The terms and descriptions provided in this glossary have been completed with the help of several sources:

• National Human Genome Research Institute - Talking Glossary
• Human Genome Project Information
• PhRMA Genomics (no longer online)
• Word Central's Student Dictionary (Merriam Webster)

Sources are listed with the definitions.

PQR

Parkinson's Disease

A common progressive neurological disorder that results from degeneration of nerve cells in a region of the brain that controls movement. The first symptom of the disease is usually tremor of a limb, especially when the body is at rest. [Talking Glossary]

Pharmacogenomics

The science of understanding the correlation between an individual patient's genetic make-up (genotype) and their response to drug treatment. Some drugs work well in some patient populations and not as well in others. Studying the genetic basis of patient response to therapeutics allows drug developers to more effectively design therapeutic treatments.
Source: Human Genome Project Information

Phenotype

The observable traits or characteristics of an organism (e.g., hair colour, weight) or the presence or absence of a disease. Phenotypic traits are not necessarily genetic. [Talking Glossary]

Photosynthesis

The process by which plant cells convert light from the sun into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a source of energy for the cell.

Plasmids

A structure composed of DNA that is separate from the cell's genome. In bacteria, plasmids confer a variety of traits and can be exchanged between individuals - even those of different species. Plasmids can be manipulated in the laboratory to deliver specific genetic sequences into a cell.
Source: PhRMA Genomics

Polynucleic

Having more than one nucleus.

Protein

A large complex molecule made up of one or more chains of amino acids. Proteins perform a wide variety of activities in the cell. [Talking Glossary]

Prokaryote

Cell or organism lacking a membrane-bound, structurally discrete nucleus and other subcellular compartments. Bacteria are examples of prokaryotes.
Source: Human Genome Project Information

Proteomics

The study of the full set of proteins encoded by a genome.
Source: Human Genome Project Information

Recessive

A genetic disorder that appears only in individuals that have received two copies of a mutant gene, one from each parent. [Talking Glossary]

Recombinant DNA

A variety of techniques that molecular biologists use to manipulate DNA molecules to study the expression of a gene. [Talking Glossary]

Recombination

Recombinant DNA is produced when genetic information from more than one organism is recombined in a laboratory process into a hybrid molecule.
Source: PhRMA Genomics

Replication

The process by which DNA is duplicated before cell division.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A chemical similar to a single strand of DNA. In RNA, the letter U, which stands for uracil, is substituted for T in the genetic code. RNA delivers DNA's genetic message to the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made. [Talking Glossary]

Ribosome

Cellular organelle that is the site of protein synthesis. [Talking Glossary]

RNA polymerase

An enzyme that, during transcription, attaches to the promoter region of the DNA template, joins nucleotides to form the synthesized strand of RNA and detaches from the template when it reaches the terminator region.