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at the heart of development
Definitions
List of terms for Genomics
G
Gene
The fundamental unit of heredity. In molecular terms, a gene comprises a length of DNA that encodes a functional product, which may be a polypeptide (a whole or constituent part of a protein) or a ribonucleic acid. [WHO: Genomics and World Health]
Gene therapy
The introduction of genetic material into an individual, or the modification of the individual’s genetic material, in order to achieve a therapeutic objective. [WHO: Genomics and World Health]
Genetic Susceptibility
Predisposition to a particular disease or disorder due to the presence of a particular allele or combination of alleles in an individual's genome. [WHO: Genomics and World Health]
Genome
The sum total of the genetic material present in a particular organism. A genome is all of a living thing's genetic material. It is the entire set of hereditary instructions for building, running and maintaining an organism, and passing life on to the next generation. In most living things, the genome is made of a chemical called DNA. [ICSU: New Genetics, Food and Agriculture]
Genotype
The total genetic constitution of an organism. [WHO: Genomics and World Health]
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