Glossary

The study of genetically modified (GM) organisms involves an extensive vocabulary of terms from a variety of fields. This chapter provides definition of some of the terms most commonly used in speaking and writing about GM products.

allergen A substance capable of producing an allergic reaction in an animal.

androgenesis A process by which an embryo is produced that contains genetic data only from the male parent; a process that is sometimes used in the production of genetically modified organisms.

antisense technique A method used in genetic engineering that involves the production of a gene that has the opposite effect of some desired gene, such that the two forms of the genes bond to each other, producing an inactive complex.

artificial competence See competence.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) A soil bacterium that produces toxins that are deadly to some pests.

bacteriophage A virus that infects a bacterium.

baculovirus A virus that is effective against a host organism at only certain states of that organism’s life cycle; a principle that is used in the development of genetically modified organisms needed at only certain times in a growing cycle.

ballistic gun See gene gun.

biofortification Any process by which the nutritional value of a plant or animal is improved by genetic modification or some other synthetic process.

bioremediation Any process by which the natural environment or some other system is improved by a synthetic procedure, such as the use of genetic engineering.

Bt See Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Bt crop A crop that has been genetically engineered to carry the gene for the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, thus allowing it to produce natural pesticides for a number of organisms.

competence The ability of a cell to take up free DNA in a cell and be thereby transformed into a new form. Competence can be either natural, when it occurs without external actions, or induced or artificial, when it occurs under such external action.

complementary herbicide The herbicide that is selected for use with a crop that has been genetically engineered to be tolerant of that herbicide.

cross-pollination Fertilization of a plant with pollen from another plant.

cultivar A form of a plant that has been produced by selective breeding and maintained by cultivation but that is not different enough from the parents to be classified as a distinct species; from cultivated variety.

DNA sequencing See gene sequencing.

electroporation A method for introducing a gene into a host organism by directing a pulse of electricity at the organism that briefly opens the pores of the organisms and allows the gene to enter.

field trial A test of a new type of plant or form of technology, including genetically modified organisms, which is carried out outside the laboratory. Such tests are carefully controlled with specific requirements for location, plot size, weather conditions, and other factors.

food security The extent to which adequate supplies of food are available to a country, a region, or individual consumers.

gene flow See horizontal gene flow; vertical gene flow.

gene gun A device that is used to fire a gene into a host organism; one of the methods used to produce a chimeric product. Also known as a ballistic gun or particle gun.

gene mapping The process of determining the relative physical locations of genes on a chromosome.

gene sequencing The process of determining the exact sequence of nucleotide bases in a strand of DNA. Also known as DNA sequencing.

genetic engineering The deliberate modification of the DNA of an organism by any one of a number of methods.

genetic use restriction technology (GURT) A procedure used for the production of sterile seeds, thus requiring farmers to purchase new seeds for their crops every year. Also known as terminator technology.

genetically engineered organism (GEO) See genetically modified organism.

genetically modified organism (GMO) Any organism that has been modified by the insertion or removal of one or more genes. Also called genetically engineered organism (GEO).

GEO See genetically modified organism.

GMO See genetically modified organism.

horizontal gene flow (HGF) The transfer of genes between two organisms in some manner other than traditional reproduction. Also known as horizontal gene transfer.

horizontal gene transfer (HGT) See horizontal gene flow.

identity preservation A technical and administrative procedure for segregating one crop type from another crop type at every stage from production and processing to distribution.

induced competence See competence.

intellectual property rights Creations of the mind, such as works of art, literary works, and inventions for which the creator receives exclusive rights of production and use.

molecular marker A specific section of DNA that can “flag” the position of a particular gene or a specific genetic characteristic.

mutagen Any substance or other factor that is capable of producing mutations.

natural competence See competence.

oncogenic Capable of causing cancer.

organic agriculture A method of farming that avoids the use of synthetic materials, including any type of genetically modified organism. Unlike somewhat similar terms such as natural, healthy, or safe, organic has official governmental definitions.

particle gun See gene gun.

pharming The practice of genetically engineering a plant or animal so as to have it produce a drug or pharmaceutical.

polymerase chain reaction (PCR) A type of chemical technology used for making multiple copies of sections of DNA.

recombinant DNA (rDNA) DNA that consists of DNA segments from two different organisms.

substantial equivalence The concept that, if a new food is found to be essentially equivalent to a natural or existing food, it can be regarded as safe as the natural or existing food.

sustainability The conditions under which humans can exist in harmony with nature in such a way as to ensure that adequate supplies of necessary materials will continue to be available to humans over time.

terminator technology See genetic use restriction technology (GURT).

traceability With regard to genetically modified products, the ability to verify the origin, history, transport, use, and other characteristics of a synthetically produced seed, crop, or food.

transgenic Referring to an organism whose genome has been altered by the insertion of DNA from a different species.

vector A material, such as a bacteriophage or virus, that can be used to insert a gene from one organism or synthetic source into a second organism.

vertical gene flow (VGF) The transfer of genes from one organism to another by traditional means of reproduction, from parents to offspring. Also known as vertical gene transfer (VGT).

vertical gene transfer (VGT) See vertical gene flow.

wild type The form of an organism that occurs naturally, in contrast to a form produced by breeding, genetic engineering, or some other procedure.