Biology - Biodiversity and Biotechnolgy

A Jurist’s Guide to 21st Century Biodiversity and Biotechnolgy

WOMEN IN BIOLOGY

May 10

Posted by admin in Biology

In 1890, staff at Mason College, later the University of Birmingham, threatened to resign rather than give 15-year-old Winnifred Cullis additional biology tuition because they considered it indecent for a girl to study so much biology! Luckily, things aren’t so bad these days and women can now study, and make a successful career in biology, as the ‘Women in Biology’ exhibition demonstrates.

Biology is the ’science of life’, and covers a huge range of subjects, from ethnobotany to genetic engineering , medicine to marine biology . Choosing a career in biology can lead you into a laboratory, out into the field or up in front of a class. In fact, something for everyone!

Careers in biology can offer a wide variety of challenges, at all qualification levels. The range of jobs available allows women to maintain their interest in biology while bringing up children, and still return to full-time work later. For instance, teaching or working from home is a good way for women to combine a career in biology with their family commitments. Read the rest of this entry »

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F

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

fertilization: the fusion of two haploid gametes (sperm and egg cells, for example) to produce a diploid zygote nucleus.

filial generation (F1, F2): pertaining to a particular generation in a sequence of matings. In the generation of inbred strains, the first filial generation, symbolized as F1, refers to the offspring of a cross between strains having non-identical genomes. When F1 siblings are crossed to each other, their offspring are considered to be members of the second filial generation or F2, with subsequent generations of brother-sister matings numbered with integer increments. [Source: NHBLI/NCBI Glossary]

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B

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

bacillus subtilis: a rod shaped, nonpathogenic bacterium commonly found in the soil. This gram-positive microbe has had its genome studied in microbiology as well as in genetic engineering studies. Often, Bacillus subtilis is used as a host in recombinant DNA experiments because of its ability to secrete proteins. [Source: Biotechnology Industry Organization, www.bio.org]

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Project Members and Participants

May 6

Posted by admin in About

The Bio Judiciary Project is a collaborative educational endeavor co-founded and sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and Ernst & Young LLP, National Litigation Advisory Services Practice (E&Y), with generous contributions from the Foundation for Genetic Medicine, Inc., Arnold & Porter and Ropes & Gray.

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Biotechnology

May 4

Posted by admin in About

Biotechnology patents in light of precedent and current trends.
Now including links to 100 opinions, laws, patents, and other supporting documents.


The Downstream Impact on Biotechnology of Upstream Scientific Misconduct Sunday, April 9, 2006, Chicago, IL


Biotechnology: A Science Lesson for Generalists A Biojudiciary Project Roundtable
Tuesday, May 18, 2006, Washington, DC

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G

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

gamete: mature male or female reproductive cell (sperm or ovum) with a haploid set of chromosomes (23 for humans). [Source: DOE Primer on Molecular Genetics]

gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): the process whereby gametes (unfertilized eggs plus sperm) are transferred directly into the fallopian tube. When compared with in vitro fertilization, this process often leads to stronger and faster-growing embryos, which reach the uterus at the right time and orientation after fertilization.

gene: a length of DNA which codes for a particular protein, or in certain cases a functional or structural RNA molecule.

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E

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

E. coli: common bacterium that has been studied intensively by geneticists because of its small genome size, normal lack of pathogenicity, and ease of growth in the laboratory. [Source: DOE Primer on Molecular Genetics]

egg donor: an individual (female) who provides egg cells (ova) for use in assisted reproduction (such as in vitro fertilization). Eggs are flushed out of the donor’s reproductive tract and stored until needed. In humans, this process is used to provide an egg when a woman wishes to become a parent but is unable to produce her own eggs due to surgery or disease.

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D

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

delayed twin: in some cases, a preimplantation embryo is split to produce multiple embryos - all of which have the same genome. One or more of these embryos may be brought to term while others are kept in cryogenic storagefor later implantation and development. While these individuals are identical twins, their births have been separated or “delayed” in time.

deletion: in the process of DNA replication, a deletion occurs if a nucleotide or series of nucleotides is not copied. Such deletions may be harmless, may result in disease, or may in rare cases be beneficial.

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C

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

cancer: a term describing a broad range of diseases, all characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. Cancer is always caused by a malfunction in an organism’s genetic material. This malfunction could be caused by an inherited genetic mutation or by a somatic cell genetic mutation (i.e., a genetic mutation acquired during an individual’s lifetime).

candidate gene: a gene that has been implicated in causing or contributing to the development of a particular disease.

carcinogen: something which causes cancer to occur. Chemicals (hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke, industrial byproducts, inorganic compounds such as asbestos) and radiation sources (ultraviolet light, x-rays) are common carcinogens. Carcinogens are usually mutagenic i.e. they cause changes in a cell’s DNA.

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A

May 6

Posted by admin in Glossary

acclimatization: the manner in which an organism adapts to a new environment or to a change in the old. For microbes, these physiological modifications often involve enzymatic changes (changes that modify proteins that speed up biochemical reactions). These modifications allow the organism to utilize a new nutrient source for survival. [Source: Biotechnology Industry Organization, www.bio.org]

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