A glossary of useful gene terms
Useful gene terms
A glossary
Useful gene terms
Traditional/conventional breeding – a technique where two organisms are crossed to produce offspring for commercial (or other) reasons. Includes:
Selective breeding – a breeding technique where the parents and/or offspring are selected specifically for their known genetic characteristics.
Mutagenesis – a technique where the DNA of an organism is permanently altered by the application of a chemical or physical agent (such as radioactivity or UV radiation).
Genetic modification (GM) / genetic engineering (GE) – techniques where the DNA of an organism is altered by scientists through the permanent addition of DNA from another source. Includes:
Transgenic – modifying an organism with DNA from another species
Cis-genic – modifying an organism with DNA from its own species.
Null segregant – the offspring of a genetically modified organism that does not carry the modified and/or foreign DNA.
New breeding techniques (NBTs) / precision breeding – techniques where the DNA of an organism is altered by scientists in a targeted and precise way. Classified as genetic modification under New Zealand regulations. Includes:
Gene editing / genome editing – a technique where a change to the DNA of an organism is triggered at a very specific point in the DNA by causing a cut in the DNA. The most common technology is known as CRISPR-Cas9.
In some regions (including Australia), products of gene editing are classified as:
SDN-1, where a small change DNA occurs at a targeted point in the genome, with no external DNA inserted.
SDN-2, where an existing gene is replaced with a new gene with a similar DNA sequence (for example, from the same or related species) and the new template DNA is physically inserted at the targeted point.
SDN-3, a new gene (from any species) is added at a targeted point in the genome and the new DNA is physically inserted.
Newer techniques fall outside these categories as they do not (completely) cut the DNA
Base editing – a technique that where a change to the DNA sequence of an organism is targeted at a single targeted point, without the permanent addition of DNA from another source.
Prime editing – a technique where a targeted point in the DNA sequence is rewritten using a temporary primer/template, without the permanent insertion of DNA from another source.