Glossary

• Mutation = change to at least one nucleotide base in DNA which can occur spontaneously in DNA replication
• Substitution mutation = mutation where one nucleotide base is exchanged for another
• Deletion mutation = gene mutation in which one or more nucleotide bases are removed from a DNA sequence
• Frame shift = mutation where the addition/deletion of bases causes a shift in the sequence
• Addition of bases = mutation where nucleotides are inserted into a DNA sequence potentially causing a shift
• Duplication of bases = mutation where nucleotides are repeated within the DNA sequence
• Inversion of bases = mutation where a section of DNA is reversed within the sequence
• Translocation of bases = mutation where a section of DNA is moved from one location to another
• Mutagenic agents = factors that increase the rate of mutation including radiation, chemicals and viruses
• Totipotent stem cells = stem cells capable of differentiating into an cell type, found in early embryo
• Embryonic stem cells = stem cells that can differentiate into most cell types but not extraembryonic tissues
• Umbilical cord blood stem cells = stem cells found in umbilical cord blood which can differentiate into a limited range of cells
• Placental stem cells = stem cells derived from the placenta capable of differentiating into specific cell types
• Adult stem cells = stem cells produced by adult tissues that differentiate to cells related to the tissue of origin
• Pluripotent stem cells = stem cells that differentiate into most cells but not extraembryonic cells
• Multipotent stem cells = stem cells that can differentiate into a limited number of cell types
• Unipotent stem cells = stem cells that can only differentiate into a single type of cell
• Induced pluripotent stem cells = artificially reprogrammed stem cells that behave like pluripotent embryonic stem cells
• Transcriptional factor = protein that binds to DNA and controls the rate of transcription by activating specific genes
• Phenotype = observable characteristics of an organism, determined by genotype and environmental factors
• Epigenetics = study of heritable changes in gene function that does not involve changes to the DNA sequence
• Epigenome = chemical modifications of DNA and histones that affect gene expression
• Eukaryote = organism with membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus
• Prokaryote = unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
• Malignant = type of tumour that invades surrounding tissues and can spread to other parts of the body
• Benign = type of tumour that does not invade surrounding tissues and is usually encapsulated
• Oncogenes = mutated forms of proto-oncogenes that lead to uncontrolled cell division
• Tumour suppressor genes = genes that regulate cell division and prevent cancer but when mutated, they fail to suppress cell growth
• Genome = complete set of DNA in an organism including all genes
• Proteome = full range of proteins produced by a cell, tissue or organism