Glossary

Domain - A discrete portion of a protein that has its own function.

Gene - An ordered sequence of nucleotides (DNA or RNA) that codes for a protein or for a functional or structural RNA molecule.

Genome - All of the genetic material (DNA or RNA) contained in all of an organism's chromosomes.

Mutant - A gene that differs from the wild type gene by a change in its DNA sequence by nucleotide base substitutions, additions, or deletions.  The wild type gene is that version occurring naturally in the wild, without mutations induced by researchers.

Promoter - A site on DNA to which RNA polymerase will bind and initiate the transcription of a gene.  A promoter is needed for gene expression.

RNA polymerase - An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.  RNA polymerase is one part of the complex set of mechanisms that translate a gene onto its product.

Transcription - The synthesis of an RNA copy from a sequence of DNA (a gene); the first step in gene expression.  The RNA copy of a gene that codes for a protein will be used to direct protein synthesis, thus translating the gene into its product.

Transgenic - An organism that has a gene or genes from another organism inserted into its genome.  These new genes are referred to as transgenes.