Month: August 2020

A class of colony stimulating factors (proteins) that stimulates bone marrow cells to produce certain types of red and white blood cells. Some colony stimulating factors are: Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) Granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) Erythropoietin (EPO) Interleukin-3 (IL-3) Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF).  

Cells (lymphocytes) which bind B cells (upon recognizing a foreign epitope on B cell surface). The binding stimulates B cell proliferation by secreting B cell growth factor. Component of the immune system that serves to direct antibody production by B cells in response to an antigen presented to the B cells by macrophages. White blood…

A spiral, staircase-like structure with a repeating pattern described by two simultaneous operations (rotation and translation). It is one of the natural conformations exhibited by biological polymers. Any structure with a spiral shape. The Watson and Crick model of DNA is in the form of a double. The curved outer edge of the ear. Coil-shaped…

Known as the tobacco budworm (when it is on tobacco plants), this is one of three insect species that is called “bollworms” (when they are on cotton plants). As part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farmers can utilize the parasitic Euplectrus comstockki wasp to help control the tobacco budworm/cotton bollworm. When that wasp’s venom is…

Known as the com earwoim (when it is on com plants), and known as the tomato fruitwomi (when it is on tomato plants), this is one of three insect species that is called “bollworms” (when on cotton plants). H. zea is one of the insects that can act as a vector (carrier) of Aspergillus flavus…

The regions (domains) of the antibody (molecule’s) “heavy chain” that vary in their amino acid sequence. The “chains” (of atoms) comprising the antibody (immunoglobulin) molecule consist of a region of variable (V) amino acid sequence and a region in which the amino acid sequence remains constant (C). An antibody molecule possesses two antigen binding sites,…

A quality control program (for food processing) to systematically prevent hazards (e.g., pathogens) from entering the production process. HACCP was initially developed in the 1950’s by the Pillsbury Company to supply food products for astronauts in America’s space program. Under HACCP, food processors/handlers must analyze and identify in advance the points where hazards are most…

Enzymes that are used to gently dissociate (i.e., break apart) cells in living tissues in order to produce single, separate cells that can then be established and propagated in a cell culture reactor. Harvesting enzymes are also used to dissociate cells that have been grown for some time in a cell culture reactor.  

A term used to describe the recovery of microorganisms from a liquid culture (in which they have been grown by man). This is usually accomplished by means of filtration or centrifugation. The procedure involving the extraction of tissues or organs from a donor and their subsequent preservation for transplantation purposes.  

A phase in the life cycle of an organism in which it has only one copy of each gene. The organism is then said to be haploid. Yeast can exist as true haploids. Humans are haploid for only a few genes and cannot exist as true haploids.