FAO Glossary of RESEARCH AND biotechnology TECHNOLOGY and PAPER genetic engineering 7 A. Zaid H.G. Hughes E. Porceddu F. Nicholas Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 1999 – ii – The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. ISBN: 92-5-104369-8 ISSN: 1020-0541 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Information Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. © FAO 1999 – iii – PREFACE Biotechnology is a general term used about a very broad field of study. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, biotechnology means: “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” Interpreted in this broad sense, the definition covers many of the tools and techniques that are commonplace today in agriculture and food production. If interpreted in a narrow sense to consider only the “new” DNA, molecular biology and reproductive technology, the definition covers a range of different technologies, including gene manipulation, gene transfer, DNA typing and cloning of mammals. The swiftness of change in the sector means that terminology is constantly evolving, and yesterday’s buzzword is today’s jargon, and might be tomorrow’s mainstream term. The rate of evolution of terminology has been such that it has been very difficult to remain abreast of current usages. The idea for such a collection of terminology associated with the rapidly expanding fields related to or deriving from biotechnology and genetic engineering, was stimulated by the difficulty of communicating effectively in discussions at intergovernmental level. On various occasions, simple differences of interpretation of terminology have threatened to de-rail negotiations of international importance. There are numerous publications addressing the terminology of narrow disciplinary areas, but FAO was unable to find a single list that attempted to cover the broad swath of disciplines and applications germane to its mandate and competence. Hence this glossary. – iv – It tries to provide a consolidated, comprehensive and yet accessible list of terms and acronyms that are used regularly in biotechnology sensu lato and in the very broad area commonly dubbed “genetic engineering,” with all the associated problems of usage of originally discrete technical terms in a general context by a mass media that does not discriminate, or in a legal context that requires very exact definitions. This glossary is an attempt to present an up-to-date list of terms currently in use in biotechnology, genetic engineering and closely allied fields. It is intended to provide a convenient reference source for researchers, students and technicians. The glossary should also be of particular value to those whose native language is not English. The glossary has been prepared in response to an expressed need. Many of the terms listed in this volume are otherwise found only in published papers and books. The terms included in the glossary have been selected by examination of books, dictionaries, journals and abstracts dealing entirely or in part with biotechnology or allied fields. In addition, an attempt has been made to include terms from applied biotechnology that are important for FAO’s intergovernmental activities, and especially in the areas of plant and animal genetic resources, food quality and plant protection. – v – ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The initial draft was developed by Dr Abdelouahhab Zaid, whilst working as Chief Technical Adviser for a field project of FAO. He collaborated closely with Dr Harrison G. Hughes, Professor of Horticulture, Colorado State University, USA. As their field of expertise is in plant tissue culture, Dr Enrico Porceddu, Professor of Agricultural Genetics, University of Tuscia, Italy, was asked to introduce associated terminology from the broader area of agricultural genetics. The three first authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Professors Oluf Gamborg and James Quick for their review and suggestions, and Mss D. Strauss, Anna Hughes, Peggy Flaherty and Gretchen DeWeese for their work in typing the initial manuscript. The whole draft was systematically read over by Professor Frank Nicholas, Department of Animal Science, University of Sydney, who in particular addressed animal-related terminology. The draft benefited from the expert comments of a number of specialists, and these were collated under the guidance of Dr Maria Zimmermann, Sustainable Development Department, FAO. The final systematic editing for language and style, together with preparation for publication, was by Thorgeir Lawrence. This first edition of the Glossary is available only in English, the language in which it was written. It is hoped to proceed further and to provide parallel definitions in the other official languages of FAO, but that will take time. In the meantime, it is sincerely hoped that any errors, omissions or infelicities will be identified before translation is finalized. This edition is therefore to be considered as provisional only. – vi – FAO would like to be informed of any omissions, errors or infelicities identified by users. Please communicate them, and any other comments regarding entries or possible ways to improve the publication, to: Dr Maria Zimmermann, Research and Technology Development Service (SDRR) Sustainable Development Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] – vii – TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preface iii Acknowledgements v Abbreviations viii Notes on the structure of the glossary ix – A – 1 – B – 23 – C – 36 – D – 64 – E – 77 – F – 93 – G – 100 – H – 114 – I – 125 – J – 137 – K – 137 – L – 139 – M – 146 – N – 160 – O – 166 – P – 171 – Q – 193 – R – 194 – S – 205 – T – 227 – U – 238 – V – 239 – W – 244 – X – 246 – Y – 247 – Z – 247 Annex 1 Prefixes for decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units 249 Annex 2 The Greek alphabet 250 – viii – ABBREVIATIONS The following editorial abbreviations are used in the text. abbr: abbreviation adj: adjective a.k.a. also known as AnGR [farm] animal genetic resources A.S. Anglo-Saxon bp base pair cf confer – compare F. French f.w. formula weight Gr. Classical Greek kb Kilobase [pairs] L. Classical Latin M.E. Middle English M.L. Mediaeval Latin m.w. molecular weight O.F. Old French PGR plant genetic resources pl: plural q.v. quod vide – which see See Annex 1 for a list of the prefixes for decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units. See Annex 2 for the Greek alphabet. – ix – NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE GLOSSARY · All units are expressed as SI units unless otherwise indicated. · The entries are in simple alphabetical order, with spaces and punctuation marks, such as hyphens, ignored. · Acronyms per se are included in their alphabetical position in the text proper. · Entries starting with a numeral (e.g., 5¢- ) or numeric quantity (e.g., 2 mm ) are sorted by the first roman alphabetical character in the main string of the keyword. Specific sources: FAO. 1983. Resolution 8/83 of the Twenty-second Session of the FAO Conference. Rome, 5-23 November 1983. FAO. 1999. The Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources – Executive Brief. (see Glossary, pp. 39-42; the glossary was still evolving, but the draft definitions are those developed by the Panel of Experts assisting FAO to detail the Global Strategy.) – x – Glossary of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering 1 – A – A Adenine residue, in either DNA or RNA. Ab See antibody. abiotic stress The effect of non-living factors which can harm living organisms. These non-living factors include drought, extreme temperatures, pollutants, etc. abscisic acid A plant growth regulator involved in abscission, dormancy, stomatal opening/closure, and inhibition of seed germination. It also affects the regulation of somatic cell embryogenesis in some plant species. absciss; abscissa The horizontal axis of a graph. cf ordinate. absorb (L. ab, away + sorbere, to suck in) To suck up, or to take in. In the cell, materials are taken in (absorbed) from a solution. cf adsorb. absorption In general: the process of absorbing; taking up of water and nutrients by assimilation or imbibition. The taking up by capillary, osmotic, chemical or solvent action, such as the taking up of a gas by a solid or liquid, or taking up of a liquid by a solid. cf adsorption. In biology: the movement of a fluid or a dissolved substance across a cell membrane. In plants: water and mineral salts are absorbed from the soil by roots. In animals: solubulized food material is absorbed into the circulatory system through cells lining the alimentary canal. abzyme See catalytic antibody. acaricide A pesticide used to kill or control mites or ticks. accessory bud Lateral bud occurring at the base of a terminal bud or at the side of an axillary bud. acclimatization The adaptation of a living organism (plant, animal or micro-organism) to a changed environment that subjects it to physiological stress. Acclimatization should not be confused with adaptation (q.v.). cf acquired. acellular Describing tissues or organisms that are not made up of separate cells but often have more than one nucleus. cf syncytium. acentric chromosome Chromosome fragment lacking a centromere.