Akinete A thick-walled spore that functions in asexual reproduction, frequently
serving as a resistant stage that undergoes a period of dormancy.
Albino An animal in which pigment formation is absent or a plant lacking
chromophores. This mutation results in a genetic lack of ability to synthesize
pigments.
Algaenans Decay-resistant polymers of unbranched hydrocarbons present in the
cell walls of some algae.
Algal bloom (bloom) Visible growth of planktonic algae, often associated with
nutrient-enriched waters.
Alginic acids Polysaccharides (a mixture of mannuronic and guluronic acids)
extracted from the walls of brown algae for industrial applications; may occur in
the salt form (alginates or algin).
Aliasing Sampling problem resulting from the too-infrequent collection of
samples.
Alkaloid Any of a group of nitrogen containing organic bases found in plants and
which are toxic or physiologically active in vertebrates, such as caffeine,
morphine, nicotine, strychnine.
Alkylating agents Highly reactive organic chemicals (e.g. mustard gas) that attach
alkyl groups to bases in DNA, and to other molecules. They are potent mutagens
as well as causing damage to tissues.
Allele Genes corresponding to allelomorphic characteristics that are located on
corresponding sites on homologous chromosomes (i.e., corresponding gene
loci). Multiple allelomorphs have groups of corresponding genes (multiple
alleles). The relationships between alleles arising from mutation and regular
(wild-type) genes may be categorized as follows: (1) amorphs, in which the
mutant gene does not possess any of the normal gene’s trait expression
functions; (2) hypomorphs, in which the mutant gene’s functioning is not
qualitatively different from the normal gene’s, but is quantitatively lesser;
(3) antimorphs, in which the mutant gene functions in a direction opposite that of
the normal gene; and (4) neomorphs, in which mutation results in functions
entirely unrelated to those of the wild-type gene. The various relationships
among these serve as the basis for determining complete or incomplete
dominance in hetero individuals, as well as traits such as gene redundancy.
Allelism test A form of complementarity testing to examine whether mutants with
similar phenotypes are the results of mutation at the same gene locus. Pairs of
chromosomes with each of the mutant genes are inserted in the same cell to test
whether the wild-type traits are expressed. If the test shows the two mutants
exhibiting a wild-type phenotype due to complementarity, it can be determined
that there is no allelism, and the two are mutations at different gene loci. If the
same test shows no complementarity and a mutant type, it can be determined that
418
Glossary
serving as a resistant stage that undergoes a period of dormancy.
Albino An animal in which pigment formation is absent or a plant lacking
chromophores. This mutation results in a genetic lack of ability to synthesize
pigments.
Algaenans Decay-resistant polymers of unbranched hydrocarbons present in the
cell walls of some algae.
Algal bloom (bloom) Visible growth of planktonic algae, often associated with
nutrient-enriched waters.
Alginic acids Polysaccharides (a mixture of mannuronic and guluronic acids)
extracted from the walls of brown algae for industrial applications; may occur in
the salt form (alginates or algin).
Aliasing Sampling problem resulting from the too-infrequent collection of
samples.
Alkaloid Any of a group of nitrogen containing organic bases found in plants and
which are toxic or physiologically active in vertebrates, such as caffeine,
morphine, nicotine, strychnine.
Alkylating agents Highly reactive organic chemicals (e.g. mustard gas) that attach
alkyl groups to bases in DNA, and to other molecules. They are potent mutagens
as well as causing damage to tissues.
Allele Genes corresponding to allelomorphic characteristics that are located on
corresponding sites on homologous chromosomes (i.e., corresponding gene
loci). Multiple allelomorphs have groups of corresponding genes (multiple
alleles). The relationships between alleles arising from mutation and regular
(wild-type) genes may be categorized as follows: (1) amorphs, in which the
mutant gene does not possess any of the normal gene’s trait expression
functions; (2) hypomorphs, in which the mutant gene’s functioning is not
qualitatively different from the normal gene’s, but is quantitatively lesser;
(3) antimorphs, in which the mutant gene functions in a direction opposite that of
the normal gene; and (4) neomorphs, in which mutation results in functions
entirely unrelated to those of the wild-type gene. The various relationships
among these serve as the basis for determining complete or incomplete
dominance in hetero individuals, as well as traits such as gene redundancy.
Allelism test A form of complementarity testing to examine whether mutants with
similar phenotypes are the results of mutation at the same gene locus. Pairs of
chromosomes with each of the mutant genes are inserted in the same cell to test
whether the wild-type traits are expressed. If the test shows the two mutants
exhibiting a wild-type phenotype due to complementarity, it can be determined
that there is no allelism, and the two are mutations at different gene loci. If the
same test shows no complementarity and a mutant type, it can be determined that
418
Glossary