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Home >> Dictionary of Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology >> Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA), Embryogenomics
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Electronegativity The affinity of an atom or a molecule for electrons.
Electronic Northerns The use of an electronic database of cDNA sequences or probes to measure the relative levels of mRNAs expressed in different cells or tissues. This is used to identify the differences in the genes expressed in prostate cancer with those in benign prostate hyperplasia, by subtracting the database of one from the other to obtain the remaining cDNAs.
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Electrophoresis A technique used for the separation of charged molecules (DNA, RNA or protein) based on relative migration in a supporting matrix (agarose or polyacrylamide gel) under the influence of an electric field. See agarose gel electrophoresis; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE); pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) A technique for detecting protein that bind to specific DNA sequences based on the fact that DNA bound to protein moves more slowly than naked DNA on gel electrophoresis. Also called bandshift assay, gelshift assay, or gel retardation assay.
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Electroporation
A term derived from the phrase electric field mediated membrane permeabilisation’. A method of gene transfer based on transient electric pulse. When cells placed in a solution containing DNA are subjected to short electric pulses, a transient cell membrane breakdown occurs with formation of short-lived pores. DNA enters the cells through the pores, which eventually close after 3-5 minutes. The pores are believed to form due to local polarization of the cell membrane on exposure to a high electric potential. Macromolecules, such as DNA or RNA, enter through these pores either through diffusion or by electrophoretic movement. The pores in the membrane subsequently reseal, capturing the introduced DNA and preventing escape of the cell contents. This method is highly versatile and rapid
Electrospray mass spectrometry A useful method for the analysis of the composition of peptide mixtures according to their molecular weight.
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Elongation factors A group of proteins (EF-G, EFTs and EFTu) essential for the elongation of a polypeptide during transltion.
ELSI Short form of ethical, legal and social implications (issues) of genetic engineering. It was established as an integral part of the Human Genome Project (HGP) to address the implications of mapping the human genome, prevent misinterpretation or misuse and ensure that the information is used only for the benefit of individuals and society.
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Eluant The solution that runs through a column during chromatography in which substances appear as they are washed through the column.
Elution profile In column chromatography, a graph that represents the amount of material appearing in the eluant over time. This is generally seen as peaks that indicate the optical density or biological activity of the eluant at various time intervals during separation.
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Electrostatic interaction The interaction between charged groups. The high dielectric constant of water shields electrostatic interactions. However, when charged groups are in the interior and out of contact with water, they tend to be paired with a neighboring group of opposite charge creating a salt bridge.
Electronic potential The measure of electron pressure in volts. The relative difference in the concentration of electrons in two compartments such as the inside of a cell membrane with respect to the outside.
Electrophile An electron-deficient group which is attracted to electron-rich nucleophiles.
Element A chemical substance that cannot be divided into simpler substances by chemical means. For example, hydrogen, sodium, potassium, and uranium are all chemical elements. Trace elements are chemical elements that are required in minute amounts in the diet to maintain health (eg. copper, selenium).
ELISA See Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Elution volume In chromatography, refers to the amount of liquid that must be added to produce a peak of a particular solute in the effluent
Electronic PCR (ePCR) An electronic process analogous to lab-based PCR. This involves use of two primers to map a sequence feature such as a SNP. To validate the position, both primers must map in the same vicinity that spans a defined distance to produce an electronic PCR product.
Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway The pathway of glucose oxidation to pyruvate. See glycolysis.
EMBL See European Molecular Biology Lab.
EMBnet The European Molecular Biology Network http://www.embnet.org/ established in 1988. It provides services such as local molecular databases and software for molecular biologists in Europe. There are several outposts of EMBnet such as EXPASSY.
Embolism Blocking of an artery by a clot or foreign substance.
Embryo An immature organism in the early stages of development. In mammals, this occurs during the first months in the uterus. In plants, it is the structure that develops in the megagametophyte, as a result of the fertilisation of an egg cell, or without fertilisation.
Embryo cloning The creation of identical copies of an embryo by embryo splitting or by nuclear transfer from undifferentiated embryonic cells.
Embryo culture The culture of embryos on nutrient media.
Embryo multiplication and transfer (EMT) The cloning of animal embryos followed by their subsequent transfer to recipients by artificial inembryonation.\
Embryo sexing The determination of the sex of an embryo, using the technique of PCR, which involves the amplification from a small sample of embryonic tissue, using primers specific for a locus on the Y chromosome.
Embryo splitting A technique used to clone organisms by separating cells in the early embryo. These cells develop and produce identical copies of the organism (usually less than 10 from a single embryo). This is a type of animal cloning.
Embryo technology A generic term used for any modification of mammalian embryos. It includes embryo cloning, embryo splittin, in vitro fertilisation, and embryo storage.
Embryo transfer Implantation of embryos from donor animals or generated by in vitro fertilization into the uterus of recipient animals.
Embryogenesis 1. Development of an embryo. 2. In plants, refers to in vitro development of plants from plant tissues. If this development in culture involves somatic cells and not the zygote, it is referred to as somatic embryogenesis.
Embryogenomics The study of embryonic tissues in which many genes are uniquely expressed using high-throughput approaches of genomics to generate information about genes and pathways that can give an integrated view of complex processes.
Embryoid An embryo-like body that develops in vitro by the formation of a complete, self-contained platelet without any vascular connection with the callus. This term is no longer in common use.
Embryology The study of embryo development.
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