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| DNA polymerase |
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See Polymerase.
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| DNA polymorphism |
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One of two or more alternate forms (alleles) of a chromosomal locus that differ in nucleotide sequence or have variable numbers of repeated nucleotide units. (See Allele.)
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| DNA sequencing |
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Procedures for determining the nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment.
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| DNase (deoxyribonuclease) |
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See Nuclease.
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| Dominant |
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An allele is said to be dominant if it expresses its phenotype even in the presence of a recessive allele. See Allele, Phenotype, Recessive.
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| Dominant gene |
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A gene whose phenotype is when it is present in a single copy.
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| Dominant(-acting) oncogen |
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A gene that stimulates cell proliferation and contributes to oncogenesis when present in a single copy. (See Oncogene.)
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| Dormancy |
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A period in which a plant does not grow, awaiting necessary environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, nutrient availability.
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| Double helix |
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Describes the coiling of the antiparallel strands of the DNA molecule, resembling a spiral staircase in which the paired bases form the steps and the sugar-phosphate backbones form the rails.
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| Double-stranded complemen |
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A duplex DNA molecule copied from a cDNA template.
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| Downstream |
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The region extending in a 3' direction from a gene.
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| dscDNA |
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See double-stranded complementary DNA.
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| Duplex DNA |
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Double-stranded DNA.
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| Ecology |
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The study of the interactions of organisms with their environment and with each other.
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| Ecosystem |
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The organisms in a plant population and the biotic and abiotic factors which impact on them. See abiotic factors; Biotic factors.
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| electrophores |
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Alternate forms of a gene or DNA sequence, which occur on either of two homologous chromosomes in a diploid organism. (See DNA polymorphism.)
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| Electrophoresis |
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The technique of separating charged mol- ecules in a matrix to which is applied an electrical field. (See Agarose gell electrophoresis, Polycrylamide gell electrophoresis.)
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| Electroporation |
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A method for transforrning DNA, especially useful for plant cells, in which high voltage pulses of electricity are used to open pores in cell membranes, through which foreign DNA can pass.
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| Encapsidation |
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Process by which a virus' nucleic acid is enclosed in a capsid. See Coat protein.
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| Endonuclease |
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Process by which a virus' nucleic acid is enclosed in a capsid. See Coat protein.
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| Endophyte |
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An organism that lives inside another.
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| Environmental Protection |
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The U.S. regulatory agency for biotechnology of microbes. The major laws under which the agency has regulatory powers are the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
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| Enzymes |
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Proteins that control the various steps in all chemical reactions.
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| EPA |
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See Environmental Protection Agency.
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| Escherichia coli |
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A commensal bacterium inhabiting the human colon that is widely used in biology, both as a simple model of cell biochemical function and as a host for molecular cloning experiments.
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| Ethidium bromide |
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A fluorescent dye used to stain DNA and RNA. The dye fluoresces when exposed to UV light.
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| Eukaryote |
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An organism whose cells possess a nucleus and other membrane-bound vesicles, including all members of the protist, fungi, plant and animal kingdoms; and excluding viruses, bacteria, and blue-green algae. See Prokaryote.
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| Evolution |
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The long-term process through which a population of organisms accumulats genetic changes that enable its members to successfully adapt to environmental conditions and to better exploit food resources.
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| Exon |
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A DNA sequence that is ultimately translated into protein. See DNA.
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| Exonuclease |
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See Nuclease.
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| Express |
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To translate a gene's message into a molecular product.
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| Expression library |
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(See Library.)
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| FDA |
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See Food and Drug Administration.
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| Federal Insecticide, Fung |
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See Environmental Protection Agency.
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| Federal Plant Pest Act (P |
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See U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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| Federal Seed Act. |
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See U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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| FIFRA |
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The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. See Environmental Protection Agency.
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| Flanking region |
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The DNA sequences extending on either side of a specific locus or gene.
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| Food and Drug Administrat |
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The U.S. agency responsible for regulation of biotechnology food products. The major laws under which the agency has regulatory powers include the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and the Public Health Service Act.
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| Food, Drug, and Cosmetic |
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See Food and Drug Administration.
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| Fungicide |
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A microorganism that lacks chlorophyll.
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| Fungus |
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A microorganism that lacks chlorophyll.
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| Fusion gene |
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A hybrid gene created by joining portions of two different genes (to produce a new protein) or by joining a gene to a different promoter (to alter or regulate gene transcription).
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| Gamete |
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A haploid sex cell, egg or sperm, that contains a single copy of each chromosome.
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| GEM |
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A genetically engineered microorganism.
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| Gene |
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A locus on a chromosome that encodes a specific protein or several related proteins. It is considered the functional unit of heredity. (See Dominant gene, Fusion gene, Gene amplification, Gene expression, Gene flow, Gene pool, Gene splicing, Gene translocation, Recessive gene, Regulatory gene.)
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| Gene amplification |
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The presence of multiple genes. Amplification is one mechanism through which proto-oncogenes are activated in malignant cells.
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| Gene cloning |
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The process of synthesizing multiple copies of a particular DNA sequence using a bacteria cell or another organism as a host. See DNA, Host.
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| Gene expression |
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The process of producing a protein from its DNA- and mRNA-coding sequences.
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