Glossary
385
target DNA is repeatedly denatured and copied allowing it to be amplified in an
exponential manner.
PDB Protein Data Bank. A single worldwide repository for the processing and
distribution of 3-D biological macromolecular structure data.
Phytoplankton The photosynthetic organisms present in the plankton.
Picoeukaryotes microscopic eukaryote species with a cell size of less than 3 μm.
Primary endosymbiosis Used to describe the initial capture of a cyanobacterium
by a eukaryotic cell that gave rise to the algae (see also endosymbiosis).
Primer Small oligonucleotide (anywhere from 6 to 50 nucleotides long) used to
prime DNA synthesis.
Probe/Reporter An oligonucleotide attached to the surface of a microarray.
Proteomics High-throughput analysis of the proteins present in a cell type, a tissue
or an organism.
Pseudogene A gene that is no longer functional either because its protein-coding
sequence is disrupted or because it is no longer expressed.
PTM Post-transcriptional modification. Alterations made to pre-mRNA before it
leaves the nucleus and becomes mature mRNA.
p-value The result of a statistical test can be summarised using a p-value as a measure of significance. It can be described as the confidence in the rejection of the
null-hypothesis. In the case of microarrays, p-values are often used to assess whether
a gene is differentially expressed.
Pyrosequencing Massively parallel DNA sequencing technique without the
requirement of a prior cloning of the DNA.
Q-PCR, qPCR or qRT-PCR Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR. A
PCR-based assay, which involves the direct measurment of the incorportation of a
fluorescent dye into the PCR product. The level of fluorescence is a direct reflection
on the amount of prduct present. By comparing the point in the PCR reaction where
the reaction enters the log phase of replication for a control and a treated sample
and determining the difference between the two, a measure of the change in relative
gene expression caused by the treatment is determined.
QTL Quantitative Trait Loci; A region of a chromosome that is associated with a
particular measurable trait (see also eQTL).
RAPD Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA; DNA fragments randomly
amplified by PCR from genomic DNA with short primers (8–12 nucleotides) of
arbitrary nucleotide sequence.
RAST Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology.
385
target DNA is repeatedly denatured and copied allowing it to be amplified in an
exponential manner.
PDB Protein Data Bank. A single worldwide repository for the processing and
distribution of 3-D biological macromolecular structure data.
Phytoplankton The photosynthetic organisms present in the plankton.
Picoeukaryotes microscopic eukaryote species with a cell size of less than 3 μm.
Primary endosymbiosis Used to describe the initial capture of a cyanobacterium
by a eukaryotic cell that gave rise to the algae (see also endosymbiosis).
Primer Small oligonucleotide (anywhere from 6 to 50 nucleotides long) used to
prime DNA synthesis.
Probe/Reporter An oligonucleotide attached to the surface of a microarray.
Proteomics High-throughput analysis of the proteins present in a cell type, a tissue
or an organism.
Pseudogene A gene that is no longer functional either because its protein-coding
sequence is disrupted or because it is no longer expressed.
PTM Post-transcriptional modification. Alterations made to pre-mRNA before it
leaves the nucleus and becomes mature mRNA.
p-value The result of a statistical test can be summarised using a p-value as a measure of significance. It can be described as the confidence in the rejection of the
null-hypothesis. In the case of microarrays, p-values are often used to assess whether
a gene is differentially expressed.
Pyrosequencing Massively parallel DNA sequencing technique without the
requirement of a prior cloning of the DNA.
Q-PCR, qPCR or qRT-PCR Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR. A
PCR-based assay, which involves the direct measurment of the incorportation of a
fluorescent dye into the PCR product. The level of fluorescence is a direct reflection
on the amount of prduct present. By comparing the point in the PCR reaction where
the reaction enters the log phase of replication for a control and a treated sample
and determining the difference between the two, a measure of the change in relative
gene expression caused by the treatment is determined.
QTL Quantitative Trait Loci; A region of a chromosome that is associated with a
particular measurable trait (see also eQTL).
RAPD Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA; DNA fragments randomly
amplified by PCR from genomic DNA with short primers (8–12 nucleotides) of
arbitrary nucleotide sequence.
RAST Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology.