Glossary
Amino Acids
A compound containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group. Amino acids are important components of cells which make up proteins. Some can be synthesized while others obtained through the diet.
Base pair
A pair of two bases, or nucleotides. The pair is composed of one nucleotide joined to another by hydrogen bonds, holding together the two complementary strands. Adenine (A) links to thymine (T) or sometimes to uracil (U) and guanine (G) links to cytosine (C).
Bioinformatics
The use of computers to collect, store, classify, and analyze biological data, especially in studying the nucleotide sequences of plant and animal DNA.
Chromosome
A structure, usually found in pairs in a cell nucleus, that carries genetic information in the form of genes. A human body cell contains 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs.
CBCB
CBCB stands for Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. http://genome.uiowa.edu.
CLCG
CLCG stands for Coordinated Laboratory for Computational Genomics. http://genome.uiowa.edu/clcg.html.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid. A long, linear molecule of nucleic acids in the form of a double helix found in the nucleus of a cell. DNA reproduces itself and is the means by which hereditary characteristics pass from one generation to the next.
Gene
The basic unit of hereditary transportation from parents to offspring. It is a segment of DNA that occupies a fixed position (locus) on a chromosome and is involved in producing a protein. Genes consist of exons and introns and regions preceding and following the coding DNA.
Genetics
The branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms.
Genome
The complete DNA sequence of an organism.
Genomics
The study of genes and their function.
Genotype
The genetic makeup of a particular organism.
Locus (plural: Loci)
The specific site of a particular gene on its chromosome.
Mutation
Any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of an organism. This general definition may also be referred to as a sequence alteration, or variation. We generally use mutation in its more negative connotation to mean an alteration resulting in a negative phenotypic affect on the organism.
Mutation Identification
The process of searching for a specific variation in the genome of an organism.
Nucleotide
The basic structural units of nucleic acids. The four nucleotides: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), and Thymine (T).
Oligonucleotide
A chain of usually up to 20 nucleotides
Phenotype
The observable characteristics of an organism.
Phenotype Screening
The process of identifying the source of a particular phenotype (identifying the mutation or variation in a gene that causes the observed phenotype).
Proteomics
The study of the proteome, the complete set of proteins encoded by a genome.
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