Genes Science keywords
Terms
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- Allele
- Alternative forms of the same gene. For example, the gene controlling flower colour has yellow and white alleles
- Antibody
- A protein produced by white blood cells in response to infection. It finds disease-causing organisms such as pathogens so they can be destroyed by special cells called phagocytes
- Asexual reproduction
- Reproduction in which genes are passed on from only one parent
- Bases
- The four bases - Adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T) - make up the 'rungs' of the DNA 'ladder'. In DNA, the bases pair with each other: A with T, C with G
- Cancer
- The result of the rapid uncontrolled growth of cells. These cells form tumours which may spread and invade other organs
- Carrier
- A person whose cells has both a normal and faulty allele. Symptomless carriers show no signs of the genetic disorder they are carrying
- Cell
- The basic 'unit of life', consisting of a nucleus and cytoplasm surrounded by a membrane
- Chromosomes
- Thread-like structures in the nucleus made up of strings of genes
- Clone
- A group of genetically identical plants or animals produced asexually from one parent
- Cystic fibrosis
- A genetic disorder in which the person produces abnormal, sticky mucus in their lungs
- Designer babies
- Offspring produced with particular characteristics using either genetic modification or embryo screening
- DNA
- A chemical containing the code which tells a cell how to develop. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid
- DNA fingerprint
- A pattern of bands produced when short lengths of DNA are separated using an electric current
- Dominant
- An allele which overrides other alleles of a gene so that their effects are hidden
- Embryo screening
- Selecting embryos with particular characteristics, usually to eliminate a genetic disorder
- Fertilisation
- When the nuclei of two gametes (sex cells) - such as an ovum and a sperm cell - join together
- Forensics
- The medical knowledge used in the detection of crime
- Gamete
- A sex cell; for example an ovum or sperm. Gametes carry only one copy of an allele
- Gene
- A piece of DNA that contains the instructions needed for a particular characteristic, such as eye colour
- Gene therapy
- Replacing faulty alleles with working copies of the affected gene
- Generation
- A term used to describe the descendents of a pair of individuals
- Genetics
- The science concerning the inheritance of characteristics
- Human Genome Project (HGP)
- A project, began in 1990, which set out to map the human genetic code by working out the sequence of the genes in human DNA
- Inheritance
- A term used to describe the passing of genes from parents to offspring
- Liposomes
- A small fat-like droplet which can be used to deliver working genes to cells in gene therapy
- Nucleus
- The part of a cell which contains genetic material in the form of chromosomes
- Recessive
- An allele whose effects are hidden by the presence of a dominant allele. A recessive allele must be inherited from both parents in order to show its effects in the offspring
- Sexual reproduction
- Reproduction in which half the genes are inherited from each of two parents
- Stem cell
- Cells which continue to divide and which have the ability to replace cells in all types of tissue
- Transgenic
- A term applied to an organism containing genes taken from another species
- Transplant
- A term used to describe an organ which has been donated by one organism and inserted into the body of another, such as a kidney transplant
- Variation
- This describes the differences shown in a group of organisms; for example fur colour and flower colour
- Virus
- A simple particle that enters and affects cells. Mild viruses such as the adenovirus, which causes the common cold, may be modified and used to put working copies of genes into faulty cells