TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

 Genetically Modified Organisms- living organisms whose genetic material has been
artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering.
 Cell- Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. They provide structure for the
body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out
specialized functions.
 Genes- the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA.
 Gene Therapy- Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by
correcting the underlying genetic problem, allowing doctors to treat a disorder by
altering a person’s genetic makeup instead of using drugs or surgery.
 Genetic Engineering- sometimes called genetic modification, is the process of altering
the DNA in an organism’s genome.
 DNA- the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.
 Heredity- refers to the genetic heritage passed down by our biological parents.
 Muscular Dystrophy- a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of
muscle mass.
 Cystic Fibrosis- a genetic disorder that damages your lungs, digestive tract and other
organs.
 Somatic Gene Therapy- transfer of a section of DNA to any cell of the body that doesn’t
produce sperm or eggs.
 Germline Gene Therapy- transfer of a section of DNA to cells that produce eggs or
sperm.
 Gene Inhibition- transfer of a section of DNA to cells that produce eggs or sperm.
 Gene Augmentation- adding a health copy of a gene to a cell where a faulty gene exists,
so the healthy copy can override the negative effects caused by the faulty gene
 Killing Disease- causing Cells-giving an unhealthy cell “instructions” (a set of new DNA)
which causes the cell to die
 Disease- any harmful deviation from the normal structural or functional state of an
organism, generally associated with certain signs and symptoms and differing in nature
from physical injury.
 Genetic Disorder- a disease caused in whole or in part by a change in the DNA sequence
away from the normal sequence. Genetic disorders can be caused by a mutation in one
gene by mutations in multiple genes, by a combination of gene mutations and
environmental factors, or by damage to chromosomes.
 Gene Variant- a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene.
 Recombinant DNA technology- involves using enzymes and various laboratory
techniques to manipulate and isolate DNA segments of interest.
 Eugenics- the scientifically erroneous and immoral theory of “racial improvement” and
“planned breeding,” which gained popularity during the early 20th century.
 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- responsible for protecting the public health by
assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological
products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit
radiation.
 The National Institutes of Health (NIH)- conducts and supports biomedical research into
the causes, cure, and prevention of disease.
 Herbicides- chemicals used to manipulate or control undesirable vegetation.
 Pesticides- any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal
life that are pests.
 Allergic Reaction- Allergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that
come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract.
 Toxins- a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a
living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the
tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation
 The Environmental Protection Agency- a federal government agency that regulates the
safety of the substance that protects GMO plants.
 Politics- the activities of the government, members of law-making organizations, or
people who try to influence the way a country is governed.
 Insulin- a hormone made in your pancreas; a gland located behind your stomach that
allows your body to use glucose for energy.
 Microbes- tiny living things that are found all around us and are too small to be seen by
the naked eye.
 Monopoly- market structure characterized by a single seller, selling a unique product in
the market. In a monopoly market, the seller faces no competition, as he is the sole
seller of goods with no close substitute.
 Commercial Agriculture- a farming method that involves growing crops, raising livestock,
selling produce on the market, and making money. Commercial agriculture mainly
produces high-demand crops.
 Gross Domestic Products- a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods
and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries.
 Reproductive Cloning- the deliberate production of genetically identical individuals. Each
newly produced individual is a clone of the original.