Somatic cell
Any cell in the body except gametes and their precursors. A body cell any cell of an organism that isnt a germ cell or gamete.

Somatic cell gene therapy
Incorporating new genetic material into cells for therapeutic purposes. The new genetic material cannot be passed to offspring.

Southern blot
A technique for transferring DNA segments form an agarose gel to filter paper and which is then probed with radioactivity to see if a particular change or mutation is present in an individual.

Spina bifidsa
A condition that results from altered fetal development of the spinal cord causing the individual to usually have hydrocephalus, bowel and bladder dysfunction and spotty sensation to no sensation in the lower extremities. Folic
Acid felt to help lower incidence of this birth defect it taken by mothers during the first trimester and a month prior to conception.
2. A birth defect caused when the neutral tube, the structure in the very early embryo which develops into the brain and spina cord, fails to close properly. Spina bifida due to a neutral tube defect typically results in paralysis as well as hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Anencephaly is a severe form of a neutral tube defect in which no normal brain tissue develops. Spina bifida occulta is a minor defect of the spine which is not related to spina bifida from an open neural tube defect.

Speciation
Changes in related organisms to the point where they are different enough to be considered separate species. This occurs when populations of one species are separated and adapt to their new environment or conditions (physiological, geographic, or behavioral).

Spectral karyotype (SKY)
A graphic of all an organisms chromosomes, each labeled with a different color. Useful for identifying chromosomal abnormalities.