Glossary of Terms

Bioinformatics

- is research, development or application of mathematical tools and approaches for expanding the use of biological, medical, behavioral or health data. This includes methods to acquire, store, organize, archive, analyze or visualize data.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is a collection of technologies that capitalize on the attributes of cells, such as their manufacturing capabilities, and out biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins to work for us. Biotechnology will help improve our ability to:customize therapies based on individual genomics; prevent, diagnose, and treat all types of diseases rather than rely on rescue therapy and provide breakthroughs in agricultural production and food safety.

Big science

is the harnessing of coordinated multidisciplinary groups with the latest technology to solve large scale, complex problems.

Chromosomes

are the housing for genes. Chromosomes come in 23 pairs, one from each parent, for a total of 46. Because chromosomes contain genes, a person will have two copies of every gene. The chromosomes are in the cell's nucleus.

DNA

is the molecule that stores the biological information in a cell. DNA chains in human cells can be over an inch in length, but are made up of only four building blocks called "bases."

Genes

are segments of DNA that regulate biological activity, such as the production of proteins. Genes are found on chromosomes within the nuclei of every cell.

Genetic testing

is examining a sample of blood or other body fluid or tissue for biochemical, chromosomal, or genetic markers that indicate the presence or absence of genetic disease.

Gene therapy

is treating disease by replacing, manipulating, or supplementing nonfunctional genes.

Genomics

is the study of how an individual's genes interact with each other and with the environment to create the complexity of life. The potential of Genomics is to personalize medical care by basing treatments specifically on a person's genetic make up. Genomics research has lead to the identification of disease-related genes that have lead to the development of new genetic tests.

Human Genome

is the complete set of genes for an individual.

Medical Genomics

is the application of basic knowledge of the human genome to questions that influence human health. Medical genomics promises a fundamental change in the practice of medicine by: identifying new genes with disease relevance; providing better characterization of subcategories of disease; providing better identification of risk factors, and creating the potential for individualized drug therapies. Also know as the "new biology."

Pharmacogenetics

allows physicians to identify which drugs, at what doses, are the most appropriate for a given patient.

Proteins

are the molecular machines of the cell, responsible for performing most of the biological work required to keep a cell functioning normally. The structure of proteins is coded in the sequence of bases in the DNA.

Proteomics

is the study of protein structure and function within a cell. For example, knowing the characteristics and shape of a key protein in a given disease could allow researchers to custom-design therapeutic agents. They would be able to create a drug molecule that would bind securely to the protein. This could interrupt the protein's signal, thus stopping, starting or modifying a biological process. Proteomics works hand-in-hand with genomics.

Regenerative biology

is the study of cell-based therapies to recreate or repair damaged or diseased tissues or organs.