Genetics glossary
Genetics Glossary
Genetics (/dʒɪˈnɛtɪks/; from the Ancient Greek γενετικός genetikos, "genitive" and that from γένεσις genesis, "origin") is a branch of biology concerned with the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.
A
Allele (/əˈliːl/; from Greek ἄλλος állos, "other") is one of two or more versions of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome.
B
Base pair (bp) is a fundamental unit of the genetic code, consisting of two nucleobases bound to each other by hydrogen bonds.
C
Chromosome (/ˈkroʊməˌsoʊm, -ˌzoʊm/; from Ancient Greek: χρωμόσωμα, chromosoma, chroma means color, soma means body) is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism.
D
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule composed of two chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions.
E
Epigenetics (/ˌɛpɪdʒɪˈnɛtɪks, -dʒaɪ-/; from Greek ἐπι- epi- "over, outside of, around") studies changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.
F
Frameshift mutation is a type of mutation involving the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide in which the number of deleted base pairs is not divisible by three.
G
Genome (/ˈdʒiːnoʊm/; from Ancient Greek γενόμη, genomos, "gene/ birth") is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.
H
Haploid (/ˈhæplɔɪd/; from Greek ἁπλόος haplóos, "single, simple") is the term used when a cell has half the usual number of chromosomes.
I
Intron (/ˈɪntrɒn/; from "intragenic region") is any nucleotide sequence within a gene that is removed by RNA splicing during maturation of the final RNA product.
J
Junk DNA is a colloquial term for regions of DNA that are noncoding.
K
Karyotype (/ˈkæriətaɪp/) is the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
L
Locus (/ˈloʊkəs/; plural loci) is a specific, fixed position on a chromosome where a particular gene or genetic marker is located.
M
Mutation (/mjuːˈteɪʃən/) is an alteration in the nucleotide sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA.
N
Nucleotide (/ˈnjuːklɪəˌtaɪd/) is an organic molecule that is the building block of DNA and RNA.
O
Oncogene (/ˈɒŋkədʒiːn/) is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer.
P
Phenotype (/ˈfiːnoʊtaɪp/) is the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Q
Quantitative trait locus (QTL) is a section of DNA which correlates with variation in a phenotype.
R
Recessive gene is a gene that can be masked by a dominant gene.
S
Sequence in genetics refers to the order of nucleotides in DNA or RNA molecules, or the order of amino acids in a protein.
T
Transcription (/trænˈskrɪpʃən/) is the first step of gene expression, in which a particular segment of DNA is copied into RNA.
U
Uracil (/ˈjʊərəsɪl, -raɪl/) is one of the four nucleobases in the nucleic acid of RNA.
V
Vector in genetics is a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell.
W
Wild type (WT) refers to the phenotype of the typical form of a species as it occurs in nature.
X
X chromosome is one of the two sex-determining chromosomes in many organisms.
Y
Y chromosome is one of two sex chromosomes in mammals, including humans, and many other animals.
Z
Zygote (/ˈzaɪɡoʊt/; from Greek ζυγωτός zygōtos "joined" or "yoked") is a eukaryotic cell formed by a fertilization event between two gametes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Genetics glossary
- Wikipedia's article - Genetics glossary
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