Biotechnology and Stem Cell Research

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on stem cell biology, biotechnology applications, medical therapies, cloning, bioremediation, and agricultural developments.

Pleuripotency

The property of stem cells being primary undifferentiated cells with self-multiplying ability and the capability to act as parent cells for all $220$ different cell types in the human body.

Embryonic Stem Cells

Primary undifferentiated cells present in an embryo before cell differentiation starts on the $14\text{th}$ day of conception.

Adult Stem Cells

Stem cells obtained from the body of an adult person, with main sources being red bone marrow, adipose connective tissue, and blood, as well as cord blood immediately after birth.

Stem Cell Preservation

The process of collecting stem cell samples from sources like cord blood, red bone marrow, or blastocysts into sterile vials and storing them in liquid nitrogen at $-135^\circ\text{C}$ to $-190^\circ\text{C}$.

Transplantation of Human Organs Act

The law enacted in $1994$ with subsequent amendments in $2009$, $2011$, and $2014$ to ensure transparency in the organ transplantation process and prevent fraud.

Bt Cotton

A genetically modified cotton variety containing a gene isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis that produces a toxin fatal to bollworms by destroying their alimentary canal upon ingestion.

Golden Rice

A genetically modified rice variety developed in $2005$ containing a gene for synthesizing beta carotene (Vitamin A), providing $23$ times more beta carotene than normal rice.

Biofertilizers

Biological products using bacteria like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Nostoc, Anabaena, and plants like Azolla to improve nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization abilities of crops.

Transgenic Potatoes

Genetically modified potatoes produced to act as edible vaccines against bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli when consumed raw.

Interferon

A group of small-sized protein molecules produced in blood or via transgenic Escherichia coli used in the treatment of viral infections.

Somatic Cells

All the cells in the human body except for sperms and ova.

Somatic Cell Gene Therapy

A therapeutic method used to treat genetic disorders in somatic cells, such as treating Phenylketonuria (PKU) in hepatocytes.

Reproductive Cloning

A technique that produces a replica of an organism by fusing the nucleus of a somatic cell with an enucleated ovum without requiring a sperm.

Therapeutic Cloning

The derivation of stem cells from a cell created in the laboratory through the union of a somatic cell nucleus with an enucleated egg cell, used for disease treatment and cloning genes.

Transgenic Tobacco

A variety of tobacco developed by the Indian Institute of Science that prevents cattle from contracting the viral disease rinderpest when they feed on its leaves.

Somatostatin

A biotechnology-produced protein used in the medical treatment of dwarfism.

Erythropoietin

A biotechnology-produced protein used in the treatment of anaemia.

Factor VIII

A biotechnology-produced protein used in the treatment of haemophilia.

Interleukin

A biotechnology-produced protein used in the treatment of cancer.

Dolly

A cloned sheep born in Scotland on July 5, 1996, created by transferring the nucleus from an udder cell of a Finn Dorset sheep into an enucleated ovum of a Scottish sheep.

Bioremediation

The absorption or destruction of toxic chemicals and harmful pollutants with the help of plants and microorganisms.

Phyto-remediation

A branch of bioremediation that specifically uses plants to absorb or destroy pollutants from soil and water.

Deinococcus radiodurans

A highly radiation-resistant bacterium genetically modified to absorb radiation from radioactive debris.

DNA Fingerprinting

A technique used primarily in forensic science to establish a person's unique identity or fatherhood based on their unique DNA sequence.

Green Revolution

The collective agricultural practices applied to harvest maximum yield from minimum land using improvised dwarf crop varieties, proper water management, fertilizers, and pesticides.

White Revolution

The cooperative movement in Anand, Gujarat, led by Dr. Verghese Kurien, that utilized biotechnology and quality control to establish dairy production as a self-sufficient mainstream industry.

Blue Revolution

The program encouraging the production of useful aquatic organisms like fish and shrimp through water management and pisciculture, supported by India's Nil-Kranti Mission-2016.

Hydroponics

Soil-less farming techniques that rely on liquid chemical fertilizers to provide nutrients to crops.

Adhatoda vasica

A medicinal plant commonly known as Adulsa, containing the active ingredient vasicine in its leaves, which is used to treat cough.