| 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) |
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| 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) |
| genetic drift | <genetics> The random change of the occurance of a particular gene in a population, genetic drift is thought to be one cause of speciation when a group oforganisms is separated from its parent population. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic engineering | <molecular biology, technique> General term covering the use of various experimental techniques to produce molecules of DNA containing new genes or novel combinations of genes, usually for insertion into a host cell for cloning. (07 May 1998) |
| genetic engineering technologies | See: recombinant DNAtechnologies. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic equilibrium | A condition in which the rate of an allele's forward mutation is cancelled out by its rate of reverse mutation. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic female | An individual with a normal female karyotype, including two X chromosomes, an individual whose cell nuclei contain Barr sex chromatin bodies, which are normally absent in males. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genetic fine structure | The study of genes on the level of their nucleotide sequences and what happens to their molecular structure at that level. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic fingerprint | 1. An impression of the inked bulb of the distal phalanx of a finger, showing the configuration of the surface ridges, used as a means of identification. See: dermatoglyphics, Galton's system of classification of fingerprints. 2. Term, sometimes used informally, referring to any analytical method capable of making fine distinctions between similar compounds or gel patterns; e.g., the pattern of an infrared absorption curve or of a two-dimensional paper chromatograph. 3. In genetics, the analysis of DNA fragments to determine the identity of an individual or the paternity of a child. Synonym: genetic fingerprint. (05 Mar 2000) |