ratio - The ratio of A to T, or C to G in a double-stranded DNA.
Batch culture - A closed culture system containing limited amounts of nutrients.
BLAST - Basic Local Alignment Search Tool.
BAC - Bacterial Artificial Chromosome.
Bacillus thuringiensis - A rod-shaped bacterium whose toxic crystals act as an insecticide against certain specific species of arthropods.
Bergmann’s plating technique - The most widely used method for culture of isolated single plant cells.
Bioaccumulation - Concentration of a chemical agent (e.g. DDT) in increasing amounts in the organisms of a food chain.
Bioaugmentation - The addition of microorganisms to waste sites so that the hazardous wastes are rendered harmless.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) - The oxygen required to meet the metabolic needs of aerobic organisms in water containing organic compounds.
Biodegradation - Biological transformation of organic compounds by living organisms, particularly the microorganisms.
Biofertilizer - Commercial preparation of microorganisms by using which the nitrogen and phosphorus levels and growth of plants increase.
Biofiltration - The process of removing complex wastes from domestic and industrial sources by using microorganisms.
Biohazards - The accidents or risks associated with biological materials.
Bioleaching - The use of bacteria to recover valuable metals from ores.
Biolistics - The process of introducing DNA into plant and animal cells, and organelles by bombardment of DNA-coated pellets under pressure at high speed. This is also called microprojectile bombardment.
Biomass - The organic mass that can be used as a source of energy. Biomass also refers to the cell mass produced by a population of living organisms.
Biometry - Application of statistical methods to study biological problems.
Biopesticides - The toxic compounds produced by living organisms that can specifically kill a particular pest species.
Bioprocess technology - A more recent usage to replace fermentation technology that involves large-scale cultivation of microorganisms for industrial purposes.
Bioreactor - A growth chamber or a vessel for cells or microorganisms. The cells or cell extracts carry out biological reactions in a bioreactor.
Bioremediation - The process of using living organisms to remove contaminants, pollutants, or unwanted substances from soil or water.
Biosensor - An electronic device that uses biological molecules or cells to detect specific compounds.
Biosorption - The process of microbial cell surface adsorption of metals.
Biostimulation - Addition of specific nutrients to enhance the growth of naturally occurring microorganisms that convert toxic compounds to non-toxic compounds.
Biotechnology - The applications of biological principles, organisms, and products to practical purposes.
Biotic stress - The stress caused to plants by insects, pathogens (viruses, fungi, bacteria), wounds, etc.
Biotransformation - The use of biological systems for the conversion of biomolecules.
Biodiversity - The variability among the living organisms from all sources, soil, water, air, extreme habitat or associated with organisms.
Biotin - A non-radioactive label used for labeling probes, detected through a cyto-chemical reaction.
Bioinformatics - A field of study which involves the use of computer software as well as biology.
Blue biotechnology - A term that has been used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biotechnology, though its use is relatively rare.
Bioeconomy - The investment and economic output of all types of applied biotechnologies is termed as Bioeconomy.
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field which addresses biological problems using computational techniques, and makes the rapid organization and analysis of biological data possible. The field may also be referred to as computational biology, and can be defined as, "conceptualizing biology in terms of molecules and then applying informatics techniques to understand and organize the information associated with these molecules, on a large scale." Bioinformatics plays a key role in various areas, such as Functional genomics (identification of genes and their respective functions), Structural genomics (predictions related to functions of proteins) and Comparative genomics (for understanding the genomes of different species of organisms), and forms a key component in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. The best example is the sequencing of human genome in a record time which was possible because of bioinformatics.
Bt plants - The plants carrying the toxin-producing gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, and capable of protecting themselves from insect attack.
BLAST - Basic Local Alignment Search Tool.
Brewer’s yeast - A strain of yeast usually belonging to Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is used for the production of beer.
Broth - Any fluid medium supporting the growth of microorganisms.
Callus - A mass of undifferentiated plant tissues formed from plant cells or tissue cuttings when grown in culture.
Casettee mutagenesis - Replacement of a wild type DNA by a synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotide (a small DNA fragment).
Cell culture - The culture of dispersed (or disaggregated) cells obtained from the original tissue, or from a cell line.
Cell lines - Animal or plant cells that can be cultivated under laboratory conditions.
Cell-mediated immune response - The activation of the T-lymphocytes of the immune system in response to a foreign antigen.
cDNA - Complementary DNA i.e. DNA produced by reverse transcription from mRNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
Chimeric antibodies - Antibodies in which the individual polypeptide chains are composed of segments from two different species (usually man and mouse).
Chimera - A recombinant DNA molecule that contains sequences from different organisms.
Chromatography - An analytical technique dealing with the separation of closely related compounds from a mixture.
Chromosome walking - A technique used to identify the overlapping sequences of DNA in a chromosome in order to identify a particular locus of interest.
Clone - All the individuals derived by asexual reproduction from a single original individual. In molecular biology, a strain of organisms that carries a particular DNA sequence.
Cloning vector - A plasmid or a phage that carries an inserted foreign DNA to be introduced into a host cell.
Codon - A triplet nucleotide sequence of mRNA coding for an amino acid in a polypeptide.
Colony hybridization - A technique that employs a nucleic acid probe to identify a bacterial colony with a vector carrying specific gene(s).
Contigs - Continuous (contiguous) sequences which have overlapping regions on either end.
Cosmid - A hybrid vector of plasmid and phage DNA, contains specific sequences called cos sites of phage DNA.
Competence - Ability of a bacterial cell to take in DNA.
Continuous cell lines - The cell lines that get transformed and under in vitro conditions grow continuously. These cells show no contact inhibition and no anchorage dependence.
Cryopreservation - Storage and preservation at very low temperatures (-196°C).
Cryoprotectant - A chemical agent or a compound that can prevent damage to cells while they are frozen or defrosted.
Culture - A population of plant or animal cells/microorganisms that are grown under controlled conditions.
Culture medium - The nutrients prepared in the form of a fluid (broth) or solid for the growth of cells/tissues in the laboratory.
Cybrids - The cytoplasmic hybrids obtained by the fusion of enucleated and nucleated protoplasts.
Cybridization - The process of formation of cybrids.
Cystic fibrosis - A disease affecting lungs and other tissues due to defects in ion transport. It is caused by the deficiency of CFTR gene.
Cytokines - Various chemicals produced in the body which mediate immunological responses.
Cytotoxicity - The toxic effects on cells that result in metabolic alterations including the death of cells.
Diazotrophs - The microorganisms involved in diazotrophy.
Dolly - The first mammal (sheep) cloned by Wilmut and Campbell in 1997.
DMSO - Dimethyl sulfoxide.
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid.
DNA fingerprinting - A technique for the identification of individuals based on the small differences in DNA sequences.
DNA hybridization - The pairing of two DNA molecules used to detect the specific sequence in the sample DNA.
DNA marker - A DNA sequence that exists in two or more readily identifiable forms (polymorphic forms) which can be used to mark a map position on a genome map.
DNA probe - A segment of DNA that is tagged with a label (i.e. isotope) so as to detect a complementary base sequence in the DNA sample after a hybridization reaction.
DNA profiling - The term used to describe different methods for the analysis of DNA to establish the identity of an individual.
DNA repair - The biochemical processes that correct mutations occurring due to replication errors or as a consequence of mutagenic agents.
DNase - Deoxyribonuclease.
EBI - European Bioinformatics Institute.
Electrophoresis - An analytical technique that separates charged molecules in an electrical field.
Electroporation - The technique of introducing DNA into cells by inducing transient pores by electric pulse.
EMBL - European Molecular Biology Laboratory.
Edible vaccines - The vaccines produced in plants which can enter the body on eating them.
Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) - The cells of an early embryo that can give rise to all differentiated cells, including germ cells.
Embryo rescue - The culture of immature embryos to rescue them from unripe or hybrid seeds which fail to germinate.
Embryo transfer - The process of implantation of embryos from a donor animal, or developed by in vitro fertilization into the uterus of a recipient animal.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - A technique for the detection of small quantities of proteins by utilizing antibodies linked to enzymes, which in turn catalyze the formation of colored products.
Epitopes - The specific antigen determinants located on the antigens.
ENTREZ - An integrated database retrieval system for obtaining comprehensive information on a given biological question.
EPO - Erythropoietin.
ESI - Electron Spray Ionization.
EST - Expressed Sequence Tag.
ELISA - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Eugenics - The science of improving human stock by selective breeding. It involves giving better chances for more suitable people in the society to reproduce than the less suitable people.
Eutrophication - Excess growth of algae (in sewage/waste waters) which leads to oxygen depletion.
Explant - The whole plants can be regenerated virtually from any plant part referred to as explant.
Exponential phase - A phase in culture in which the cells divide at a maximum rate.
Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) - A cDNA that is sequenced in order to gain rapid access to the genes in a genome.
Fed-Batch Culture - In a fed-batch culture, the culture is continuously or sequentially fed with fresh medium without removing the growing culture.
Fermentation - The growth of cells or microorganisms in bioreactors (fermenters) to synthesize special products. In biochemistry, fermentation refers to the biodegradation of carbon compounds by cells or organisms under anaerobic (lack of oxygen) conditions.
Fermenter - A containment system for the cultivation of prokaryotic cells.
Flavr Savr - Transgenic tomato developed by using antisense technology.
Flow Cytometry - A method used to sort out cells, organelles, or biological materials by passing them through apertures of defined sizes.
FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) - A method of employing fluorescent labels for locating markers on chromosomes by detecting the hybridization positions.
Finite Cell Lines - Cell lines that have a limited life span and grow through a limited number of cell generations.
Fusogen - An agent that induces fusion of protoplasts in somatic hybridization.
Fusion Protein - A protein that is formed by the fusion of two polypeptides, normally coded by separate genes.
IEF - Isoelectric Focusing.
2-DE - 2-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis.
Gametoclonal Variations - Variations observed in regenerated plants from gametic cells (e.g., anther culture).
Gene Bank - A library of genes or clones of an entire genome of a species.
Gene Cloning - Insertion of a gene (a fragment of DNA) or recombinant DNA into a cloning vector, and propagation of the DNA molecule in a host organism.
Genomic DNA - The DNA of an organism containing the essential genes of the organism.
Genetic Maps - Maps giving relative distance and position of one gene with respect to another, based on recombination values.
Gene Therapy - Treatment of diseases by use of genes or DNA sequences.
Genetically Engineered Microorganisms (GEMs) - Microorganisms that have undergone genetic modifications.
Genetically Modified (GM) Foods - Foods produced from transgenic plants and animals introduced into the food chain.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Organisms that are genetically engineered, typically transgenic plants and animals.
Genetic Engineering - Broadly involves all in vitro genetic manipulations.
Genome - The total content of DNA represented by the genes in a cell.
Genomics - The study of the structure and function of genomes.
Genetic Library - A collection of clones representing the entire genome of an organism.
Germ Line - Reproductive cells that produce gametes, which give rise to sperms and eggs.
Germplasm - The sum total of all genes present in a crop and its related species.
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops - Crops developed through genetic modification to achieve higher productivity and improved traits.
GRAS - Generally Regarded As Safe. A designation used to represent the safety of foods, drugs, and materials with no history of causing illness to humans. Also refers to host organisms used in genetic engineering experiments.
GST - Genomic Sequence Tag.
Golden Rice - Genetically engineered rice enriched with provitamin A (beta-carotene).
Green biotechnology is biotechnology applied to agriculture processes. An example would be the selection and domestication of plants via micropropagation. Another example is the designing of Transgenic plants to grow under specific environments in the presence (or absence) of chemicals. Using geentic engineering, plants have been created that can express a pesiticide, thereby ending the need of external application of pesticides. eg Bt corn. Whether or not green biotechnology products such as this are ultimately more environmentally friendly is a topic of considerable debate.
HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Air.
HeLa Cells - A pure cell line of human cancer cells used for the cultivation of viruses.
Heterokaryon - A cell in which two or more nuclei of different genetic make-up are present.
Heterologous - Gene sequences that are not identical, but show variable degrees of similarity.
Homogenation - Mechanical grinding of cells or tissues.
High Throughput - A fast rate of sequencing or processing samples.
Histotypic Cultures - The growth and propagation of cells in a three-dimensional matrix to high cell density.
HPLC - High Performance/Pressure Liquid Chromatography.
Humulin - Human insulin used for the treatment of diabetic patients. It was developed by Eli Lilly Company and approved for human use in 1982.
Human Genome Project (HGP) - An international mega project for the identification of human genome sequences, the genes, and their functions.
Hybrid DNA - DNA composed of sequences from two different organisms; also called recombinant DNA.
Hybridization - The annealing of a single-stranded DNA to its complementary region on another single-stranded DNA.
Hybridoma - A clone of hybrid cells produced by fusion of a myeloma cell with an antibody-producing cell. Each hybridoma produces only one type of monoclonal antibody.
In Situ Hybridization - The process of annealing a probe in order to screen a DNA library.
In Vitro - Literally means "in glass"; refers to biological activities or reactions carried out in a test tube rather than in a living cell or organism.
In Vitro Gene Banks - Gene banks established to preserve genetic resources through non-conventional methods such as cell and tissue culture.
In Vivo Gene Bank - Gene banks that preserve genetic resources using conventional methods such as seeds and vegetative propagules.
In Vivo Gene Therapy - The direct delivery of gene(s) to a tissue or organ to alleviate genetic disorders.
Immobilized Enzymes - Enzymes physically localized in a defined region, enabling them to be reused in continuous processes.
Immunoglobulins - A special group of proteins, commonly referred to as antibodies, produced by B-lymphocytes and involved in humoral immunity.
Insulin - A hormone synthesized by beta cells of the pancreas. It facilitates the uptake and metabolism of glucose.
Interferons - A group of glycoproteins that resist viral infection and regulate immune responses.
Interleukins - A group of lymphokines important for the function of the immune system.
Junk DNA - The intergenic content of DNA, often referred to as non-coding or "junk" DNA.
Karyotyping - The method of photographing the complete set of chromosomes for a particular cell type and organizing them into pairs based on size and shape.
Knockout Mouse - A genetically altered mouse in which specific genes have been inactivated or "knocked out" to study gene function.
LAF - Laminar Air Flow Hood.
Labelling - Attaching radioactive or non-radioactive molecules to specific substances in order to detect them.
Land Farming - A technique for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.
Land Filling - A method for the final disposal of sludge.
Lipoplexes - The lipid-DNA complexes, also referred to as liposomes.
Lytic Cycle - The replication cycle of bacteria that ultimately results in the lysis of host cells.
MALDI - Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization.
Marker Gene - A gene used to detect the insertion of DNA by its inactivation.
Meristem - A localized region of actively dividing cells in plants, such as the tips of stems and roots.
Microarray - A large number of DNA spots present on a glass slide representing the total mRNA of a cell, used for detecting gene expression patterns.
Micropropagation - A tissue culture method that utilizes the culture of apical shoots, axillary buds, and meristems for plant propagation.
Microinjection - The delivery of DNA or other compounds into eukaryotic cells using a fine microscopic needle.
MoAb/MAb (Monoclonal Antibodies) - A specific type of antibody produced by hybridoma cells, directed against a specific antigenic determinant (epitope).
Molecular Pharming - The use of transgenic animals to obtain medicinal products through recombinant DNA technology.
Molecular Breeding - Breeding assisted by molecular (nucleic acid) markers.
Monellin - A protein found in the fruits of the African plant *Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii*, about 100,000 times sweeter than sucrose.
Morphogenesis - The growth and development of an undifferentiated structure into a differentiated structure or form.
MTCC - Microbial Type Culture Collection.
Multicellular Tumour Spheroids (MCTs) - In vitro three-dimensional proliferating models used for the study of tumour cells.
Mushrooms - Fungi belonging to the class Basidiomycetes, some of which are edible, e.g., *Agaricus bisporus* (button mushroom).
Mutagenesis - Changes in the DNA nucleotides of an organism induced by physical or chemical treatments.
Mutagens - Agents that increase the rate of mutation by inducing changes in DNA.
Muteins - Second-generation recombinant therapeutic proteins.
Myeloma - A tumour cell line derived from a lymphocyte that usually produces a single type of immunoglobulin.
Mycelium - A mass of interwoven thread-like filaments of a fungus or bacteria.
NBRF - National Biomedical Research Foundation.
NCBI - National Centre for Biotechnology Information.
NIH - National Institutes of Health.
Nitrogen Fixation - The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia; biological nitrogen fixation occurs in prokaryotes and is catalyzed by the enzyme nitrogenase.
Northern Blotting - The transfer of RNA from an electrophoresis gel to a membrane to perform Northern hybridization.
Northern Hybridization - A technique used for the detection of specific RNA molecules through Northern blotting.
Nucleoid - The DNA-containing region of a prokaryotic cell.
Old Biotechnology - Also known as traditional biotechnology.
Oligonucleotide-directed Mutagenesis - A technique used to alter one or more specific nucleotides in a DNA sequence to produce a protein with a specific amino acid change.
Oncogene - A gene that promotes cell proliferation resulting in uncontrolled growth.
Oncomouse - A genetically modified mouse model for cancer research; it was the first animal to be patented in the U.S. in 1988.
Organ Culture - The in vitro culture of an organ aimed at preserving or developing the original organ structure.
Organogenesis - The process of morphogenesis that leads to the formation of organs such as shoots and roots.
Patent - A government-issued document granting exclusive rights to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a specific period, usually 20 years.
Phage - A virus that infects bacteria.
Phosphinothricin (Glufosinate) - A broad-spectrum herbicide.
Phytoalexins - Secondary metabolites produced by plants in response to infection.
Plantlet - A small rooted shoot or germinated embryo used in plant tissue culture.
Plating Efficiency - The percentage of cells that form colonies after plating.
Plasmid - An autonomous, circular, self-replicating extrachromosomal DNA found in bacteria and some other organisms.
PAM (Point Accepted Mutation) - A measure used in comparing protein sequences based on accepted mutations.
pI (Isoelectric Point) - The pH at which a particular molecule carries no net electrical charge.
Poly(A) Tail - A stretch of adenine nucleotides added to the 3’ end of eukaryotic mRNA.
Polyclonal Antibodies - A mixture of different antibodies that react with various epitopes of the same antigen.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) - Intracellular storage compounds of carbon and energy that are biodegradable polymers.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) - A technique used to amplify DNA sequences in vitro.
Polymorphism - Genetic variations among individuals that lead to different phenotypes.
PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) - A compound used in cell fusion and transformation techniques.
PDGF (Platelet Derived Growth Factor) - A protein that regulates cell growth and division.
Primer - A short strand of nucleotides that provides a starting point for DNA or RNA synthesis.
Primary Cells - Eukaryotic cells taken directly from an animal for the purpose of culture.
Primary Cell Culture - A culture initiated directly from cells or tissues freshly isolated from an organism.
Probe - A labeled DNA or RNA molecule used to detect complementary sequences during hybridization.
Protein Engineering - The process of designing and generating proteins with altered or improved properties such as stability or function.
Protein Targeting - The process of transporting proteins to specific locations within a cell; also known as protein sorting.
PROTEOME - The complete protein complement of cells, tissues and organisms is referred to as its proteome.
PROTEOMICS - Large scale characterization of the entire protein complement of cells, tissues, and organisms is called proteomics.
PROTEIN ENGINEERING - Production and modification of proteins for medicinal, Industrial, and research purposes.
PRIMARY CELL CULTURE - The maintenance of growth of cells dissociated from the parental tissue in culture medium is known as primary cell culture.
PITC - Phenyl iso thiocyanate.
PTFE - Poly tetra fluoro ethylene.
RAPD - Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA - A PCR based method of DNA profiling. It basically involves the amplification of DNA sequences using random primers, and use of genetic fingerprints to identify individual organisms (mostly plants).
RFLP - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism.
RBS - Ribosome Binding Site.
RT-PCR - Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Red Biotechnology - Applied to medical processes. Some examples are the designing of organisms to produce antibiotics, and the engineering of genetic cures through genetic manipulation.
RNA - Ribonucleic acid.
RNAse - Ribonuclease.
R-HuEPO - Recombinant human erythropoietin.
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology - The techniques involved in the construction, and use of recombinant DNA molecules.
Recombinant protein - A protein that is produced by the expression of a cloned gene of a recombinant DNA molecule.
Restriction endonuclease - An enzyme that specifically cuts DNA molecule at specific nucleotide sequences.
RFLP - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism - A restriction fragment with variable lengths due to the presence of polymorphic restriction sites at one or both ends.
Retro virus - A virus with RNA as genetic material.
Reverse transcription - The process of synthesis of DNA from RNA.
RNA vaccines - RNA molecules which can synthesize antigenic proteins and offer immunity.
Satellite DNA - Repetitive DNA that forms a satellite band in a density gradient.
Scale up - The expansion of laboratory experiments to full-sized industrial processes.
Secondary metabolite - A metabolite that is not required for the growth and maintenance of cellular functions.
Septic tanks - Anaerobic digesters of solids of the sewage settled at the bottom of tanks.
Sewage - The liquid waste arising mainly from domestic and industrial sources.
Shot gun approach - A technique for sequencing of genome in which the molecules to be sequenced are randomly broken down into fragments, which are then individually sequenced.
Shuttle vectors - The plasmid vectors that are designed to replicate in two different hosts e.g. E. coli and Streptomyces sp.
SNPs - Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.
Single cell protein (SCP) - Cells or protein extracts of microorganisms produced in large quantities for use as human or animal protein supplement.
Siderophore - A low molecular weight Fe-chelating protein synthesized by several soil microorganisms.
Signal peptide - A short sequence of amino acids at the N-terminal end of some proteins that facilitates the protein to cross membrane.
Site-directed mutagenesis - The technique used to produce a specified mutation at a predetermined position in a DNA molecule.
Sludge - The semi-solid mass produced during the course of sewage/waste water treatment processes.
Somaclonal variation - The genetic variations found in the cultured plant cells when compared to a pure breeding strain.
Somatic cell - Any body cell as opposed to germ cell. Somatic cell is non-reproductive and divides by mitosis.
Somatic cell gene therapy - The delivery of gene(s) to somatic cells to correct genetic defects.
Somatic embryogenesis - Formation of embryos from asexual cells.
Southern hybridization - A technique used for the detection of specific DNA sequences (restriction fragments).
Sparger - A device that introduces air into a bioreactor in the form of a fine stream.
SDS-PAGE - Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate - Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis.
Stem cells - A progenitor cell that is capable of dividing continuously throughout the life of an organism.
Stirred tank fermenter - A fermentation vessel in which the cells or microorganisms are mixed by mechanically driven impellers.
SUB CULTURING - Subculturing involves removing the growth media, washing the plate, disassociating the adherent cells, usually enzymatically or by using a pipette, and diluting the cell suspension into fresh media.
SUSPENSION CULTURES - Cells which do not attach to the surface of the culture vessel and grow in a suspended manner in the culture medium are called suspension cultures.
Superbug - The first genetically engineered organism (bacterial strain of Pseudomonas) that was patented. It carries different hydrocarbon-degrading genes on plasmids.
Superovulation - The process of inducing more ovarian follicles to ripen and produce more eggs.
T-DNA - The part of the Ti plasmid that is transferred to the plant DNA.
t-PA - Tissue Plasminogen Activator.
T-lymphocytes (T cells) - The lymphocytes that are dependent on the thymus for their differentiation, and are involved in cell-mediated immune response.
Thaumatin - A protein extracted from berries which is about 3000 times sweeter than sucrose.
Tm - Melting temperature.
Ti plasmid - The large-sized tumour-inducing plasmid found in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. It directs crown gall formation in certain plant species.
TIGR - The Institute of Genomic Research.
Tissue culture - A process where individual cells, or tissues of plants or animals are grown artificially.
Tissue engineering - The application of the principles of engineering to cell culture for the construction of functional anatomical units.
TRANSFORMATION - Uptake of naked DNA by bacterial cells.
Totipotent - A term used to describe a cell that is not committed to a single developmental pathway, and thus it is capable of forming all types of differentiated cells.
Traditional (old) biotechnology - The age-old practices for the preparation of foods and beverages, based on the natural capabilities of microorganisms.
Transgenic - An organism that carries a foreign DNA (transgene).
VECTOR - A vehicle for carrying cloned DNA.
Vegetative propagation - The asexual propagation of plants from the detached parts of the plants.
White biotechnology - Also known as industrial biotechnology, it is biotechnology applied to industrial processes. An example is the designing of an organism to produce a useful chemical. Another example is using enzymes as industrial catalysts to either produce valuable chemicals or destroy hazardous/polluting chemicals. White biotechnology tends to consume fewer resources than traditional processes used to produce industrial goods.
YAC - Yeast Artificial Chromosome.
Zygote - The fertilized egg formed by the fusion of two gametes.