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  Home >> Molecular Biology Dictionary >> Artifical insemination - Atatic

Artificial insemination
The deposition of semen, using a syringe, at the mouth of the uterus to make conception possible. It is used in the breeding of domestic animals.

Artificial medium

See culture medium.

Artificial seed

Encapsulated or coated somatic embryos (embryoids) that are planted and treated like seed.

Artificial selection
The practice of choosing individuals from a population for reproduction, usually because these or more desirable traits.

ASA
See allele-specific amplification.

Ascospore
One of the spores contained in the ascus (q.v) of certain fungi.

Ascus (pI: asci)
Reproductive sac in the sexual:  stage of a type of fungi (Ascomycetes) in which ascospore
are produced.

Asexual
(Gr. a, without + L. sexualis, sexual) Any type of reproduction  not involving meiosis or the union  of gametes.

Asexual embryogenesis
The sequence of events whereby embryos develop from somatic cells. a.k.a. somatic cell embryogenesis.

Asexual propagation

Vegetative, somatic, non-sexual reproduction of a plant without fertilization. cf apomixis.

Asexual reproduction
Reproduction that does not involve the formation and union of gametes from the different sexes or mating types. It occurs mainly in lower animals, micro-organisms and plants. In plants, asexual reproduction is by vegetative propagation (e.g., bulbs, tubers, corms) and by formation of spores.

A-site
See aminoacyl site.

Asn
See asparagine.

Asparagine
(abbr: A n; C4H8N2O3; f.w,'132.12) One of the 20 essential amino acids. It is occasionaily included in plant tissue culture media as a source of reduced nitrogen.

Assay
1. To test or evaluate.
2. The procedure for measuring the quantity of a given substance in a sample (chemically or by other means).
3. The substance to be analysed.

Assortative mating
Mating in which the partners are chosen on the basis of phenotypic similarity.

Assortment
See segregation.

Asynapsis

The failure or partial failure in the pairing of homologous chromosomes during the meiotic prophase.

Atactic

a type of polymer chain configuration wherein side groups are randomly poitioned on one side of the polymer backbone or the other.

 

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