Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A large (i.e., greater than 500 base pairs in length) piece of DNA that has been cloned (made) inside a living yeast cell. While most bacterial vectors cannot carry DNA pieces that are larger than 50 base pairs, and “standard” YACs typically cannot carry DNA pieces that are larger than 500 base pairs, mega YACs…

A colony stimulating factor (protein) involved in the regulation of platelet production, white blood cell production, and red blood cell production from stem cells in bone marrow.  

A substance used to provide nutrients for cell growth. It may be liquid (e.g., broth) or solid (e.g., agar). Pertaining to the middle. The substance or material in which anything moves or acts. Average, in the middle or at the halfway point. Substance through which something moves or acts. A contrast medium, for example, has…

The British Government agency that, in concert with the Committee on Safety in Medicines, regulates the approval and sale of pharmaceutical products in the United Kingdom. An executive agency of the Department of Health with the prime function of safeguarding the public health.  

Term used for an officially established upper allowable limit, of a given compound (e.g., a synthetic hormone) in a particular product, such as meat. For example, in 1994, the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome, Italy decided to establish maximum residue levels for each of five growth promotants that are commonly utilized by the U.S. beef…

An analytical device that can be used to determine the molecular weights of proteins and nucleic acids, the sequence of (composition and order of amino acids comprising) protein molecules, the chemical composition of virtually any material, and the rapid identification of intact gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms (the latter, using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of…

The utilization of DNA sequence “markers” by commercial breeders to select the organisms (e.g., crops, livestock, etc.) which possess gene(s) for a particular performance trait (e.g., rapid growth, high yield, etc.) desired; for subsequent breeding/propagation.  

A trait that can be observed to occur or not to occur in an organism such as, for example, bacteria or plant(s). Genetic markers include such traits as: expression of luciferase in leaf cells (causing leaves to glow), resistance to specific antibiotics, the nature of the cell wall and capsule characteristics, requirements for a particular…

A specific sequence of DNA that is virtually always associated with a specified trait, because of “linkage” between that DNA sequence (the “marker”) and the gene(s) that cause that particular trait.  

A DNA fragment of known size used to calibrate an electrophoretic gel.