Gamete
Mature male or female reproductive cell (sperm or ovum) with a haploid set of chromosomes (23 for humans).
Many DNA sequences carry long stretches of repeated G and C which often indicate a gene-rich region.
See: electrophoresis
The fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. A gene is an ordered sequence of nucleotides located in a particular position on a particular chromosome that encodes a specific functional product (i.e., a protein or RNA molecule).
See also: gene expression
Repeated copying of a piece of DNA; a characteristic of tumor cells.
See also: gene, oncogene
Development of cDNA microarrays from a large number of genes. Used to monitor and measure changes in gene expression for each gene represented on the chip.
The process by which a gene's coded information is converted into the structures present and operating in the cell. Expressed genes include those that are transcribed into mRNA and then translated into protein and those that are transcribed into RNA but not translated into protein (e.g., transfer and ribosomal RNAs).
Group of closely related genes that make similar products.
See: genomic library
Determination of the relative positions of genes on a DNA molecule (chromosome or plasmid) and of the distance, in linkage units or physical units, between them.
All the variations of genes in a species.
See also: allele, gene, polymorphism
Predictions of possible genes made by a computer program based on how well a stretch of DNA sequence matches known gene sequences
The biochemical material, either RNA or protein, resulting from expression of a gene. The amount of gene product is used to measure how active a gene is; abnormal amounts can be correlated with disease-causing alleles.
See: genetic testing, genetic screening
An experimental procedure aimed at replacing, manipulating, or supplementing nonfunctional or misfunctioning genes with healthy genes.
See also: gene, inherit, somatic cell gene therapy, germ line gene therapy
Incorporation of new DNA into and organism's cells, usually by a vector such as a modified virus. Used in gene therapy.
See also: mutation, gene therapy, vector
The sequence of nucleotides, coded in triplets (codons) along the mRNA, that determines the sequence of amino acids in protein synthesis. A gene's DNA sequence can be used to predict the mRNA sequence, and the genetic code can in turn be used to predict the amino acid sequence.
Provides patients and their families with education and information about genetic-related conditions and helps them make informed decisions.
Prejudice against those who have or are likely to develop an inherited disorder.
Altering the genetic material of cells or organisms to enable them to make new substances or perform new functions.
Genetic engineering technology
See: recombinant DNA technology
Sickness, physical disability, or other disorder resulting from the inheritance of one or more deleterious alleles.
See: bioinformatics
See: linkage map
A gene or other identifiable portion of DNA whose inheritance can be followed.
See also: chromosome, DNA, gene, inherit
See: genome
An organism in which different cells contain different genetic sequence. This can be the result of a mutation during development or fusion of embryos at an early developmental stage.
Difference in DNA sequence among individuals, groups, or populations (e.g., genes for blue eyes versus brown eyes).
Susceptibility to a genetic disease. May or may not result in actual development of the disease.
Testing a group of people to identify individuals at high risk of having or passing on a specific genetic disorder.
Analyzing an individual's genetic material to determine predisposition to a particular health condition or to confirm a diagnosis of genetic disease.
The study of inheritance patterns of specific traits.
All the genetic material in the chromosomes of a particular organism; its size is generally given as its total number of base pairs.
Research and technology-development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing the genome of human beings and certain model organisms.
See also: Human Genome Initiative
A collection of clones made from a set of randomly generated overlapping DNA fragments that represent the entire genome of an organism.
See also: library, arrayed library
See: DNA
The study of genes and their function.
The genetic constitution of an organism, as distinguished from its physical appearance (its phenotype).
Sperm and egg cells and their precursors. Germ cells are haploid and have only one set of chromosomes (23 in all), while all other cells have two copies (46 in all).
The continuation of a set of genetic information from one generation to the next.
See also: inherit
An experimental process of inserting genes into germ cells or fertilized eggs to cause a genetic change that can be passed on to offspring. May be used to alleviate effects associated with a genetic disease.
See also: genomics, somatic cell gene therapy.
See: mutation
A nitrogenous base, one member of the base pair GC (guanine and cytosine) in DNA.
See also: base pair, nucleotide
Organisms that have both male and female cells and therefore express both male and female characteristics.
