PBS Unit 1 Activity 1.1.1-1.1.6

Biomedical Science

the application of the principles of the natural sciences, especially biology and physiology, to clinical medicine

Control group

the group in an experiment where the independent variable being tested is not applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against the experimental group where the independent variable is applied

dependent variable

the measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested

experiment

a research study conducted to determine the effect that one variable has upon another variable

forensic science

the application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law

hypothesis

clear prediction of the anticipated results of an experiment

independent variable

the variable that is varied or manipulated by the researcher

Negative Control

control group where conditions produce a negative outcome. Negative control groups help identify outside influences which may be present that were not accounted for when the procedure was created.

Personal Protective Equipment

Specialized clothing or equipment, worn by an employee for protection against infectious materials (defined by OSHA)

positive control

group expected to have a positive result, allowing the researcher to show that the experimental set up was capable of producing results

Adenine

A component of nucleic acids, energy carrying molecules such as ATP, and certain coenzymes. Chemically it is a purine base

Chromosome

Any of the usually liner bodies in the cell nucleus that contain the genetic material

cytosine

a component of nucleic acids that carries hereditary information in DNA and RNA in cells. Chemically, it is a pyrimidine base

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins

Gel Electrophoresis

The separation of nucleic acids, or proteins, on the basis of their size and electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel

gene

a discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses)

Guanine

a component of nucleic acids that carries hereditary information in DNA and RNA in cells. Chemically it is a purine base

Helix

Something spiral in form

Model

A simplified version of something complex used, for example, to analyze and sold problems or make predictions

Nucleotide

A building block of DNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group

Restriction enzyme

a degradative enzyme that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts DNA

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs)

differences in DNA sequence on homologous chromosomes that can result in different patterns of restriction fragment lengths (DNA segments resulting from treatment with restriction enzymes )

Thymine

A component of nucleic acid that carries hereditary information in DNA in cells. Chemically, it is a pyrimidine base

Blunt cut

DNA is cut straight across both strands

Sticky Cut

Restriction enzyme cut that doesn't go strait across and leads to H-bonding (example: EcoR1)

purine

a nitrogenous base that has a double-ring structure; one of the two general categories of nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; either adenine or guanine

Pyrimidine

a nitrogenous base that has a single-ring structure; one of the two general categories of nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; thymine, cytosine, or uracil

Chargraff's Rule

amount of adenines = amount of thymines; amount of guanines = amount of cytosines

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA nucleotides

phosphate group

A chemical group consisting of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms; builds the backbone for DNA

histone

protein that organizes chromosomes and around which DNA wraps

DNA profiling

A procedure that analyzes DNA fragments to determine whether they come from a specific individual.

presumptive test

test that presumes the presence of the questioned substance; also called a screening test that can classify substances into groups

confirmatory test

a test that specifically identifies one substance

fingerprint pattern

Patterns formed by the ridge detail of fingerprints; primarily loops, whorls, and arches.

minutiae

The ridge endings, enclosures, and other details that make up a fingerprint

12 point match

When fingerprints show similarities with at least 12 minutiae

Cuticle (Hair)

tough, clear outside covering of the hair shaft

cortex

the middle layer of the hair contains melanin and bonds

medulla of hair

appears as a canal in the middle of the shaft

ABO System

a classification system for the antigens of human blood

Aggulation

clumping of red blood cells

sketch

A rough drawing representing the main features of an object or scene and often made as a preliminary study

PCR (polymerase chain reaction)

is used to copy and amplify minute quantities of DNA