Biotechnological Terminology
Amino Acid: organic acid used by zooblasts and plant cells for protein synthesis. Altogether, to synthesize proteins, cells use around 20 different amino acids.
Bioinformatics: scientific branch converting the biological data into language of digits and words by means of computerization (computer-aided processing of biological research data). Bioinformatics may be compared to business informatics, through which information at stock exchange is traced and interpreted.
Biotechnology of Plants: rendering a new feature to a plant aimed at selection of new species of agricultural crops. As distinct from customary selection methods, with hundreds genes being exchanged, biotechnological methods allow to implantation of only required set of genes. As a result, a plant acquires the desirable useful feature, with no concurrent unspecified features acquired therein.
Vector (in genetics): autonomous DNA molecule used for gene transplantation from one organism to another.
Implantation: a DNA fragment, which is implanted in a vector (consists of target gene, promoter and terminator).
Gene: a part of chromosome containing information on ancestral features; required for protein synthesis.
Genetic Engineering: obtaining bioplasts with given properties. It studies and develops transformation methods.
Genom: set of all the organism's genes.
Genotype: a certain set of genes in the organism's cell, full genetic "formula" of organism.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA): the only type of molecules bearing the memory of generation. DNA molecule is a double twisted spiral - DNA duplex, consisting of two DNA filaments. DNA contained in the cell nucleus in chromosomes is responsible for transmission of genetic information of organism. DNAs contain genes.
r-DNA: cultivated in vitro from DNA fragments of different types, which have not ever combined in nature.
Cloning: process of asexual reproduction of identical copy of parent organism, and it may be a single cell, a fragment, for example, of wood; bacteria reproducing themselves through simple halving of their cells do always form clones.
Molecular Marker: any feature based on DNA, which is unique and can be indentified in laboratory conditions. Marker may be a gene or not a gene, but, then it should relate to target gene.
Nucleic Acids: there are two nucleic acids: DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid). They consist of a long string of nucleotides. Nucleic acids are present in all the living bodies.
Primer: a short string of oligonucleotides used for polymerase chain reaction.
Plasmid: a small fragment of bacterial DNA contained out of its chromosome. It is used for insertion of genetic information into microorganism or plant's cells.
Promoter: a string of nucleotides in DNA molecule, which initiates transcription (first stage of protein synthesis).
DNA Sequencing: definition of DNA sequence in genom. It is used for gene decoding, entering this information into data bank and its further interpretation through bioinformatics' methods.
Terminator: a string of nucleotides in DNA molecule, which terminates the transcription.
Transgenic Plant: a plant containing genetic material of other organism.
Target Gene: a gene responsible for implication of specified feature.
Phenotype: any observable characteristic or trait of an organism. It is built up as a result of interaction of genetic traits (genotype) and environment, in which an organism resides.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens: natural soil bacterium used in genetic engineering for plant transformation.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): natural soil bacterium successfully used since more than 30 years in personal subsidiary plots, as well as by "organic" farmers, to control some crop pests. With the body's intake of certain species of insects, a protein produced by this bacterium (Bt protein) does block the digestive system of concerned insect. Herewith, Bt protein is not harmful to other insects, animals, and human.
