Biotechnology Chapter 1 Study Guide

Biotechnology

The use of living organisms or their products for human benefit.

Fermentation

A process in which microorganisms, such as yeast, transform substances and produce useful products.

Domestication

The process of adapting plants and animals for human use through cultivation, breeding, and selection.

Selective breeding

Choosing organisms with desired traits to reproduce, increasing the likelihood that those traits will appear in later generations.

Genetic engineering

The direct alteration of an organism's genetic material to produce desired traits or products.

Gene cloning

Making copies of a gene or DNA sequence, often to study it or use it in another organism.

Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology

Combining DNA from different sources to create a DNA molecule with a new sequence or function.

Genomics

The study of an organism’s complete set of genetic material, including its genes and their interactions.

CRISPR-Cas

A genome-editing system adapted from a natural microbial defense mechanism that can be directed to specific DNA sequences.

Bioinformatics

The use of computing, statistics, and data analysis to organize and interpret biological information.

Transgenic organism

An organism that contains genetic material introduced from another organism.

Bioremediation

The use of organisms or biological processes to reduce or remove pollutants.

Biocatalyst

An enzyme or other biological agent that speeds up a chemical reaction.

Bioprospecting

Searching for useful biological resources or compounds, often in nature.

Aquaculture

The cultivation of aquatic organisms, such as fish, for food or other uses.

DNA fingerprinting

Analysis of DNA patterns to help identify an individual or determine biological relationships.

Liquid biopsy

Analysis of biological material, such as tumor-derived DNA, in a body fluid to provide information about a disease.

Gene-edited crop

A crop whose DNA has been altered at a targeted site using genome-editing tools.

Stem cell

A cell that can self-renew and, depending on its type, develop into one or more specialized cell types.

Immunotherapy

Treatment that uses or modifies components of the immune system to help fight disease.

Gene therapy

Treatment that modifies genetic material in a patient’s cells to address a disease or its underlying cause.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

A common variation at a single DNA base position among individuals.

Precision medicine

An approach to prevention or treatment that considers individual differences, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

Proteome

The set of proteins produced or present in a cell, tissue, or organism under particular conditions.

Nanotechnology

The design or use of materials and devices at an extremely small scale; in medicine, it may support targeted drug delivery.

Regenerative medicine

A field that seeks to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged cells, tissues, or organs.

Quality assurance (QA)

Systems and procedures designed to ensure that processes consistently meet established requirements.

Quality control (QC)

Testing and inspection used to determine whether materials or products meet specified standards.

Scale-up

The process of increasing production from laboratory or pilot scale to larger manufacturing volumes.

Contract research organization (CRO)

An organization that performs research or clinical-trial services for another organization.

Venture capital

Investment in companies with high growth potential, often in exchange for ownership shares and with substantial financial risk.

Angel investor

An individual who invests personal funds in an early-stage company.

Initial public offering (IPO)

A company’s first offering of its shares to public investors.

Generic drug

A drug generally developed to be equivalent to an already approved small-molecule medicine after relevant exclusivity or patent protections allow it.

Biosimilar

A biological product shown to be highly similar to an already approved reference biologic, with no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, and potency.

Organizational structure

The arrangement of teams, reporting relationships, and responsibilities within a company.