| Term | Definition |
| Insulin | A protein that facilitates the uptake of sugar into cells from blood |
| Biotechnology | The study and manipulation of living things or their component molecules, cells, tissues, or organs |
| DNA | Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, a double-stranded helical molecule that stores genetic information for the production of all of an organisms proteins |
| Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology | cutting and recombining DNA molecules |
| Cloning | A method of asexual reproduction that produces identical organisms. |
| Fermentation | A process by which, in an oxygen-deprived environment, a cell converts sugar into lactic acid or ethanol to create energy |
| Polymerase Chain Reaction | A technique that involves copying short pieces of DNA and then making millions of copies in a short time |
| Diabetes | A disorder affecting the uptake of sugar by cells due to inadequate insulin production or ineffective use of insulin |
| Proteases | Proteins whose function is to break down other proteins |
| Antibodies | Proteins developed by the immune system that recognize specific molecules (anigens) |
| Pharmaceutical | Relating to drugs developed for medical use |
| Research and Development | The early stages in product development that include discovery product and initial small-scale production |
| Pure Science | Scientific research whose main purpose is to enrich the scientific knowledge base |
| Virus | A particle containing a protein coat and genetic material (either DNA or RNA) that is not living and requires a host to replicate |
| Applied Science | The practice of utilizing scientific knowledge for practical purposesn, including the manufacture of a product |
| NIH | Abbreviation for National Institutes of Health; the federal agency that funds and conducts biomedical research |
| CDC | Abbreviation for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the national research center for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities to improve public health |
| DNA fingerprinting | An experimental technique that is commonly used to identify individuals by distinguishing their unique DNA code |
| Antibiotics | Molecular agents derived from fubgi and/or bacteria that impede the growth and survival of some other microorganisms |
| Restriction Enzyme | An enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific nucleotide sequence |
| DNA Ligase | An enzyme that binds together disconnected strands of a DNA molecule |
| Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) | Organisms that contain DNA from another organism and produce new proteins encoded on the acquired DNA |
| E. Coli | A rod shaped bacterium native to the intestines of mammals; commonly used in genetics and biotechnology |
| Plasmid | A tiny, circular piece of DNA, usually of bacterial origin; often used in recombinant DNA technologies |
| T-PA | Short for tissue plasminogen activator; one of the first genetically engineered products to be sold; a naturally occuring enzyme that breaks down blood clots and clears blocked blood vessels |
| Human Genome Project | An international effort to sequence and map all the DNA on the 23 human chromosomes |
| Reagent | A chemical used in an experiment |
| Efficacy | The ability to yield a desired result or demonstrate that a product does what it claims to do |
| Large Scale Production | The manufacturing of large volumes of a product |
| Clinical Trials | A strict series of tests that evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a medical treatment in humans |
| FDA | Abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration; the federal agency that regulates the use and production of food, feed, food additives, veterinary drugs, human drugs, and medical devices |
| Cystic Fibrosis (CF) | A genetic disorder that clogs the respiratory and digestive systems with mucus |
| Therapeutic | An agent that is used to treat diseases or disorders |
| EPA | Abbreviation for the Environmental Protection Agency; the federal agency that enforces environmental laws including the use and production of microorganisms, herbicides, and genetically modified microorganisms. |
| USDA | Abbreviation for United States Department of Agriculture; the federal agency that regulates the use and production of plants, plant products, plant pens, veterinary supplies and medication, and genetically modified plants and animals |
| Data | Information gathered from experimentation |
| Observation | Information or data collected when subject is watched |
| Hypothesis | An educated guess to answer a scientific question; should be testable |
| Variable | Anything that can vary in an experiment to see its effect on dependent variables |
| Control | An experimental trial added to an experiment to ensure that the experiment was run properly |
| Positive control | A group of data that will give predictable positive results |
| Negative Control | A group of data lacking what is being tested so as to give expected negative results |
| Concentration | The amount of a substance as a proportion of another substance; usually how much mass in some amount of volume |
| Journals | Scientific periodicals or magazines in which scientists publish their experimental work, findings, or conclusions |
| Genome | One entire set of an organisms genetic material (from a single cell) |
| Biochemistry | The study of the chemical reactions occuring in living things |
| Molecular biology | The study of molecules that are found in cells |
| Genetics | The study of genes and how they are inherited and expressed |
| Moral | A conviction or justifiable position, having to do with whether something is considered right or wrong. |
| Ethics | The study of moral standards and how the affect conducts |
| Bioethics | The study of decision-making as it applies to moral decisions that have to be made because of advances in biology, medicine, and technology |
| Microbial Agents | Synonym for microorganisms, living things too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope; includes bacteria, most algae, many fungi |
