Term

Definition

AFLP

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP). Selected markers are amplified in a PCR, which makes amplified fragment length polymorphism an easy and fast tool for strain identification in agriculture, botany, microbiology and animal breeding.

Agronomic Evaluation

Evaluation of field-crop production characteristics.

Biochemistry

The chemical characteristics and reactions of a particular living system or biological substance.

Biopharmaceutical

The application of biological technology research to the development of pharmaceutical products that improve human health, animal health, and agriculture.

Biosynthesis

The production of a chemical compound by a living organism.

Biotech

Biological science when applied especially in genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology.

Biotechnology

Biological science when applied especially in genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology.

Cereal Genetics

A branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of grains.

Cereal Grain Gene Expression

The unique set of genes involved in the development and maturation of cereal grains

Cereal-Transformation

Transformation is the process of stably incorporating new DNA into an organism. Cereal transformation refers to the the process applied specifically to the cereal plants: rice, wheat, barley, corn, sorghum, etc.

cGMP Facility

cGMP refers to Good Manufacturing Practices, a rigerous set of manufacturing guidelines that the FDA uses to document and ensure that the products it regulates are produced safely, and consistently.

Chromosome

Linear, or sometimes circular, DNA-containing bodies of viruses, prokaryotic organisms, and the cell nucleus of eukaryotic organisms that contain most or all of the genes for that particular organism.

CJD

Creutzfeld Jacob Disease, the human variant of mad cow disease.

Commercialization

The act of managing something on a business basis for profit.

Crop Biology

The particular area of biology related to crop plants.

Cultivar

A race or variety of a plant that has been created or selected intentionally and maintained through cultivation.

Cultivation

The art or act of cultivating; improvement for agricultural purposes or by agricultural processes; tillage; production by tillage.

Cyanide

A compound formed by the union of cyanogen with an element or radical.

Delivery System

A method of introducing a product (usually a pharmaceutical product) into an individual. Examples are: pills (for dietary delivery), liquids (for injectable delivery), mists (for inhaled delivery), etc.

Dimeric Molecules

A molecule consisting of two identical simpler molecules. After the ary made, many proteins must assemble in this fashion before they become biologically active.

DNA

A nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication and synthesis of RNA. DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thymine or cytosine and guanine. The sequence of nucleotides determines individual hereditary characteristics.

Expression Host

The environment which provides the necessary tools for production of proteins.

Expression Vector

Typically a small, circular piece of DNA that is transformed (inserted) into a particular expression host for the purpose of producing the protein coded for by the DNA.

Extraction

The act of extracting, or drawing out; most pharmaceuticals must be extracted and purified away from their production host.

FDA

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The U.S. Agency responsible for regulation of foods and drugs in the United States.

Field Breeding

The propagation of animals or plants within a portion of land or a geologic formation containing a specified natural resource.

Field Trials

The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof within a portion of land. In this case, referring to the growing of transgenic plants in an open field.

Formulation

The act, process, or result of formulating or reducing to a formula.

Gene

A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and determines a particular characteristic in an organism.

Gene Expression

The full use of the information in a gene via transcription and translation leading to production of a protein and hence the appearance of the phenotype determined by that gene. Gene expression is assumed to be controlled at various points in the sequence leading to protein synthesis and this control is thought to be the major determinant of cellular differentiation in eukaryotes.

Gene Pyramiding

The act of breeding together genes, contained in different loci, that

Genomics

The study of all of the nucleotide sequences, including structural genes, regulatory sequences, and noncoding DNA segments, in the chromosomes of an organism.

Germination

The process of germinating; the beginning of vegetation or growth in a seed or plant; the first development of germs, either animal or vegetable.

GI Tract

Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract. Tubular passage of mucous membrane and muscle extending about 8.3 meters from mouth to anus; functions in digestion and elimination.

Glycosylation

The process of adding sugar units such as in the addition of glycan chains to proteins.

Grain Certification

Seeds grown in the United States can be certified by state agencies to be of a particular qualtiy.

Hepatitis C

An infection of the liver that is caused by an RNA virus, is transmitted primarily by blood and blood products, as in blood transfusions or intravenous drug use, and sometimes through sexual contact. Most cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis are of this type.

Host Production System

The organisim that is used to produce the target molecule.  In this case, the organism is transformed with a DNA construct, which contains the instructions for producing the target molecule.

Host Tissue

The particular tissue in an organism that is producng the recombinant protein.

Human Health Products

Refers to a broad classification of products that can improve human health.

Human Nutrition

A process or series of processes by which the living organism as a whole (or its component parts or organs) is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth.

Human Pathogens

An agent that causes disease, especially a living microorganism such as a bacterium or fungus.

Human Therapeutics

That part of medical science which treats the discovery and application of remedies for diseases.

Lactoferrin

Iron binding protein of very high affinity (Kd 10exp 19 at pH 6.4, 26 fold greater than that of transferrin) found in milk and in the specific granules of neutrophil leucocytes.

Lysozyme

Glycosidase that hydrolyses the bond between N acetyl muramic acid and N acetyl glucosamine, thus cleaving an important polymer of the cell wall of many bacteria. Present in tears, saliva and in the lysomes of phagocytic cells, it is an important antibacterial defence, particularly against gram-positive bacteria.

Molecular Biology

The study of the biochemistry of cells, it is closely linked to cell biology, in particular the biochemistry of DNA and cogeners.

Molecular Breeding

The act or process of generating or bearing of molecules.

Molecular Screening

To detect unsuspected disease of two or more atoms combining by chemical bonding.

Molecule(s)

The result of two or more atoms combining by chemical bonding.

Monocots

Any of a class or subclass (Liliopsida or Monocotyledoneae) of chiefly herbaceous seedplants having an embryo with a single cotyledon, usually parallel-veined leaves, and floral organs arranged in cycles of three.

Nutraceuticals

A food or naturally occurring food supplement thought to have a beneficial effect on human health.

Nutrition

A process or series of processes by which the living organism as a whole (or its component parts or organs) is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth.

Output Traits

In agricultural biotechnology, input traits are traits that improve the agronomic performance of the plant (I.e. RoundUp Ready(R) Corn). Output traits are traits that change the way the plant is used. In this case, Ventria's output traits are biopharmaceuticals.

Pathogenesis

The origin and development of disease.

Pharmaceutical

Of or pertaining to the knowledge or art of pharmacy, or to the art of preparing medicines according to the rules or formulas of pharmacy; as, pharmaceutical preparations.

Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase

An enzyme that catalyzes the deamination of l-phenylalanine to form trans-cinnamate and ammonia. It may also act on l-tyrosine. Since the enzyme deprives neoplastic tissue of phenylalanine, it has been used experimentally in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The enzyme is obtained from many plants and is used as an enzymic marker for lignification and other developmental processes in plant cells.

Photosynthesis

Process by which green plants, algae and some bacteria absorb light energy and use it to synthesize organic compounds (initially carbohydrates). In green plants, occurs in chloroplasts, that contain the photosynthetic pigments.

Photosynthetic

Relating to or using or formed by photosynthesis.

Physiology

The biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts.

Plant Biotechnology

A set of biological techniques developed through basic research and now applied to research and product development through the use of plants.

Plant-Made Pharmaceuticals

The art of preparing medicines according to the rules or formulas of pharmacy through the use of plants.

Post-Translational Modification

The enzymatic processing of a polypeptide chain after translation from messenger RNA and after peptide bond formation has occurred.

Production Host

The organism used to produce or make a particular protein.

Production Vector

A small circular piece of DNA transformed into a host organism for the purpose of producing a particular protein.

Promoters

A region of DNA to which RNA polymerase binds before initiating the transcription of DNA into RNA.

Proteomics

The study of how the entire set of proteins produced by a particular organism interact

Purification

The act of purifying; the act or operation of separating and removing from anything that which is impure or noxious, or heterogeneous or foreign to it; as, the purification of liquors, or of metals.

Recombinant Human Blood Proteins

Proteins normally found in human blood that are produced in a different system using recombinant DNA technology.

Recombinant Molecules

Molecules prepared by recombinant DNA technology.

Recombinant Proteins

Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology.

Self-Pollinating

Self-pollination in plants means that the female part of the plant is fertilized by pollen from the male part of the same plant. This explains why self-pollinating crops do not require wind or insect pollination to reproduce, thus reducing the risk of outcrossing.

Therapeutic Proteins

A protein, of or pertaining to the healing art; concerned in discovering and applying remedies for diseases; curative.

Transgene

DNA integrated into the germ line of transgenic organisms.

Transgenic

This term describes an organism that has had genes from another organism put into its genome through recombinant DNA techniques.

Transgenic Cereals

Cereal plants (ie rice, wheat, corn, barley, etc.) containing foreign DNA. Usually inserted through the transformation process.

Transgenic Grains

Grains containing foreign DNA. Usually inserted into the plant through the transformation process.

Trimeric Molecules

A molecule formed by combining three identical smaller molecules.

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In Vitro

In vitro refers to an experiment done in "glass" or within the confines of a laboratory and NOT within a host.

In Vivo

In vivo refers to an experiment done in "living" tissue. In the living body of a plant or animal.