Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A “sense” technology used to “turn off” (suppress) a gene (e.g., the one that causes tomato to ripen) that causes an unwanted effect (e.g., premature softening of tomato). Transwitch and its registered trademark are owned by DNA Plant Technology Corp.  

A DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence (segment of molecule) able to replicate and insert one copy (of itself) at a new location in the genome (i.e., a transposition of location). Discovered in 1950 by geneticist Barbara McClintock in corn (maize) plants (Zea mays L.); and in bacteria a decade later by Joshua Lederberg. Transposons can either…

Movement of a gene or set of genes from one site in the genome to another without a reciprocal exchange (of DNA). The phenomenon whereby visual and auditory patterns remain the same even though the parts of which they are composed are changed. Having learned to discriminate two stimuli, the person responds to a new…

An enzyme that is required for transposition to occur. It is coded-for by the transposon known as the P element.  

A peptide that, when fused to a protein, acts to transport that protein between compartments within eucaryotic cells. Once inside the “destination compartment,” the transit peptide is cleaved off the protein and that protein is then free (to do its designed task).  

That point in the chemical reaction at which the reactants (i.e., chemical entities about to react with each other) have been “brought to the brink.” It is a point in the chemical reaction process in which an “activated condition” is reached. From this point the probability of the reaction going to completion and producing a…

A plant breeding (propagation) technique, in which genetically very different members of the same species are mated with each other. The offspring of that mating can be more healthy, productive (e.g., fast growing), and uniform than their parents, a phenomenon known as “hybrid vigor.”  

An organism whose gamete cells (sperm/egg) contain genetic material originally derived from an organism other than the parents or in addition to the parental genetic material.  

A ”package” of genetic material (i.e., DNA) that is inserted into the genome of a cell via gene splicing techniques. May include promoter(s), leader sequence, termination codon, etc. A gene in the genome of an organism which comes from a different organism.  

An angiogenic growth factor produced by tumor cells, it is able to induce specific malignant characteristics in normal cells (such as fibroblasts), thereby “transforming” those cells. TGF-beta stimulates blood vessel growth, even though it inhibits the division of endothelial cells. TGF-beta is a strong “attracting agenf for macrophages (i.e., TGF-beta is chemotactic), and appears to…