Companion Publication Biotechnology and Sustainable Development

Glossary of Terms

 

Bioinformatics: the assembly of data from genomic analysis into accessible forms. It involves the application of information technology to analyze and manage large data sets resulting from gene sequencing or related techniques.

Diagnostics: more accurate and quicker identification of pathogens using new diagnostics based on molecular characterization of the pathogens.

Functional genomics is the knowledge that converts the molecular information represented by DNA into an understanding of gene functions and effects: how and why genes behave in certain species and under specific conditions.  To address gene function and expression specifically, the recovery and identification of mutant and over-expressed phenotypes can be employed.  Functional genomics also entails research on the protein function (proteomics) or, even more broadly, the whole metabolism (metabolomics) of an organism.

Gene chips (also called DNA chips) or microarrays.  Identified expressed gene sequences of an organism can, as expressed sequence tags or synthesized oligonucleotides, be placed on a matrix.  This matrix can be a solid support such as glass.  If a sample containing DNA or RNA is added, those molecules that are complementary in sequence will hybridize.  By making the added molecules fluorescent, it is possible to detect whether the sample contains DNA or RNA of the respective genetic sequence initially mounted on the matrix.

Genomics: the molecular characterization of all the genes in a species.

High throughput (HTP) screening makes use of techniques that allow for a fast and simple test on the presence or absence of a desirable structure, such as a specific DNA sequence and the expression patterns of genes in response to different stimuli. HTP screening often uses DNA chips or microarrays and automated data processing for large-scale screening, for example to identify new targets for drug development.

Insertion mutants are mutants of genes that are obtained by inserting DNA, for instance through mobile DNA sequences, transposons.  In plant research, the capacity of the bacterium Agrobacterium to introduce DNA into the plant genome is employed to induce mutants.  In both cases, mutations lead to lacking or changing gene functions that are revealed by aberrant phenotypes.  Insertion mutant isolation, and subsequent identification and analysis are employed in model plants such as Arabidopsis and in crop plants such as maize and rice.

Molecular breeding: identification and evaluation of useful traits using marker-assisted selection.

Shotgun genome sequencing is a sequencing strategy for which parts of DNA are randomly sequenced.  The sequences obtained have a considerable overlap and by using appropriate computer software it is possible to compare sequences and align them to build larger units of genetic information. This sequencing strategy can be automated and leads to rapid sequencing information, but it is less precise than a systematic sequencing approach.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of genetic variation.  SNPs are stable mutations consisting of a change at a single base in a DNA molecule.  SNPs can be detected by HTP analyses, for instance with DNA chips, and they are then mapped by DNA sequencing.

Transformation: introduction of single genes conferring potentially useful traits.

Vaccine technology: using modern immunology to develop recombinant DNA vaccines for improved control of animal and fish disease.

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