| somatic cell gene therapy | The repair or replacement of a defective gene within somatic tissue. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| somatic cell | Usually any cell of a multicellular organism that will not contribute to the production of gametes, i.e. most cells of which an organism is made: not a germ cell. Notice, however, the alternative use in somatic mesoderm. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| somatic cell genetics | Method for identifying the chromosomal location of a particular gene without sexual crossing. Unstable heterokaryons are made between the cell of interest and another cell with identifiably different characteristics (or without the gene in question) and a series of clones isolated. By correlating retention of gene expression with the remaining chromosomes, it is possible to deduce which chromosome must carry the gene. Human mouse heterokaryons have been extensively used in this sort of work. (18 Nov 1997) |
| somatic cell hybridization | Production of a heterokaryon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gene therapy | <molecular biology> Treatment of a disease caused by malfunction of a gene, by stably transfecting the cells of the organism with the normal gene. (18 Nov 1997) |
| germ line gene therapy | The repair or replacement of a defective gene within the gamete-forming tissues, which produces an inheritable change in an organisms genetic constitution. (09 Oct 1997) |
| human gene therapy | <molecular biology, technique> Insertion of normal DNA directly into cells to correct a genetic defect. (09 Oct 1997) |
| therapy, gene | Insertion of normal DNA directly into cells to correct a genetic defect. Gene therapy is the treatment of disease by replacing, altering, or supplementing a gene responsible for the disease. In gene therapy for cancer, for example, researchers are trying to bolster the body's natural capacity to combat cancer and make the tumour more sensitive to other kinds of therapy. Gene therapy, still in its early stages, holds great promise for the treatment of many diseases. (12 Dec 1998) |
| general somatic afferent column | In the embryo, a column of gray matter in the hindbrain and spinal cord, represented in the adult by the sensory nuclei of the trigeminal nerve and relay cells in the dorsal horn. (05 Mar 2000) |
| general somatic efferent column | A column of gray matter in the embryo, represented in the adult by the nuclei of the oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, and hypoglossal nerves and by motor neurons of the ventral horn of the spinal cord. (05 Mar 2000) |
| psychiatric somatic therapies | The biologic treatment of mental disorders (e.g., electroconvulsive therapy), in contrast with psychotherapy. (stone, american psychiatric glossary, 1988, p159) (12 Dec 1998) |
| somatic | 1. Pertaining to or characteristic of the soma or body. 2. Pertaining to the body wall in contrast to the viscera. Origin: Gr. Somatikos (18 Nov 1997) |
| somatic agglutinin | An agglutinin that is formed as the result of stimulation by, and that reacts with, the relatively thermostable antigen(s) in the cell bodies of microorganisms. Synonym: somatic agglutinin. See ABO blood group. (05 Mar 2000) |
| somatic antigen | An antigen located in the cell wall of a bacterium in contrast to one in the flagella (flagellar antigen) or in a capsule (capsular antigen). (05 Mar 2000) |
| somatic arteries | Artery's that arise in the embryo from the dorsal aorta and supply the body wall; they persist almost unchanged as the posterior intercostal, subcostal, and lumbar artery's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| somatic cells | Cells of an animal or plant other than the reproductive cells. (14 Nov 1997) |