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An electron-rich group with a strong tendency to donate electrons to an electron-deficient nucleus.  

A round, granular structure situated in the nucleus of eucaryotic cells. It is involved in rRNA (ribosomal RNA) synthesis and ribosome formation. One or more spherical, dark-staining bodies in the nucleus that are rich in RNA and protein. A structure inside a cell nucleus, containing RNA. Small structure, composed mostly of ribonucleic acid, found in…

The compact body that contains the genome in a bacterium.  

An enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the intemucleotide linkages of a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA or RNA). Nucleases tend to degrade (i.e., hydrolyze, cleave) artificially inserted DNA strands, making genetic targeting more difficult. An enzyme which breaks down nucleic acids. An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of nucleic acids by cleaving the bonds between adjacent nucleotides.…

Receptors in a cell’s outer membrane that serve to convey a “signal” from outside the cell all the way into the cell’s nucleus.  

Protein molecules that are present in cancerous cells, but not in normal (non-mutated) cells.  

One of the international SPS standard-setting organizations that develops plant health standards, guidelines and recommendations (e.g., to prevent transfer of a disease from one country to another). Subsidiary to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), it covers the countries of North America. Its secretariat is located in Nepean, Canada.  

A region between transcription units in a tandem gene cluster.  

A mutation that converts a codon that specifies an amino acid into one that does not specify any amino acid. A change in the nucleotide sequence of a codon that may result in the termination of a polypeptide chain. A change in a single DNA nucleotide that creates a stop codon (TGA, TAA, TAG) that…

A triplet of nucleotides that does not code for an amino acid. Any one of three triplets (U-A-G, U-A-A, U-G-A) that cause termination of protein synthesis. U-A-G is known as amber and U-A-A is known as ochre.