| GCAP | germ-cell alkaline phosphatase |
|---|---|
| GCT | general care and treatment; germ-cell tumor; giant cell thyroiditis; giant cell tumor |
| GF | gastric fistula; gastric fluid; germ-free; glass factor; glomerular filtration; gluten-free; grandfa... |
| GW | germ warfare; gigawatt; glycerin in water; gradual withdrawal; group work |
| IGC | immature germ cell; intragastric cannula |
| germ-free animal | An animal which has no microorganisms whatsoever living in or on it. An animal which was born and raised in an isolated environment with no microorganisms in it, such as within a germ-free isolator. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|---|
| germ-free isolator | A chamber which has absolutely no microorganisms whatsoever living in it, where a germ-free animal can be born and raised. An artificial barrier surrounding a living facility for germ-free animals, which keeps out all microorganisms. (09 Oct 1997) |
| germ-free life | Animals not contaminated by or associated with any foreign organisms. (12 Dec 1998) |
| germ layers | The three layers of cells comprising the early embryo. (12 Dec 1998) |
| germ line | A group of cells in most multicellular animals which give rise to the reproductive cells. The genome of the animal as contained in these cells, along with any mutations which might arise in them (germinal mutations), can be passed on to offspring. Also can refer to the appearance and conditions of the genome in the germ cells which may be different from within the somatic cells. The development of a germ cell as originating from a cell in a zygote. (09 Oct 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) |
| germ-line mutation | Any detectable and heritable alteration in the lineage of germ cells. Mutations in these cells (i.e., "generative" cells ancestral to the gametes) are transmitted to progeny while those in somatic cells are not. (12 Dec 1998) |
| germ line transformation | Micro injection of foreign DNA into an early embryo, so that it becomes incorporated into the germ line of the individual and thus stably inherited in subsequent generations of transgenic organisms. Typically, the DNA would be a reporter gene or cDNA in a vector such as a transposon, that might also carry a visible marker gene such as eye or coat colour), so that successful transformation could readily be detected. (18 Nov 1997) |
| germ nucleus | <cell biology> The smaller nucleus in ciliate protozoans, fully active in inheritance and passed after meiosis to conjugating pairs. Gives rise to the macronucleus or macronuclei. Genes in the micronucleus are not actively transcribed. (18 Nov 1997) |
| germ plasm | The liquid portion of a gamete (egg or sperm) that contains genetic material. (09 Oct 1997) |
| germ theory | The theory, now a doctrine, that infectious diseases are due to the presence and functional activity of microorganisms within the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| germ tube | A young hypha growing out of a yeast cell or spore, the beginning of a mycelium; also used as a rapid test for differentiating Candida albicans from other Candida species. (05 Mar 2000) |
| germ tube test | A test for the identification of Candida albicans; after a 3-hr incubation in serum, an inoculum of Candida develops tubelike appendages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Weismann germ plasm theory | <genetics> The theory that organisms maintain genetic continuity from organism to offspring through the germ line cells (germ plasm) and that the other (somatic) cells play no part in the transmission of heritable factors. (18 Nov 1997) |
| wheat germ | <plant biology> The embryonic plant at the tip of the seed of wheat. Wheat germ has been used as the starting material for a cell free translation system and is also the source of wheat germ agglutinin. (18 Nov 1997) |