Glossary of genetics

Glossary of Genetics

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. Alleles can result in different observable phenotypic traits.

B

Base pair (bp) is a fundamental unit of the genetic code, consisting of two nucleobases bound to each other by hydrogen bonds. They form the building blocks of the DNA double helix.

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 polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

E

Epigenetics (/ˌɛpɪdʒɪˈnɛtɪks, -dʒiː-/; from Greek: ἐπί 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: γενώμη, genomē, 'gene') is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.

H

Haploid (/ˈhæplɔɪd/; from Greek: ἁπλοῦς, haploûs, "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 term for regions of DNA that are noncoding, though this term is not favored by most scientists as it suggests that these regions are useless.

K

Karyotype (/ˈkæriətaɪp/) is the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.

L

Locus (/ˈloʊkəs/; plural loci) in genetics is a fixed position on a chromosome, like the position of a gene or a marker (genetic marker).

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. They also have functions related to cell signaling, metabolism, and enzyme reactions.

O

Oncogene (/ˈɒŋkədʒiːn/) is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, these genes are often mutated or expressed at high levels.

P

Phenotype (/ˈfiːnoʊˌtaɪp/; from Greek phainein, 'to show' + typos, 'type') 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 (the locus) which correlates with variation in a phenotype (the quantitative trait).

R

Recessive allele is an allele that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its paired allele is identical.

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 by the enzyme RNA polymerase.

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 Glossary of genetics
• Wikipedia's article - Glossary of genetics

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