Glossary
Friday 14 February 2003
A basic glossary with key terms for this microsite.
| Allergen | A substance that causes an immune response. |
| Amino acids | A group of compounds that make up the building blocks of proteins. |
| Bacterium | A single-celled organism (singular of bacteria). Bacteria are classified according to shape or whether they need oxygen or not. |
| Biodiversity | The range of living things in their natural environments. |
| Biotechnology | Use of micro-organisms or biological techniques to process waste or produce useful compounds, such as vaccines. |
| Chromosome | The cell structures that carry DNA. Human beings have 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell. |
| Codon | Any triplet of bases containing information, such as a coding sequence. |
| DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the genetic material contained in the cells of all living things. It carries the information that allows organisms to function, repair and reproduce themselves. |
| Genes | Genes are made up of DNA. They carry the instructions for all the characteristics that a living thing inherits. |
| Genome | The full set of chromosomes for any species, including humans. As a result, it is sometimes referred to as the genetic 'blueprint'. |
| Herbicide | A chemical that kills plants, sometimes designed to kill specific weeds. |
| Hybrid | A cross between two organisms that are genetically different. |
| Micro-organism | A living thing that can be seen only with magnification, such as bacteria and viruses. |
| Nucleotide | The building blocks of DNA. Two strips of nucleotides twist around each other to form the double helix structure. |
| Organism | Any living thing. |
| Plasmid | A piece of bacterial DNA that is independent of the bacterium's main chromosome. |
| Promoter | Piece of DNA that helps ensure that a modified gene works properly. |
| Protein | A complex molecule consisting of a particular sequence of chains of amino acids. Proteins are essential constituents of all living things. |
| Substantial equivalence | A concept that allows a novel food to be compared with a similar existing food. |
| Toxin | A poison. |
A more comprehensive glossary can be found at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization website.