| Amino
acid
One of the 20 building blocks of protein. The
sequence of amino acids in a protein and hence
the function of that protein are determined by
the genetic code in the DNA. The 20 amino acids
are alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid,
cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine,
isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,
proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine
and valine.
Antibody
A specialised immune protein, produced because
of the introduction of an antigen into the body.
The antibody specifically targets the antigen
that triggered its production. The production
of antibodies is a major function of the immune
system and is carried out by a type of white blood
cells called a B cell.
Antigen
A substance that can trigger the production of
antibodies. Antigens do not always lead to an
allergic reaction.
Applied research
Research that uses the knowledge gained from basic
research and which has a direct application to
a health issue. Applied research includes research
such as developing and trialling new medicines
or medical devices, developing disease prevention
programs or finding new ways to deliver health
care more efficiently.
Basic research
Research to gain new knowledge about the fundamental
processes of life, including how the body works
normally.
Bioinformatics
The use of computing technology to discover, analyze
and manage biological information. Computing power
allows quicker, more systematic and innovative
processing, analysis and interpretation of data.
It involves creating extensive electronic databases
on genome and protein sequences.
Biotechnology
Originally used to mean the application of biological
processes and organisms to create useful products,
such as in agriculture and brewing. Now the term
biotechnology is used more generally to mean the
use of biological processes and organisms to create
modified or genetically engineered organisms or
products.
Cell
The basic structural and functional unit in people
and all living things. Most cells in the human
body contains all the genetic material necessary
to make us human. The genetic material, DNA, is
contained in the cell nucleus packaged into 46
chromosomes (23 pairs) - one chromosome in each
pair coming from each parent. Exceptions include
egg and sperm cells which have only 23 chromosomes
(half the usual number) and mature red blood cells
which no longer have a nucleus.
Chromosome
The carriers of genetic material, composed of
DNA and proteins. Humans normally have 46 chromosomes,
a set of 23 coming from each parent. There are
normally 22 pairs of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes)
plus 2 sex chromosomes (2X chromosomes in females
and one X and Y chromosome in males).
Clinical Trial
Testing treatments or interventions on a group
of people to evaluate the effectiveness and safety
of medications or medical devices. Participants
in the clinical trial are usually divided into
two or more groups including a control group that
does not receive the experimental treatment but
receives a placebo (inactive substance) instead
or receives normal therapy for comparison purposes.
Cloning
The process of making a clone, a genetically identical
copy.
Congenital
A condition that is congenital is one that is
present at birth. Congenital does not mean genetic(inherited).
Something that is congenital may or may not be
genetic.
Differentiation
The normal process by which cells mature, becoming
progressively more specialised in structure and
function. Cancer cells are said to revert to an
earlier stage of differentiation, being less differentiated
than normal cells.
DNA
DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) is the chemical
compound that is the genetic material in humans.
It is a double-stranded molecule held together
by bonds between base pairs of nucleotides. The
two strands of DNA spiral around each other forming
a long twisted ladder structure - the double helix.
Endocrinology
The study of hormones - how they act normally
and how they can cause diseases and other hormonal
conditions.
Epidemiology
The study of the health of populations and communities
to determine the frequency and distribution of
diseases and to measure risks.
Familial
A condition that is more common in certain families
than in the general population.
Functional genomics
The study of the function of a gene. Functional
genomics can reveal changes in a cell or organism
when a gene is deleted or modified.
Gene
A sequence of bases in DNA that codes for the
production of one or more molecules (usually proteins).
Just as letters of the alphabet join together
in a specific sequence to form words, a particular
sequence of bases make up a unique gene. Genes
have two primary functions: as the fundamental
units of inheritance between one generation and
the next, and to control the production and structure
of an individual's components (constituent parts).
Gene therapy
A method of treating disease by introducing normal
DNA directly into cells to correct a genetic defect
that is causing the disease.
Genome
An individual's total genetic makeup - the collection
of all the genes of an organism.
Genomics
The study of the structure, organization, function
and control of genes.
Genotype
The unique genetic constitution of an individual
Haploid
Having a single set of unpaired chromosomes in
each cell nucleus.
In situ
In the normal location. An "in situ"
tumour is one that is still in its site of origin
and has not spread to other parts of the body.
In vivo
In a living organism. "In vivo" is the
opposite of "in vitro".
Informed consent
When a person has received information concerning
the potential risks and benefits of a treatment
and that information was sufficient to allow the
person to make an informed decision about whether
to give their consent to have the treatment or
participate in a clinical trial.
Intervention
Anything meant to change the course of events
for someone - such as a treatment or medicine,
surgery, information or education programs, or
counselling
Karyotype
The characteristics of the set of chromosomes,
such as size, shape and number.
Life cycle
A progressive series of changes undergone by an
organism - such as from fertilisation to death.
Mutation
A change in the genetic code of an organism which
may change its characteristics. Exposure to UV
light or some chemicals may increase the probability
of mutations occurring.
Nanotechnology
The science of things that are measured by a nanometre,
which is one billionth of a metre.
Nucleotide
Components of DNA. There are four nucleotides
in DNA formed from the bases adenine(A), cytosine(C),
guanine(G) and thymine(T). The bases are complementary
such that A will pair up with T only and C will
pair up with G only. This means the base sequence
of each single strand of DNA can be determined
from its partner strand.
Organism
A living animal or plant which has one or more
cells. Single cell organisms are microscopic and
include bacteria.
Pathology
The study of disease.
Placebo
A fake or sham treatment given to people in the
control group of a clinical trial so they don't
know whether or not they are in the experimental
or control group. A placebo treatment is used
to identify any positive or negative effects experienced
because people believe they are getting the active
treatment. The 'placebo effect' is when a person
experiences effects even when there is nothing
in the actual treatment that could be the cause.
Protein
A type of molecule occurring in all living organisms.
Proteins are made up of amino acids and the instructions
for assembling the sequence of amino acids is
contained within the DNA. Within cells, proteins
carry out most of the chemical functions necessary
for life.
Proteomics
The study of the structure, function, interactions
and control of proteins
RNA
RNA (short for ribonucleic acid) is transcribed
from DNA in human cells and then forms the code
for making proteins.
Stem cell
The most primitive type of cell in the body, being
undifferentiated and having full potential to
keep dividing throughout life and give rise to
specialised (differentiated) cells. Stem cells
contribute to the body's ability to renew and
repair its tissues.
Therapeutic
For the purposes of treating disease.
Transgenic
The introduction of a modified gene from one organism
into the genome of another organism. Transgenic
experiments on animals are usually done to determine
the function of a particular gene.
Unicellular
An organism consisting of only one cell - such
as bacteria.
Vaccine
A substance given to provide immunity to disease
Xenotransplantation
The transplantation of an organ from one species
to another species
Source: Research Australia website
|
