Genomics¹

The comprehensive study of whole sets of genes and their interactions rather than single genes or proteins.

High throughput²

Rapid (and simultaneous) processing of large sample sets.

Metabolomics²

The global analysis of metabolites and metabolic networks in cells, tissues, and organ systems.

Metagenomics³

The genomic analyses of assemblages of uncultured microorganisms.

Microarray²

A microscope slide or other solid support on which many distinct cDNAs or DNA oligonucleotides are patterned at high density in an addressable array. Microarrays are interrogated by hybridization to fluorescently labeled cDNAs or RNAs to detect the genes that are actively transcribed.

Open reading frame⁴

A reading frame in a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that contains no termination codons and so can potentially translate as a polypeptide chain.

PCR¹

Polymerase chain reaction: a technique for amplifying a piece of DNA quickly and cheaply.

Proteomics¹

The study of full set of proteins encoded by a genome.

Sequencing⁵

Determination of the order of nucleotides (base sequences) in a DNA or RNA molecule or the order of amino acids in a protein.

Shotgun assembly¹

Breaking DNA into many small pieces, sequencing the pieces, and assembling the fragments.

Structural genomics¹

The effort to determine the 3D structures of large numbers of proteins using both experimental techniques and computer simulation.

Upregulation⁶

An increase in the number of receptors on the surface of target cells, making the cells more sensitive to a hormone or another agent.