Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Nanocrystal molecules
Coined by researchers A. Paul Alivisatos and Peter G. Schultz, it is a term used to describe double-stranded DNA molecules that have attached to them several multi-atom clusters of gold. As of 1 996, these researchers were working to try to create nanometerscale electrical circuits, semiconductors, etc. A separate methodology, researched by Chad A. Mirkin…
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Naked gene
A bare gene (strand of DNA) that has been extracted from or derived (e.g., synthesized from sequencing data) from a pathogen. During the 1990s, it was discovered that inserting such “naked” genes into certain tissues in the (usual disease host) organism would sometimes cause those tissues to take up the “naked” genes and express some…
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New animal drug application
An application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin testing/studies of a new drug for animals (e.g., livestock), that might (eventually) lead to its FDA approval.
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Myristoylation
Transformation of proteins in cells in such a manner that these cells then cause cancer.
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Mutual recognition agreements (MRAs)
Legal agreements (e.g., treaties) between two or more nations, to recognize and respect each other’s approval process (e.g., for new crops derived via biotechnology).
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Mutase
An enzyme catalyzing transposition of a functional group in the substrate (substance acted upon by the enzyme). Intramolecular transfer of a chemical group from one position (i.e., carbon atom) to another within the same molecule. An example of a mutase is phosphoglucomutase. It has a molecular weight of about 60,000 Daltons with about 600 amino…
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Mutant
An altered cell or organism resulting from mutation (an alteration) of the original wild (normal) type. A change from the normal to the unique or abnormal. A cell or individual organism that shows changes brought about by alterations (mutations) in genes. In which mutation has occurred. An individual in which a mutation has occurred, especially…
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Murine
Of, or pertaining to, mice. For example, the first monoclonal antibodies were produced using cells from mice. This frequently caused adverse immune responses to monoclonal antibodies when they were injected into the human body (e.g., thus limiting their use in therapeutic purposes). However, researchers have recently discovered how to make monoclonal antibodies in human cells.…
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Multienzyme system
A sequence of related enzymes participating in a given metabolic (chemical reaction) pathway.
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Multi-copy plasmids
Plasmids that are present inside bacteria in quantities greater than one plasmid per (host) cell.
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