The following list of terms is intended to give readers a general understanding of some of the terminology used in the journal articles.
- APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)
- An agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for regulating the field testing of genetically engineered plants and certain microorganisms.
Biosafety Protocol
- A treaty being negotiated under the Convention on Biological Diversity to set up a process for the safe movement across countries' boundaries of living genetically engineered organisms.
Biotechnology
- Broadly defined, the use of biological processes of microbes and of plants or animal cells for the benefit of humans. When used in conjunction with genetic engineering, it is the genetic modification of an organism's DNA such that the transformed individuals have new traits that enhance survival or modify quality. The actual use of biotechnological methods began centuries ago, when plants and animals were selectively bred and microorganisms were used in the production of beer, wine, cheese, and bread. In addition to genetic engineering, biotechnology is concerned with such areas as plant tissue culture, gene splicing, enzyme systems, plant breeding, animal cell culture, immunology, molecular biology, and fermentation. Modern biotechnology is being used in medicine, fuel production, agriculture and food production, and criminal science, as well as in environmental activities.
Bovine Somatotropin (BST/BGH)
- Known both as BST and BGH (for bovine growth hormone), a naturally occurring protein that has been genetically engineered as a synthetic compound to stimulate milk production in cows.
Bt Crops
- Crops that are genetically engineered to carry the gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. The bacterium produces a protein that is toxic when ingested by individual species of insects, thereby providing protection throughout the entire plant.
Bt Cotton
- Cotton that is genetically engineered to control tobacco budworms, bollworms, and pink bollworms.
Bt Corn (Maize)
- Corn that is genetically engineered to provide protection against the European Corn Borer.
CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research)
- An informal association of 58 public and private sector members supporting 16 international agricultural research centers. The centers develop advanced breeding material for adoption and use by national agricultural research systems in developing countries.
Clone
- A group of genetically identical cells or organisms asexually descendent from a common ancestor.
Codex Alimentarius
- A World Health Organization body that develops standards for food safety and international food trade.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- An international conference on biodiversity issues. Its objectives are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. This convention is the first comprehensive global agreement to address all aspects of biological diversity. Currently, there are 168 signatories to the convention and 175 members of the Conference of Parties.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
- The molecule that encodes genetic information. It is constructed of a double helix held together by weak bonds between base pairs of four nucleotides adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
- A U.S. government agency that issues permits for large-scale testing of herbicides and biotechnology-derived plants containing new pesticidal substances.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
- A U.S. government agency responsible for ensuring that foods derived from new plant varieties are safe to eat. FDA also has legal authority for food labeling.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
- An organism produced from genetic engineering techniques that allow the transfer of inherited characteristics from one organism to another. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, plants, insects, fish, and mammals are some examples of genetic material that have been artificially changed or altered in order to change some physical property or capability. Living modified organisms (LMOs), genetically engineered (GE) foods, and transgenic crops are other terms often used in place of GMOs.
Genetic Engineering
- Very broadly, a technique used to alter or move genetic material (genes) of living cells. In the United States, under guidelines issued by Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, genetic engineering is defined as the genetic modification of organisms by recombinant DNA techniques. Definitions used in Europe tend to be broader.
Gene Stacking
- Combining traits (e.g., herbicide tolerance and insect resistance) in seed.
Genome
- The sum of the genetic material in the chromosomes of a particular organism.
Herbicide-tolerant Crops
- Crops developed to survive certain herbicides. These crops previously would have been destroyed along with targeted weeds, but now can be used by farmers as an effective weed control. The most common herbicide-tolerant crops (cotton, corn, soybeans, and canola) are marketed under such names as Roundup Ready (RR), resistant to glyphosate, a herbicide effective on many species of grasses, broadleaf weeds, and sedges; Liberty Link (LL) corn, resistant to glufosinate-ammonium; and BXN cotton, resistant to bromoxynil.
Plant Breeding
- The technique of crossing plants to produce varieties with particular characteristics (traits) that are carried in their genes and passed on to future generations.
Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
- DNA produced using genetic engineering techniques. Such techniques involve transferring a DNA segment from one organism and inserting it into the DNA of another, possibly unrelated, organism.
Transgenic Plants
- Plants that result from the insertion of genetic material from another organism, generally through recombinant DNA techniques, to make the plant exhibit a desired trait.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment.