Category: E

Bacteria that live and reproduce outside (either colder or hotter) the typical temperature range of 40°F (4°C) to 140°F (60°C) that bacteria tend to be found in, on Earth. Other extremes are high pressure (e.g., at the ocean bottom), salt saturation, (e.g., the Dead Sea), pH lower than 2 (e.g., coal deposits), pH higher than…

Genes that reside within the cell, but outside the nucleus. Generally, extranuclear genes reside inside organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.  

The intensity with which the effect of a gene is realized in the phenotype. The degree to which a particular effect is expressed by individuals. A degree of expression of a trait controlled by a gene. A particular gene may produce varying degrees of expression in different individuals. The extent to which a heritable trait…

To translate the cell’s genetic information stored in the DNA (gene) into a specific protein (synthesized by the cell’s ribosome system). Directly set forth in words. To squeeze liquid or air out of something, especially to squeeze out breast milk for a baby to feed on later.  

Numerical rankings of (livestock) parental genetics, in terms of an animal’s genetic impact on progeny’s four following commercial traits: Number of progeny born alive Weight of progeny at weaning age Number of days required to reach slaughter weight, when fed adequately Carcass lean meat versus fat percentages EPDs allow a farmer to estimate differences in…

An enzyme that hydrolyzes (cuts) only a terminal phosphodiester bond of a nucleic acid. An enzyme that cleaves nucleotides from either the 3′ or 5′ ends of DNA or RNA.  

Amino acids present in the brain, which can kill brain cells when in excess (results from strokes, which cause the release of too many EAAs in the brain). Some spiders paralyze their prey with venom that contains a substance that blocks the action of EAAs (thus may be used to prevent brain damage in stroke…

Removal of cells (e.g., certain blood cells) from a patient’s body, alteration of those cells in one or more therapeutic ways, followed by re-insertion of the altered cells into the patient’s body.  

The testing of a substance by exposing it to (excised) living cells (but not to the whole, multicelled organism) in order to ascertain the effect of the substance (e.g., pharmaceutical) on the biochemistry of the cell.  

Refers to each instance of a genetically engineered organism. For example, the same gene inserted by man into a given plant genome at two different locations (i.e., loci) along that plant’s DNA would be considered two different “events.” Alternatively, two different genes inserted into the same locus of two same-species plants would also be considered…