AIDS Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome. Infection by retrovirus (HIV), leading to failure of immune system.
ALD Fatal genetic disease, causing degeneration of the nervous system.
Alleles Alternative forms of the same gene.
Amino acids The basic building blocks of proteins.
Asexual reproduction Production of offspring by cloning, budding or other means that does not involve the combination of genetic material from two individuals.
Bases A component of each sub-unit of nucleic acids. DNA has 4 bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). They link together in base pairs (A-T and G-C), with the bonds uniting the two strands of DNA into a double helix. The order of bases on DNA comprises the genetic code. The human genome has around 6 billion base pairs.
Chimera An organism that has been genetically engineered from the genetic material of two individuals, which may be from different species.
Chromosome DNA-bearing structure. Genes are located at specific places along the chromosomes.
Clone An offspring produced by asexual reproduction, which is genetically identical to the parent.
Cloning Scientific technique for creating clones.
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid. The molecule on which the genetic code resides. DNA forms into a double-stranded, double helix structure, which in higher organisms is packed tightly into chromosomes, in each cell's nucleus.
DI Donor Insemination, also known as Artificial Insemination by Donor (AID). Injection of sperm from often anonymous donor into women's body, in clinic or at home, for example, using turkey baster.
Embryo An organism in early development, following fertilisation and before the formation of major organs.
Enzyme A protein that acts to regulate or catalyse a biochemical reaction, without being itself altered in the process.
Eugenics The study of the methods to improve human characteristics by the application of genetics.
Foetus An organism in early development, after the formation of major organs.
Gene A unit of heredity, encoded on DNA, and located at a particular place on a chromosome. On expression, a gene instructs the cell's protein synthesis machinery to construct a single, specific protein.
Genetic code The sequence of bases on DNA, a functional unit of which is called a gene.
Genetic profiling A technique, invented in 1985, for comparing DNA samples. Marker genes, known to be variable within the sampling population, are used to give a individual profile or "fingerpring", so that the probability of samples coming from the same source can be determined.
Genetic fingerprint See genetic profiling.
Genome The entire genetic code of an organism.
Genotype The genetic constitution of an organism. The particular gene alleles present in an individual.
Heredity The relationship between successive generations. More specifically, the transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring via the chromosomes.
Hormone A molecule produced in one part of body that exerts an effect in another part of the body.
Hox genes Homeobox genes are a family of genes that determine the positions of body segments in higher organisms.
Hybrids Offspring of inter-species mating.
ICSI Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection. Assisted reproduction technique to aid men with low sperm counts, by taking sperm from testes and fertilising egg in vitro.
Imprinting Process by which genes inherited from male and female parents are differentially expressed.
IVF In vitro fertilisation or fertilisation of an egg by sperm outside the body (literally, in glass).
IQ An index that has been correlated with "intelligence". Used to justify racial superiority of white middle classes.
Laws of Inheritance Two Laws formulated by Gregor Mendel in 1860. The Law of Segregation states that each hereditary characteristic is controlled by two factors (alleles of a gene), which segregate and pass into separate reproductive cells (ova and sperm). The Law of Independent Assortment states that pairs of factors segregate independently of each other when reproductive cells are formed.
Linkage The tendency for two genes, close to each other on a chromosome, to remain together during reproduction. Linked genes are therefore an exception to Mendel's Laws of Inheritance.
Neo-Darwinism A synthesis of Mendel's Laws of Inheritance with Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection.
Mitochondria Structure within cell that is the site of energy production. Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which is only inherited maternally.
Mutagen A substance that increases the rate of mutation.
Mutation An inheritable change in the genetic code.
Nucleus The structure in cells of higher organisms that contains the bulk of the DNA.
Nucleic acid DNA or RNA. Consisting of a series of units (nucleotides), each comprising a base, a phosphate and a sugar.
PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction. A technique invented in 1983 to make multiply small samples of DNA.
Phenotype The observable characteristics of an organism, derived from the interaction of its genotype and the environment.
Protein A molecule consisting of one or more long chains of amino acids linked in a characteristic sequence.
Recombinant DNA The hybrid DNA produced by splicing together DNA from different organisms or species.
Replication Duplication of genetic material prior to cell division.
Retrovirus A virus that converts its RNA into DNA, by means of an enzyme (reverse transcriptase), enabling it to become inserting into its host's DNA.
RNA Ribonucleic acid. A single-stranded nucleic acid, responsible for carrying the genetic instructions from DNA to the sites of protein synthesis in a cell.
Sexual reproduction Production of offspring by combining the genetic material from two individuals of the same species.
Somatic Relating to all the body's cells, except the reproductive cells (sperm and egg).
Stem cell A cell with the potential to become any type of specialised cell, i.e. an undifferentiated cell. Embryo cells are mainly stem cells.
Telomere A region at the end of each chromosome, consisting of a repeated coding sequences that does not encode for protein. Telomeres aid DNA replication, which cannot proceed once this region has been worn away.
Telomerase An enzyme that repairs telomeres during the specialised cell divisions that occur during sexual reproduction.
Transgenic organism An organism containing a gene from another species.
Virus Simplest form of life on Earth, consisting of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat. Viruses need to infect animal, plant or bacterial cells before they can reproduce.
Xenotransplantation The transplanting of organs from one species to another.
Chapter 1: It Came from the Lab.
Chapter 2: Dinosaur Resurrection.
Chapter 3: Confronting the Clone.
Chapter 4: Cloning the Alien.
Chapter 5: Danger: Genetically Modified Organisms.
Chapter 6: Designer Babies.
Chapter 7: All in the Genes?
Chapter 8: Real-life Science.
Chapter 9: Are Movies Impeding Biotechnology?
October 1999 SFN.