| genetic code | <molecular biology> Relationship between the sequence of bases in nucleic acid and the order of amino acids in the polypeptide synthesised from it. A sequence of three nucleic acid bases (a triplet) acts as a codeword (codon) for one amino acid. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| code | The genetic code is the correspondence between the triplet of bases in DNA with the amino acids. The discovery of the genetic code clearly ranks as one of the premiere events of what has been called the Golden Age of Biology (and Medicine). (12 Dec 1998) |
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| soundex code | A sequence of letters used for recording names phonetically, especially in record linkage. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Strickland code | <zoology> A code of nomenclature for taxonomic classification prepared by a committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, first published in 1842. (09 Jan 1998) |
| degenerate code | <molecular biology> The fact that in most cases in the genetic code used by all life on Earth, one particular amino acid is specified by more than one three-base combination of the four nitrogenous bases (called a codon). There are enough different codons to specify 64 different amino acids, but there are in actuality only 20 amino acids (and three stop codons) used in the making of proteins. (09 Oct 1997) |
| International Code of Zoological Nomenclature | <zoology> An Authoritative document containing a system of rules and recommendations to be followed in giving a scientific name to an animal or animal group. Adopted by the International Congresses of Zoology and Administered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. The most recent version of the Code, adopted in principle by the 20th General Assembly of the International Union of Biological Sciences at Helsinki in 1979, was approved by the ICZN late in 1983. With minor exceptions it retains the same format as the first two editions. Minor amendments for immediate incorporation are published in Bulletin Zoological Nomenclature as Declarations to remain in force until ratified or rejected by future congresses. (09 Jan 1998) |
| uniform mechanical code | (UMC) A code sponsored by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and the International Conference of Building Officials, adopted and amended by the Oregon Department of Commerce. The UMC contains requirements for the installation and maintenance of heating, ventilating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. (05 Dec 1998) |
| genetic | <biology> Pertaining to reproduction or to birth or origin. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic amplification | A process for producing an increase in pertinent genetic material, particularly for increasing the proportion of plasmid DNA to that of bacterial DNA. Includes the production of extrachromosomal copies of the genes for RNA. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic assimilation | <genetics> A situation in which a characteristic that is normally expressed only in certain environmental situations becomes fixed in a population so that it no longer requires environmental factors to be expressed. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic association | The occurrence together in a population, more often than can be readily explained by chance, of two or more traits of which at least one is known to be genetic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic block | <biochemistry, molecular biology> An obstruction in a biochemical pathway caused by a mutation that has crippled production of an enzyme critical to the pathway. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic burden | The genetic debt due to harmful mutation but as yet undischarged. (In a large population of fixed size every mutation with diminished genetic fitness will eventually become extinct and depending on the details of inheritance and phenotype must be paid for by a fixed number of genetic deaths per mutation, the genetic debt.) (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic carrier | An unaffected heterozygote bearing a usually harmful recessive gene, a cancer that bears a dominant but latent age-dependent trait to have offspring with unbalanced karyotypes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic colonisation | <molecular biology> The process of a parasite (such as a virus) inserting genes into a host's genome which cause the host cell to synthesise products that are only useful to the parasite. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic complement | <biology, genetics> The set of chromosomes contained within any one particular cell. (07 May 1998) |