Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (IB)

Biotechnology is the use of living organisms or their components to create new products or processes, such as medicines, genetically modified crops, or biofuels. Bioinformatics is the application of computational tools and methods to analyze biological data, such as DNA sequences, protein structures, or gene expression patterns.

Microorganisms

Tiny living organisms not visible to the naked eye, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae, found everywhere.

Autotrophy

Self-sufficient in nutrient production, utilizing inorganic sources to synthesize organic compounds like photosynthesis in plants.

Aerobic Respiration

Requires oxygen for breaking down organic compounds, yielding more energy, common in many bacteria, fungi, and higher organisms.

Gram Staining

Technique categorizing bacteria into Gram-positive (retain dye) and Gram-negative (lose dye) based on cell wall characteristics.

Bactericides

Substances killing or inhibiting bacterial growth through various modes like disrupting cell membrane integrity or interfering with cell wall synthesis.

Fermenters

Controlled environments for microbial fermentation processes converting substrates into products, used in food, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel industries.

Lag Phase

Initial adjustment period in microbial growth, followed by logarithmic, stationary, and death phases, influenced by factors like nutrients and temperature.

Batch Culture

Closed system with fixed medium, exhibiting lag, log, stationary, and death phases, suitable for small-scale experiments.

Pathway Engineering

Modifying or constructing biological pathways in organisms for desired compound production or specific functions.

Transgenics

Introduction of foreign genes into an organism's genome to create genetically modified organisms with specific traits not naturally present.

Oxidation

Addition of oxygen to the pollutant molecule.

Reduction

Removal of oxygen or addition of hydrogen.

Hydrolysis

Breakdown of a compound by reaction with water.

Conjugation

Combining the pollutant with another substance to make it more water-soluble.

Detoxification

Pollutant is rendered less harmful.

Bioactivation

Pollutant is transformed into a more toxic substance (less common).

Biodegradation

Pollutant is completely broken down into harmless components.

Pollutant type

Chemical structure and properties determine how it can be metabolized.

Organism

Different species have varying metabolic capabilities.

Environmental conditions

Temperature, pH, and nutrient availability can affect metabolism.

Biofilms

Complex communities of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).

Quorum Sensing

Microorganisms alter gene expression in response to changes in population density.

Disease Markers

Measurable substances indicating the presence, severity, or risk of a disease.

Surface Markers

Molecules found on the surface of cells or tissues.

Genetic Markers

Alterations in DNA sequence or gene expression.

Metabolic Markers

Substances produced or used by the body during metabolism.

DNA Microarrays

Collection of microscopic DNA spots to measure gene expression levels.

cDNA Microarrays

Contain cDNA spots representing different genes for gene expression analysis.

PCR Analysis

Laboratory technique to amplify specific DNA sequences for detection or quantification.

ELISA

Test using enzymes and color changes to identify a substance.

Germline gene therapy

Raises concerns about genetic manipulation of future generations.

Equity and access

Concerns about the fairness of expensive treatments.

Bioinformatics

Interdisciplinary field combining biology, computer science, statistics, and information technology to analyze biological data.

Comparative genomics

Compares genome sequences of different species to understand biological functions, identify disease-causing genes, and develop new therapies.

Sequence alignment

Arranging sequences to identify similarities, with methods like Needleman-Wunsch and Smith-Waterman algorithms.

Phylogenetics

Study of evolutionary relationships among organisms using morphological and molecular data to construct phylogenetic trees.

Gene knockout

Technique to inactivate or remove a specific gene from an organism's genome, used to study gene function and model genetic disorders.