| 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) |
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| 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) |
| 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) |
| genetic complementation | <genetics> The reappearance of wild-type characteristics in a cell or organism that has had two distinct mutations on the same chromosome. Two normal versions of two different mutant genes on different chromosomes affecting the same phenotype which, when inherited together, results in the wild-type phenotype despite the presence of mutant copies of the genes. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic complementation test | A test used to determine whether or not complementation (compensation in the form of dominance) will occur in a cell with a given mutant phenotype when another mutant genome, encoding the same mutant phenotype, is introduced into that cell. (12 Dec 1998) |
| genetic compound | In medical genetics, the presence of two different mutant alleles at the same loci. Synonym: genetic compound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic counseling | <genetics> The genetic testing of couples who are planning to be parents in which their genomes are evaluated and they are given advice or information from a specialist regarding the likelihood of them having children with genetic diseases or defects. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic death | Death of the bearer of a gene at any age before generating living offspring. May be compatible with good health and long life. See: genetic lethal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic determinant | Any antigenic determinant or identifying characteristic, particularly those of allotypes. Synonym: genetic marker. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic disease | <biology, genetics> A disease, such as cystic fibrosis, that has its origin in changes to the genetic material, DNA. Usually refers to diseases that are inherited in a Mendelian fashion, although noninherited forms of cancer also result from DNA mutation. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic disequilibrium | A state in the genetic composition of a population which under selection may be expected to change toward an equilibrium or absorbing state. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic distance | <molecular biology> A way of measuring the amount of evolutionary divergence in two separated populations of a species by counting the number of allelic substitutions per locus that have cropped up in each population. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic diversity | <genetics> A property of a community of organisms of a certain species, in which members of the community have variations in their chromosomes due to a large number of slightly dissimilar ancestors, this property makes the community in general more resistant to diseases or to changing ecological conditions. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic dominance | Denoting a pattern of inheritance of an autosomal mendelian trait due to a gene that always manifests itself phenotypically; generally, the phenotype in the homozygote is more severe than in the heterozygote, but details depend on what criterion of phenotyping is used. Dominance of traits, an expression of the apparent physiologic relationship existing between two or more genes that may occupy the same chromosomal locus (alleles). at a specific locus there are three possible combinations of two allelic genes, A and a: two homozygous (AA and aa) and one heterozygous (Aa). If a heterozygous individual presents only the hereditary characteristic determined by gene A, but not a, A is said to be dominant and a recessive; in this case, AA and Aa, although genotypically distinct, should be phenotypically indistinguishable. If AA, Aa, and aa are distinguishable, each from the others, A and a are codominant. (05 Mar 2000) |