Page 15 - My FlipBook

exon: a part of DNA that contains instructions for making protein
gamete: a sex cell, such as an egg and sperm
gene: a basic physical and functional unit of heredity made of DNA
gene editing: the manipulation of the genetic material of a living organism by
deleting, replacing, or inserting a DNA sequence
gene therapy: a therapy that either replaces a gene mutation with a corrected
copy of the gene or upregulates a second gene to increase protein function
genetic disorder: a disease or condition caused by a mutation in a gene that
prevents it from functioning normally
genetic linkage: the tendency of DNA sequences that are close together
on a chromosome to be inherited together during the meiosis phase of
sexual reproduction
genetics: the study of single genes and their role in the way traits or conditions
are passed from one generation to the next
genome: an organism’s complete set of DNA
genomics: a field of study within genetics concerned with the structure, function,
evolution, and mapping of entire genomes
genotype: an organism’s complete set of genes, or a set of alleles that
determines the expression of a particular trait
germline: the gamete-producing cells in a sexually reproducing organism
germline editing: gene editing of the germline (sex) cells, which could cause DNA
changes to be passed to offspring and alter the gene pool
granuloma: a mass of immune cells that forms at a site of inflammation
or infection

haploid: having a single set of unpaired chromosomes
intron: a part of DNA that does not contain instructions for making proteins
karyotype: the number and visual appearance of the chromosomes in the cell
nuclei of an organism or species as seen under a microscope
matrilineal: based on kinship with one’s mother or female ancestors
meiosis: when a single cell divides twice to produce four haploid cells, each
containing half the original amount of genetic information
messenger RNA (mRNA): ribonucleic acid (RNA) transcribed from the DNA of a
gene in the cell nucleus, which provides the template for building proteins

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