BIOTECHNOLOGY GLOSSARY

Sharing the innovative ideas.

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T V W X Y

Callus

A cluster of undifferentiated plant cells that can, in some species, be induced to form the whole plant.

Carbohydrate

A type of biological molecule composed of simple sugars such as glucose. Common examples include starch and cellulose.

Carcinogen

Cancer-causing agent.

Catalyst

An agent (such as an enzyme or a metallic complex) that facilitates a reaction but is not itself changed during the reaction.

Cell

The smallest structural unit of a living organism that can grow and reproduce independently.

Cell culture

Growth of cells under laboratory conditions.

Cell differentiation

The process by which descendants of a common parental cell achieve specialized structure and function

Cell fusion

See Fusion.

Cell line

Cells that grow and replicate continuously outside the living organism.

Cell-mediated immunity

Acquired immunity in which T lymphocytes play a predominant role. Development of the thymus in early life is critical to the proper development and functioning of cell-mediated immunity.

Chemical genomics

Using structural and functional genomic information about biological molecules, especially proteins, to identify useful small molecules and alter their structure to improve their efficacy.

Chimera

The individual (animal or lower organism) produced by grafting an embryonic part of one individual onto an embryo of either the same or a different species.

Chromosomes

Threadlike components in the cell that contain DNA and proteins. Genes are carried on the chromosomes.

Clinical studies

Human studies that are designed to measure the efficacy of a new drug or biologic. Clinical studies routinely involve the use of a control group of patients that is given an inactive substance (placebo) that looks like the test product.

Clone

A term that is applied to genes, cells or entire organisms that are derived from—and are genetically identical to—a single common ancestor gene, cell or organism, respectively. Cloning of genes and cells to create many copies in the laboratory is a common procedure essential for biomedical research. Note that several processes commonly described as cell "cloning" give rise to cells that are almost but not completely genetically identical to the ancestor cell. Cloning of organisms from embryonic cells occurs naturally in nature (e.g., identical twins). Researchers have achieved laboratory cloning using genetic material from adult animals of several species, including mice, pigs and sheep.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotide bases that specifies an amino acid or represents a signal to stop or start a function.

Co-enzyme

An organic compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme. Co-enzymes are smaller than the enzymes themselves and sometimes separable from them.

Co-factor

A nonprotein substance required for certain enzymes to function. Co-factors can be co-enzymes or metallic ions.

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs)

A group of lymphokines that induce the maturation and proliferation of white blood cells from the primitive cell types present in bone marrow.

Combinatorial chemistry

A product discovery technique that uses robotics and parallel synthesis to generate and screen quickly as many as several million molecules with similar structure in order to find chemical molecules with desired properties.

Co-metabolism

A microbe oxidizing not only its main energy source but also another organic compound.

Complementarity

The relationship of the nucleotide bases on two different strands of DNA or RNA. When the bases are paired properly (adenine with thymine [DNA] or uracil [RNA]; guanine with cytosine), the strands are complementary.

Complementary DNA (cDNA)

DNA synthesized from a messenger RNA rather than from a DNA template. This type of DNA is used for cloning or as a DNA probe for locating specific genes in DNA hybridization studies.

Computational biology

A subdiscipline within bioinformatics concerned with computation-based research devoted to understanding basic biological processes.

Conjugation

Sexual reproduction of bacterial cells in which there is a one-way exchange of genetic material between the cells in contact.

Crossing over

Exchange of genes between two paired chromosomes.

Cross-licensing

Legal, contractual procedure in which two or more firms with competing, similar technologies and possible conflicting patent claims strike a deal to reduce the need for legal actions to clarify who is to profit from applications of the technology.

Culture

As a noun, cultivation of living organisms in prepared medium; as a verb, to grow in prepared medium.

Culture medium

Any nutrient system for the artificial cultivation of bacteria or other cells; usually a complex mixture of organic and inorganic materials.

Cyto

Referring to cell.

Cytogenetics

Study of the cell and its heredity-related components, especially chromosomes.

Cytoplasm

Cellular material that is within the cell membrane and surrounds the nucleus.

Cytotoxic

Able to cause cell death.

BIOMARKERS RESEARCH

The market research study provides global market analysis for biomarkers by the different disease areas and by prominent biomarker discovery technologies including imaging, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics and other technologies comprising fluorescent indicators, lab-on-chip, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry/liquid chromatography and nanobiotechnology.
Price $3315

>> More details

>> Free sample report

STEM CELL RESEARCH