Blood and Genetic Terminology

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Anemia

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A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume.

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Blood Plasma

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The pale yellow fluid portion of whole blood that consists of water and its dissolved constituents including sugars, lipids, metabolic waste products, amino acids, hormones, and vitamins.

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Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)

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Any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of vertebrate blood.

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Hematocrit

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The percent of the volume of whole blood that is composed of red blood cells as determined by separation of red blood cells from the plasma usually by centrifugation.

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Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

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Any of the blood cells that are colorless, lack hemoglobin, contain a nucleus, and include the lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

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Sickle Cell Disease

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Individuals who are homozygous for the gene controlling hemoglobin S. The disease is characterized by the destruction of red blood cells and by episodic blocking of blood vessels by the adherence of sickle cells to the vascular endothelium.

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Thrombocytes (Platelets)

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A minute colorless anucleate disk-like body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium.

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Amino Acid

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An organic monomer which serves as a building block of proteins.

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Anticodon

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A triplet of nucleotide bases in transfer RNA that identifies the amino acid carried and binds to a complementary codon in messenger RNA during protein synthesis at a ribosome.

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Codon

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A three-nucleotide sequence of DNA or mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or termination signal; the basic unit of the genetic code.