Genetics and Genetic Engineering

Genetics

a branch of biology that studies hereditary and variation in organisms

Hereditary

the passing on of traits from one generation to another

Gene

a discrete unit of hereditary information found on sections of DNA that code for a trait

Allele

genes responsible for controlling different versions of a trait/characteristic found in the same locus on homologous chromosomes

Housekeeping genes

active in many types of cells making proteins needed for basic functions.

Hox genes

master control genes that determine the way in which the body develops from a single zygote

Gene pool

the set of all genes or genetic information in a population of sexually reproducing organisms.

Hybrid vigour

the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring due to crossbreeding

Epigenetics

the control of genes

Genotype

the genetic makeup of an organism

Phenotype

the physiological traits/physical appearance of an organism

Genome

the complete complement of an organism's genes

Dominant allele

the allele that is expressed in a heterozygous state

Recessive allele

the allele that is suppressed in a heterozygous state

Homozygous

same alleles

Heterozygous

different alleles

Locus

the location of a gene

Monohybrid cross

a cross between parents with different alleles for a single gene

Genetic Engineering

any direct manipulation of an organism's genes

Biotechnology

Using scientific procedures to influence specific processes in living organisms which will benefit humans or improve the environment.

Recombinant DNA technology

A form of biotechnology used to introduce new, beneficial genes into an organism to create genetically modified organisms

Recombinant DNA

a form of DNA that does not exist naturally but is created by combining DNA sequences that would not normally occur together

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

an organism with introduced foreign DNA that results in new and useful traits

Homologous

having the same or a similar relation, value, structure, or purpose

Autosomes

a numbered chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; humans have 22 pairs.

Gonosome

a chromosome concerned with determining the sex of an organism, typically one of two kinds.

Continuous Variation

graduations of a characteristic in a phenotype (eg. height)

Mutation

a sudden change in the genetic makeup (DNA) of an organism

Genealogy

the study of the direct descent of an individual from an ancestor

Vector

a virus (bacteriophage) or plasmid that transfers foreign genetic material into another cell

Plasmid

a circular, double-stranded DNA molecule found in the bacterial cells that are not part of the bacterial chromosome

Transformation

the change in a cell or organism brought about by the uptake of introduced foreign DNA

Transgenic Organism

an organism that develops from a cell with recombinant DNA

Gonad tissue

the undifferentiated sex organ that will later develop into the ovaries (female) or testis (male)

Gene therapy

An experimental genetic engineering technique that replaces a faulty gene or adds a new gene in an attempt to cure disease or improve the body’s ability to fight disease

Cloning

the processes used to create an exact genetic copy of another gene, cell, tissue, or organism

Totipotent

able to differentiate into any kind of cell by cell division to create an entire organism

Crossbreeding

involves the mating of animals from two breeds

Grafting

a method of asexual plant propagation that joins plant parts from different plants together so they will heal and grow as one plant

De-extinction

the process of creating or resembling an extinct species using techniques like somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and contemporary biotechnology

Allergenicity

the ability of an antigen to induce an abnormal immune response