| A | B |
|---|
| Allele | Alternative forms of the same gene. For example |
| Antibody | A substances produced by white blood cells in response to infection. It find disease-causing organisms so they can be destroyed by special cells called phagocytes. |
| Asexual reproduction | Reproduction in which genes are passed on from only one parent. |
| Base | The four bases -adenine (A),cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T) – make up the ‘rungs’ of the DNA ‘ladder’. In DNA the bases pair with each other: A always pairs with T and C always pairs with G. |
| Cancer | Cancer is a result of the rapid uncontrolled growth of cells. These cells form tumours which may spread and invade other organs. |
| Carrier | A person whose cells have both a normal and a faulty allele. Symptomless carriers show no signs of the genetic disorder they are carrying. |
| Cell | The basic "unit of life" |
| Characteristic | A feature of an organism. A result of a gene's instructions to a cell |
| Chromosome | Thread-like structures in the nucleus made up of strings of genes. |
| Clone | A group of genetically identical plants or animals produced asexually from one parent. |
| Cystic fibrosis | A genetic disorder in which the person produces abnormal |
| Designer babies | Offspring produced with particular characteristics using either genetic modification or embryo screening. |
| DNA | A chemical containing the code which tells a cell how to develop. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. |
| DNA fingerprint | A pattern of bands produced when short lengths of DNA are separated using an electric current. |
| Dominant | An allele which overrides other alleles of a gene so that their effects are hidden. |
| Embryo screening | Selecting embryos with particular characteristics |
| Environment | The surrounding conditions in which an organism develops. |
| Fertilisation | When the nuclei of two sex cells - such as an egg and sperm - join together. |
| Forensics | The medical knowledge used in the detection of crime. |
| Gamete | A sex cell; for example |
| Gene | A piece of DNA that contains the instructions needed for a particular characteristic |
| Gene therapy | Replacing faulty alleles with working copies of the affected genes. |
| Generation | A term used to describe the descendents of a pair of individuals. For example |
| Genetics | The science concerning the inheritance of characteristics. |
| genetic engineering | Techniques used to remove genes from one organism and transfer them to another organism. |
| Human Genome Project | A project |
| Inheritance | A term used to describe the passing of genes from parents to offspring. |
| Liposome | A small fat-like droplet which can be used to deliver working genes to cells in gene therapy. |
| Nucleus | The part of a cell which contains genetic material in the form of chromosomes. |
| Transplant | A term used to describe an organ which has been donated by one organism and inserted into the body of another |
| Variation | This describes the differences shown in a group of organisms; for example fur, colour and flower colour. |
| Virus | A simple particle that enters and infects cells. Mild viruses like the adenovirus which causes the common cold |
