Biotech VocabularyBiotech Vocabulary

AMINO ACIDAMINO ACID The building blocks The building blocks

of a protein of a protein molecule.molecule.

A protein is A protein is composed of a chain composed of a chain of hundreds or of hundreds or thousands of amino thousands of amino acids.acids.

BIOINFORMATICSBIOINFORMATICS The use of The use of

computers and computers and information information technology to gain a technology to gain a new understanding new understanding of biology.of biology.

BioprocessingBioprocessing A technique in which microorganisms, A technique in which microorganisms,

living cells, or their components are used living cells, or their components are used to produce a desired end productto produce a desired end product

Example: making bread using yeastExample: making bread using yeast

BIOREACTORBIOREACTOR

A container used for A container used for bioprocessing.bioprocessing.

(bioprocessing is (bioprocessing is using living cells to using living cells to produce a new produce a new product)product)

CELLCELL The smallest unit of The smallest unit of

living organisms that living organisms that is able to grow and is able to grow and reproduce reproduce independently.independently.

ChromosomeChromosome Threadlike structures in a cell nucleus Threadlike structures in a cell nucleus

that contain genetic informationthat contain genetic information

CLONECLONE A cell or collection of A cell or collection of

cells containing cells containing identical genetic identical genetic material.material.

Clones are produced Clones are produced from a single parent from a single parent cell and are cell and are genetically identical genetically identical to the parent.to the parent.

CultureCulture The growth of living organisms in a The growth of living organisms in a

prepared medium or mediaprepared medium or media

DNA (deoxyribonucleic DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)acid)

The chemical The chemical molecule that is the molecule that is the basic genetic basic genetic material found in all material found in all cells.cells.

ENZYMEENZYME A protein that A protein that

accelerates the rate accelerates the rate of chemical of chemical reactions.reactions.

They convert They convert complex proteins, complex proteins, sugars and fat sugars and fat molecules to simpler molecules to simpler substances.substances.

FERMENTATIONFERMENTATION A chemical activity A chemical activity

using using microorganisms to microorganisms to decompose materials decompose materials (carbohydrates). (carbohydrates).

Fermentation is a Fermentation is a specific type of specific type of bioprocessing.bioprocessing.

GeneGene A small section of a chromosome that A small section of a chromosome that

controls heredity characteristicscontrols heredity characteristics

GENETIC ENGINEERINGGENETIC ENGINEERING Artificially changing Artificially changing

the genetic makeup the genetic makeup of an organism.of an organism.

GENOMEGENOME The total hereditary The total hereditary

material of a cell.material of a cell.

HybridHybrid In selective breeding, it usually refers to In selective breeding, it usually refers to

the offspring of two different species or the offspring of two different species or strains.strains.

MUTATIONMUTATION When an organism is When an organism is

changed or altered changed or altered from its parent or from its parent or original form.original form.

Nucleic AcidNucleic Acid A biological molecule composed of a long A biological molecule composed of a long

chain of nucleotides.chain of nucleotides. All DNA is made from four different All DNA is made from four different

nucleotides (A,G,T,C)nucleotides (A,G,T,C) They are arranged in a variety of ordersThey are arranged in a variety of orders

PhenotypesPhenotypes The observable characteristic of an The observable characteristic of an

organism as opposed to the set of genes organism as opposed to the set of genes it possesses (genotype).it possesses (genotype).

The physical appearance (ex: hair color, The physical appearance (ex: hair color, eye color, height)eye color, height)

PlasmidPlasmid A small, circular piece of DNA found A small, circular piece of DNA found

outside the chromosome in bacteria.outside the chromosome in bacteria. Plasmids are the principle tools for Plasmids are the principle tools for

inserting new genetic information into inserting new genetic information into microorganisms or plants.microorganisms or plants.

PROTEINPROTEIN A complex biological A complex biological

molecule composed molecule composed of a chain of units of a chain of units called amino acids.called amino acids.

They carry out the They carry out the functions of an functions of an organism, such as organism, such as growth and repair of growth and repair of tissue.tissue.