Flammer, Larry
A retired high school biology teacher and co-founder of the Santa Clara County Biotechnology-Education Partnership, which provides teacher training and lab equipment for local schools. He is a current member and Web writer for the Evolution and Nature of Science Institute (ENSI).

Flow cytometry
Analysis of biological material by detection of the light-absorbing or fluorescing properties of cells or subcellular fractions (i.e., chromosomes) passing in a narrow stream through a laser beam.

Folic Acid
A vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida and other neural tube defects in the newborn. Found in leafy green vegetables, liver, legumes, yea t, and some fruits important component of multivitamins and prenatal vitamins

Foraminifera
These invertebrate are very common in the global ocean, and their distinctive, chambered shells are common in the fossil record as far back as 550 million years. today exceed 9 mm in diameter, fossils have been found that measure 15 cm across

Forensics
The use of DNA for identification. Some examples of DNA use are to establish paternity in child support cases; establish the presence of a suspect at a crime scene, and identify accident victims.

Frameshift mutation
A change in DNA in which a duplication or deletion occurs that is not a multiple of three base pairs.
2. A mutation caused by the deletion or insertion of one or more nucleotides (but not a multiple of three), such that the translational reading frame is shifted for all codons following the mutation.

Fraternal twin
Siblings born at the same time as the result of fertiliation of two ova by two sperm. They share the same genetic relationship to each other as any other siblings. See also: identical twin.