Techniques & Applications in Biomedical Science – Research Showcase

Vocabulary flashcards covering major biomedical terms, techniques and concepts presented by all speakers in the Research Showcase video.

ZFHX3

A transcriptional regulator gene linked to atrial fibrillation and cardio-embolic stroke risk.

Cardioembolic Stroke

Type of ischaemic stroke caused by emboli originating from the heart; often associated with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Common cardiac arrhythmia that increases cardio-embolic stroke risk up to five-fold.

Flow Cytometry

Technique that measures physical and fluorescent properties of single cells as they pass a laser.

Forward Scatter (FSC)

Flow-cytometry signal proportional to cell size.

Side Scatter (SSC)

Flow-cytometry signal reflecting cell internal complexity or granularity.

Gating

Selecting specific cell populations on a flow-cytometry plot for quantitative analysis.

Nanopore RNA Sequencing

Long-read sequencing method capable of directly reading native RNA molecules.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Mature somatic cells reprogrammed to pluripotency, able to differentiate into any cell type.

Neurovascular Unit

Functional ensemble of neurons, astrocytes, endothelial cells, pericytes and microglia that maintains brain homeostasis.

Immunocytochemistry (ICC)

Fluorescent antibody-based staining to detect and localise proteins in fixed cells.

Indirect Immunofluorescence

ICC format using an unlabeled primary antibody and a fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody.

GFP Fluorophore

Green fluorescent protein tag used for visualising proteins in cells.

Membrane Contact Site (MCS)

Region where two organelles closely appose to exchange lipids, ions or signals.

Protrudin

Endoplasmic-reticulum MCS protein implicated in neurite outgrowth and endothelial cell migration.

shRNA Knockdown

Gene-silencing approach using short-hairpin RNA to reduce target mRNA levels.

Scratch Wound Assay

In vitro method to assess cell migration by creating a cell-free gap in a monolayer.

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)

Cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase activated by phosphorylation to promote cell migration.

Phosphorylation

Post-translational modification where a phosphate group is added to proteins, regulating activity.

Western Immunoblotting

Technique to separate proteins by electrophoresis and detect them with specific antibodies.

VEGF

Vascular endothelial growth factor; stimulates angiogenesis and activates FAK.

Quantitative PCR (qPCR)

PCR method that monitors DNA amplification in real time via fluorescence to quantify gene expression.

SYBR Green

Intercalating dye that fluoresces when bound to double-stranded DNA during qPCR.

Cycle Threshold (Ct)

PCR cycle number at which fluorescence crosses background; inversely proportional to target quantity.

Primer Annealing

PCR step where primers bind to complementary DNA sequences, usually around 55–65 °C.

PDLIM Proteins

Adaptor proteins containing PDZ and LIM domains; proposed integrators of mechano-signalling.

Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSC)

Liver pericytes that activate to produce extracellular matrix during fibrosis.

Liver Fibrosis

Pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix in liver leading to scarring.

YAP1

Yes-associated protein; mechanotransducer that influences cell proliferation and fibrosis.

Azacytidine

DNA methyltransferase inhibitor used in myelodysplastic syndromes; incorporates into DNA to block methylation.

DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitor (DNMTi)

Drug class that prevents addition of methyl groups to cytosine residues in DNA.

Platelet Adhesion

Initial attachment of platelets to damaged vessel wall or extracellular matrix.

Phalloidin

Toxin that binds filamentous actin; commonly conjugated to fluorophores for cytoskeleton staining.

Fluorescence Microscopy

Imaging technique that excites fluorophores and detects their emitted light to visualise cellular structures.

Megakaryocyte

Bone-marrow cell that produces platelets through cytoplasmic fragmentation.

Peptide Hydrogel

Self-assembling peptide network used as a scaffold for localised drug or cell delivery.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

Network of proteins and polysaccharides providing structural and biochemical support to cells.

Wound Healing Phases

Haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling sequence restoring tissue integrity.

Neutrophil

Innate immune granulocyte involved in early inflammatory responses and microbial killing.

Macrophage

Phagocytic immune cell that orchestrates inflammation, tissue repair and ECM turnover.

TNF-α

Pro-inflammatory cytokine commonly used as M1 macrophage marker.

TGF-β

Cytokine promoting tissue repair, fibrosis and M2 macrophage polarisation.

VEGF (in WH context)

Growth factor released by macrophages to stimulate angiogenesis during wound healing.

THP-1 Cells

Human monocytic cell line frequently differentiated into macrophages for research.

HL-60 Cells

Human promyelocytic leukaemia line that can differentiate into neutrophils or macrophages.

Melt Curve

qPCR analysis verifying amplification specificity by monitoring DNA dissociation temperature.

Batten Disease

Paediatric neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by CLN gene mutations.

CLN7

Transmembrane protein implicated in Batten disease; cellular localisation under investigation.

Lysosomal Storage Disorder (LSD)

Inherited condition characterised by defective lysosomal function and substrate accumulation.

Lentiviral Transfection

Delivery of genetic material into cells using modified lentiviruses for stable expression.

Organelle Staining

Use of fluorescent dyes (e.g., ER-Tracker, LysoTracker) to visualise specific organelles in live cells.

Cell Passaging

Process of sub-culturing cells to prevent over-confluence and maintain healthy growth.

Inherited Thrombocytopenia

Genetic disorder featuring chronically low platelet counts and bleeding tendency.

Knockout Mouse

Mouse genetically engineered to lack (or ‘flox’) a specific gene to study its function.

PF4-Cre System

Platelet factor 4 promoter–driven Cre recombinase used to delete floxed genes in megakaryocytes.

Relative Gene Expression

qPCR comparison of target gene abundance normalised to reference genes across samples.

Western Blot

Protein identification method involving SDS-PAGE transfer to membrane and antibody probing.

Indirect Immunostaining

Detection strategy using secondary antibodies to amplify signal in protein localisation studies.

GFP+ Population Percentage

Flow-cytometry readout indicating proportion of cells expressing a GFP-tagged construct.

Scratch Assay Closure Rate

Quantitative measure of cell migration based on time to fill a created gap.

Bulk RNA Sequencing

Sequencing of pooled RNA from a population of cells to profile gene expression.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

Technique sequencing individual cells’ transcriptomes to reveal cellular heterogeneity.

Chromatin Accessibility Assay

Sequencing-based method (e.g., ATAC-seq) that maps open regions of DNA.

Photobleaching

Loss of fluorescence due to prolonged exposure to excitation light.

Trypsinization

Use of trypsin to detach adherent cells during passaging.

Confluency

Percentage of culture surface area covered by adherent cells, indicating growth density.