 Glossary
This glossary has been developed with information from the Glossary of Biotechnology for Food and Agriculture - A Revised and Augmented Edition of the Glossary of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, FAO Research and Technology paper 9, by A. Zaid, H.G. Hughes, E. Porceddu, F. Nicholas 2001. ISSN 1020-0541
A list of acronyms is also included below.
Biotechnology
Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use (Convention on Biological Diversity). "In a narrow sense, ... a range of different molecular technologies such as gene manipulation and gene transfer, DNA typing and cloning of plants and animals" (FAO's statement on biotechnology)
Bioinformatics
The use of computers in solving information problems in the life sciences; mainly, it involves the creation of extensive electronic databases on genomes, protein sequences, etc. Secondarily, it involves techniques such as the three-dimensional modeling of biomolecules and biologic systems.
The use and organization of information of biological interest. In particular, concerned with organizing bio-molecular databases (particularly DNA sequences), utilizing computers for analysing this information, and integrating information from disparate biological sources.
Blastocyst
A mammalian embryo (fertilized ovum) in the early stages of development, approximately up to the time of implantation. It consists of a hollow ball of cells.
Clone
A group of cells or individuals that are genetically identical as a result of asexual reproduction, breeding of completely inbred organisms, or forming genetically identical organisms by nuclear transplantation.
Group of plants genetically identical in which all are derived from one selected individual by vegetative propagation. Verb: to clone. To insert a DNA segment into a vector or host chromosome.
Embryo
An immature organism in the early stages of development. In mammals, develops in the first months in the uterus. In plants, it is the structure that develops in the megagametophyte, as result of the fertilization of an egg cell, or occasionally without fertilization. Somatic embryos can often be induced in in vitro plant cell cultures.
Gene cloning
The synthesis of multiple copies of a chosen DNA sequence using a bacterial cell or another organism as a host.The gene of interest is inserted into a vector, and the resulting recombinant DNA molecule is amplified in an appropriate host cell. Synonym: DNA cloning.
Gene sequence (DNA sequencing)
Procedures for determining the nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment. Two common methods available: 1. The Maxam Gilbert technique, which uses chemicals to cleave DNA into fragments at specific bases; or, most commonly, 2. the Sanger technique (also called the di-deoxy or chain-terminating method) which uses DNA polymerase to make new DNA chains, in the presence of di-deoxynucleotides (chain terminators) to stop the chain randomly as it grows. In both cases, the DNA fragments are separated according to length by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, enabling the sequence to be read directly from the gel.
Genetic marker
A DNA sequence used to identify a particular location (locus) on a particular chromosome. See: marker gene.
Genome
The entire complement of genetic material (genes plus non-coding sequences) present in each cell of an organism, virus or organelle.
Genomics
The research strategy that uses molecular characterisation and cloning of whole genomes to understand the structure, function and evolution of genes and to answer fundamental biological questions.
Genotype
The genetic constitution of an organism. The allelic constitution at a particular locus, e.g. Aa or aa. The sum effect of all loci that contribute to the expression of a trait.
Homology
The degree of identity between individuals, or characters.
The degree of identity of sequence (nucleotide or amino acid) between a number of DNA or polypeptide molecules.
In vitro
Outside the organism, or in an artificial environment. Applied for example to cells, tissues or organs cultured in glass or plastic containers. in vitro embryo production (IVEP) The combination of ovum pickup, in vitro maturation of ova, and in vitro fertilization. A potential means of overcoming the variability between donors in number of ova collected in embryo-transfer programs.
in vitro fertilization (IVF)
A widely used technique in human and animal science, whereby the egg is fertilized with sperm outside the body before re-implanting into the uterus.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property includes all copyright, registered and unregistered trade marks (including service marks), patents, registered designs, confidential information and circuit layouts and all of the rights resulting from intellectual activity in the CRC's scientific and industrial fields.
Nuclear Transfer
A technology by which novel animals are generated by cloning a single diploid somatic cell. It involves inserting a single diploid cell from a culture of cells into an enucleated ovum. The resultant diploid ovum develops into an embryo that is placed in a recipient female, which gives birth to the cloned animal in the normal manner. Note that the term is somewhat of a misnomer, since it is a whole cell that is transferred, not just the nucleus.
Nutraceutical
A conventional food product that has been modified (potentially by genetic engineering) to have improved nutritional characteristics and/or pharmaceutical properties.
Oocyte
The egg mother cell; it undergoes two meiotic divisions (oogenesis) to form the egg cell. The primary oocyte refers to the state before completion of the first meiotic division; the secondary oocyte after completion of the first meiotic division.
Peptide
A sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds; a breakdown or build-up unit in protein metabolism. Typically used to describe low molecular weight species.
Phenotype
The visible appearance of an individual (with respect to one or more traits) which reflects the reaction of a given genotype with a given environment.
Transgenic
An individual in which a transgene has been integrated into its genome. In transgenic eukaryotes, the transgene must be transmitted through meiosis to allow its inheritance by the offspring.
Transgenesis
The introduction of a gene or genes into animal or plant cells, which leads to the transmission of the input gene (transgene) to successive generations.
Acronyms
ADFF Australian Dairy Farmers Federation
ADHIS Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme
BAC bacterial artificial chromosome Ca-Io calcium ionophore
CEO Chief Executive Officer
CHX cycloheximide
CRC Cooperative Research Centre
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
DEST Department of Education, Science and Training
DRDC Dairy Research and Development Corporation
DTT dithioreitol
EBV estimated breeding value
EGFP enhanced green fluorescence protein
EST expressed sequence tags
ET embryo transfer
ICSI intrasperm injection cytoplasmic
IETS International Embryo Transfer Society
IP intellectual property
IVF in vitro fertilisation
MAS marker assisted selection
NT nuclear transfer
PA parthenogenetic activation
PAC Pest Animal Control
PCT patent cooperation treaty, a mechanism to access the international market
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
QTL quantitative trait loci
R&D research and development
SME small to medium enterprise
SNP single nucleotide polymorphism
Tg transgenic
Tr-ICSI transgenic intra cytoplasmic sperm injection
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