Glossary
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- %GC
- How much of the DNA is made up of the guanine and cytosine bases.
A
- Annealing
- The binding of a complementary sequence to DNA.
B
- Biophysics
- An area of science looking at the physical properties of biological molecules
C
- Concentration
The strength of a solution given in molarity (M). µM is x10-6 of M, mM is x10-3 of M.
D
- Denaturation
- When double stranded DNA becomes single stranded most commonly by heating.
- Dichroism
Two colours
- DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A linear molecule found in the nucleus of the cell and contains the building blocks of life
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
An instrument that measures the size of small particles
E
- Emma Gilroy
- A Chemistry PhD student studying at Warwick university.
- Exon
- The part of DNA which contains the information to create proteins.
G
- Genetics
- The study of hereditary and how DNA relates to genes.
L
- Ligand
A molecule that can bind to another.
- Linear Dichroism
- Spectropolarimeter that uses light polarised in two directions (parallel and perpendicular) to the sample to measure the absorbance difference.
M
- Microsatellite
- Section of DNA that contains a repeat of the same bases. These can differ between individuals.
P
- PCR
- Polymerase Chain Reaction: A method for copying DNA
- Porphyrin
A large molecule containing four rings that can bind to a metal ion in the middle.
R
- Rheology
- The study of the flow and friction of fluids.
- Rheometer
- An instrument that measures the flow of fluids
S
- Spectra/spectrum
- Spectrum means image. It is a way of viewing results over a range of colours of light (wavelength)
- Spectropolarimeter
- An instrument that measures the properties of polarised light.
- Synchrotron
- Cyclic particle accelerator
T
- Thermophile
- Found at high temperature (thermo=heat, phile=like)
V
- Viscometer
- An instrument that measures the viscosity of a fluid.
- Viscosity
- The measurement of the movement and thickness of a fluid