Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Multiple forms of an enzyme that differ from each other in their substrate (substance acted upon) affinity, in their maximum activity, or in their regulatory properties. Enzymes that have slightly different chemical structures, but produce the same result, as the enzymes they resemble.  

The five-carbon hydrocarbon molecule: 2-methyl-l,3 butadiene. It is a recurring structural unit of the terpenoid molecules, which are either linear or cyclic. There exists a very large number of terpenes and many are major components of essential plant oils. A five-carbon unit used in the synthesis of sterols. A volatile hydrocarbon produced naturally by plants…

An enzyme-catalyzing transformation of a compound into its positional isomer. Any one of a group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of one isomer of a compound into another. Any enzyme that catalyzes the isomerization of its substrate. For example, phosphoglucose isomerase interconverts glucose and fructose-6-phosphate.  

Separation of ionic compounds (which include nucleic acids and proteins) in a chromatographic column containing a polymeric resin (i.e., the stationary phase) having fixed charge groups. The process works in that the charges of the column (stationary phase) interact with the opposite charges of the material dissolved in the solution that is flowing through the…

A transmembrane (i.e., through the membrane of the cell) protein that enables bacterial cells to invade normal (body) cells.  

The incorporation of transgenes (genes from transgenic organisms) into a wild type’s genome.  

A nonprofit organization of individuals that was started in 1994 “to advance and promote the general welfare of the science and commercialization of genetic engineering and industrial biotechnology.”  

One of the three international SPS standard-setting organizations that is recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the IPPC is the worldwide authority for development ofplant health standards, guidelines, and recommendations (e.g., to prevent transfer of a plant disease from one country to another). The treaty establishing the IPPC was signed in 1952. IPPC standards…

One of the three international SPS standard-setting organizations that is recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the OIE is an international veterinary organization headquartered in Paris. The OIE was established in 1924, originally as part of the League of Nations, and is the worldwide authority for development of animal health and zoonoses standards, guidelines,…

An organization that was established in 1988 by the Industrial Biotechnology Association (IBA) and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), in order to “produce a (recommended) set of guidelines that could be used to assess the safety of genetically altered foods.”