From foodconsumer.org
An "-OMICS" Glossary
By FDA Consumer
Dec 19, 2005, 19:29
An "-OMICS" Glossary
A selection of important terms and concepts defined.
adverse event, or adverse effect: a bad reaction, usually to a drug.
amino acid: one of 20 or more different building blocks that combine to form proteins. The structure and function of a protein is determined by the sequence of the amino acids it contains.
base: one of the molecules--adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil--that form part of the structure of DNA or RNA molecules. The order of the bases in a DNA molecule determines the structure of the proteins encoded by that DNA.
base sequence: the order of nucleotide bases in a DNA molecule.
biomarker: an indicator, usually of a disease or a risk for a disease. For example, blood cholesterol is a biomarker for a risk for heart disease.
cell: the basic unit of any living organism.
chromosome: a structure in the cell that contains genetic material in the form of a gene. Each chromosome can contain hundreds or thousandsof individual genes. The human has 23 pairs of,or 46, chromosomes.
clinical trial: a test on thousands of volunteers to help determine whether a treatment is safe and effective.
deoxyribonucleic acid: see DNA.
DNA: the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecular structure inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.
DNA probe: a piece of a DNA molecule used in laboratory experiments to detect the presence of a complementary DNA molecule or gene.
DNA sequencing: a laboratory technique used to determine the exact order of the base pairs in a segment of DNA.
enzyme: a protein that acts as a catalyst in starting or speeding up a biochemical reaction within a cell.
gene: the basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child. Genes are pieces of DNA, and they carry the blueprint, or instructions, for making proteins and other components of living organisms.
gene expression: the process by which proteins are made in an organism from the instructions encoded in DNA.
genome: a person's or organism's complete set of DNA containing the entire genetic information of that individual or organism.
genomics: the study of all the genes in a living organism and their activities and functions with each other and with the environment.
genotype: genetic information for an individual or organism.
Human Genome Project: An extensive international research effort to determine the sequence in which human DNA is arranged. It was completed in 2003 with a complete mapping of all the genes in the human body.
low-molecular-weight metabolite: a very small, light-weight metabolite that can provide important clues about a person's health. Low-molecular-weight metabolites include amino acids, sugars, carbohydrates, and fats.
mass spectrometry (MS): a method that uses a sophisticated instrument to identify chemicals in a substance by weighing molecules.
metabolism: all the physical and chemical processes within an organism that are necessary for life. Digesting food, eliminating waste, regulating body heat, and breathing are all part of the human body's metabolism.
metabolite: any molecule or substance produced by metabolism.
metabolomics: the study of all the molecules involved in metabolism (metabolites) in a living organism by evaluating tissues and body fluids, such as urine, blood, plasma, and saliva, for metabolite changes.
metabonomics: another name for metabolomics.
microarray: a tool for studying how large numbers of genes interact with each other.
molecule: the combination of two or more of the same, or different, atoms.
mutation: a change in the DNA sequence that may lead to the synthesis of an altered or inactive protein or the loss of the ability to produce the protein.
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR): a sophisticated analytical instrument used toidentify metabolites in a sample.
nucleotide: the building block of nucleic acids, such as the DNA molecule. A nucleotide consists of one of five bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil.
pharmacogenomics: The blending of genomics with the study of drugs (pharmacology) to determine how variations in the human genome affect a person's response to medications.
phenotype: a person's or organism's observable traits and characteristics, for example, hair color, weight, or the presence or absence of a disease.
primary metabolite: a metabolite that is essential for normal growth and development in a living organism. Scientists believe there are about 3,000 primary metabolites in the human body.
protein: a large molecule that consists of many amino acids chained together. Millions of proteins direct the activities of human cells and body functions.
proteomics: a field of study that seeks to discover all proteins in a living organism, determine their function, and how they affect each other.
secondary metabolite: a metabolite not essential for growth and development in a living organism, but that may help fight off infection and other forms of stress.
single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs, pronounced "snips"): sites in the human genome where individuals differ in their DNA sequence. These variations can be used to track inheritance in families.
toxicity: the potential for adverse effects.
Sources:
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
* Department of Energy/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Human Genome Program Glossary
* Dorland's Medical Dictionary
* National Human Genome Research Institute
* The Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wis.
* Webster's New World College Dictionary
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