| directed molecular evolution | Techniques used to produce molecules exhibiting properties that conform to the demands of the experimenter. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| evolution, molecular | Evolution at the molecular level of DNA sequences and proteins. (rieger et al., glossary of genetics: classical and molecular, 5th ed) (12 Dec 1998) |
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| Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy | <pharmacology> A method for targeting a drug to a specific tissue, in which the targeting agent and the drug are administered separately. The drug is designed to be inactive (a prodrug) until it is converted by an enzyme, which is the targeting agent. The enzyme is coupled to an antibody that directs it to the tissue of interest. When the enzyme arrives at the tissue, the prodrug is activated only at that site, sparing other tissues from potentially toxic side effects. Acronym: ADEPT (14 Nov 1997) |
| RNA-directed DNA polymerase | <enzyme> An enzyme that synthesises DNA on an RNA template. It is encoded by the pol gene of retroviruses and by certain retrovirus-like elements. Chemical name: Deoxynucleotide-triphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase (RNA-directed) Registry number: EC 2.7.7.49 (12 Dec 1998) |
| mutagenesis, site-directed | Mutagenesis where the mutation is caused by in vitro induction directed at a specific site in a DNA molecule. The most common method involves use of a chemically synthesised oligonucleotide mutant which can hybridise with the DNA target molecule. The resulting mismatch-carrying DNA duplex may then be transfected into a bacterial cell line and the mutant strands recovered. (12 Dec 1998) |
| site-directed mutagenesis | <molecular biology> Any of several methods used to create specific alterations in a gene. (09 Oct 1997) |
| DNA-directed DNA polymerase | <enzyme> DNA-dependent DNA polymerases found in bacteria, animal and plant cells. During the replication process, these enzymes catalyze the addition of deoxyribonucleotide residues to the end of a DNA strand in the presence of DNA as template-primer. They also possess exonuclease activity and therefore function in DNA repair. Chemical name: Deoxynucleoside-triphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed) Registry number: EC 2.7.7.7 (12 Dec 1998) |
| DNA-directed RNA polymerase | <enzyme> A group of enzymes that catalyses DNA template-directed extension of the 3'-end of an RNA strand one nucleotide at a time. They can initiate a chain de novo. In eukaryotes, three forms of the enzyme have been distinguished on the basis of sensitivity to alpha-amanitin, and the type of RNA synthesised. Chemical name: Nucleoside-triphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed) Registry number: EC 2.7.7.6 (12 Dec 1998) |
| other-directed | Pertaining to a person readily influenced by the attitudes of others. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biologic evolution | Biologic evolution was contrasted with cultural evolution in 1968 by A.G. Motulsky who pointed out that biologic evolution is mediated by genes, shows a slow rate of change, employs random variation (mutations) and selection as agents of change, new variants are often harmful, these new variants are transmitted from parents to offspring, the mode of transmission is simple, complexity is achieved by the rare formation of new genes by chromosome duplication, biologic evolution occurs with all forms of life, and the biology of humans requires cultural evolution. See Cultural evolution. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chemical evolution | The theory of the process by which life arose from inorganic matter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coincidental evolution | <molecular biology> The tendency for the same mutation to arise simultaneously in all copies of a gene which has been duplicated. (09 Oct 1997) |
| concerted evolution | The ability of two related genes to evolve together as though constituting a single locus. Synonym: coincidental evolution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| convergent evolution | The process where two unrelated structures in unrelated organisms evolve to perform similar functions. (The structures are called analogous structures.) For example: the wings of bats, birds, and insects evolved separately from each other but all are used to perform the function of flying. For another example: the complex eyes of vertebrates, cephalopods (squid and octopus), cubozoan jellyfish, and arthropods (insects, spiders, crustaceans) evolved separately, but all perform the function of vision. (09 Oct 1997) |
| cultural evolution | The continuous developmental process of a culture from simple to complex forms and from homogeneous to heterogeneous qualities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| saltatory evolution | The theory that evolution of a new species from an older one may occur as a large jump, such as a major repatterning of chromosomes, rather than by gradual accumulation of small steps or mutations. Compare: emergent evolution. (05 Mar 2000) |