Biotechnology Vocabulary

DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA)

• The material that carries all the information about how a living thing will look and function; it is in every cell of every living thing.

• A type of protein that helps in muscle contraction.

• A carbohydrate that provides energy to living organisms.

• A lipid that stores energy and forms cell membranes.

Bioremediation

• A waste management technique that involves the use of organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site, e.g., composting.

• A method of recycling plastic waste into usable products.

• A process of incinerating waste materials to reduce their volume.

• A technique for extracting oil from contaminated soil.

Agriculture

• The process of growing crops and raising livestock for food and other products.

• The practice of hunting and gathering wild plants and animals.

• The cultivation of animals, plants, and fungi for food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal plants, and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.

• The study of soil and its properties for agricultural purposes.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

• Organisms that have had their DNA changed using science to create an improvement/advantage; particularly agricultural plants and animals; most of the corn and soybean grown in the US is genetically modified.

• Organisms that are completely natural and have not been altered in any way.

• Plants and animals that are grown without any scientific intervention or modification.

• Organisms that have been selectively bred over many generations without any scientific techniques.

Genome

• A living thing's complete set of genetic instructions - or all of its genes; it has all of the information needed to build an entire organism and for that living thing to grow and stay alive.

• A sequence of nucleotides that codes for a specific protein.

• The physical structure of an organism, including its organs and tissues.

• A collection of all the proteins produced by an organism.

Biotechnology

• The use of biological molecules to solve problems or make products that are beneficial to humans.

• A method of growing plants without soil.

• The study of animal behavior in natural habitats.

• A technique for cloning animals.

Hybrid

• A type of plant that grows in water

• The offspring of two plants or animals of different species or varieties, such as a mule (a hybrid of a donkey and a horse)

• A breed of animal that is known for its speed

• A plant that can survive in extreme conditions

Cloning

• To make an identical copy of a plant or animal using DNA.

• To create a hybrid organism by mixing two different species.

• To alter the genetic makeup of an organism to enhance certain traits.

• To produce offspring through natural reproduction methods.

Ethics

• A set of moral principles that govern a person's behavior.

• A problem or situation that requires a person or organization to choose between alternatives that must be evaluated as right (ethical) or wrong (unethical).

• A legal framework that dictates acceptable behavior in society.

• A philosophical study of the nature of knowledge and belief.