Lab Jargon Flashcards
Define Absorbance
Also known as optical density, is the quantity of light absorbed by a solution
Define Accurate
Degree to which experimental results average close to the true value
Define aliquot
Factor of a whole amount, meaning that when you divide the factor into the amount, there is no remainder
Define alleles
a variant of the sequence of nucleotides at a particular location on a DNA molecule
Define allometry
The growth of body parts at different rates, resulting in a change of body proportions
Define amplification
The process of increasing the volume of sound, especially using an amplifier
Define anemia
A condition that occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells or when your red blood cells do not function properly.
define anode
the positively charged electrode by which the electrons leave an electrical device. the opposite of cathode
Define anterior
nearer the front, especially in the front of the body, or nearer to the head or forepart. the opposite of posterior
Define antibiotic
medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms
define aqueous
of or containing water
define aseptic
free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms; surgically sterile or sterilized
define aspirate
breathe
define assay
laboratory test or experiment designed to measure the quantity or activity of a specific biological molecule, such as a protein, enzyme, or hormone.
define blank
artificial sample made up of ultra-pure MilliQ water
define branchial
the gills of fish and some invertebrate animals
define calibrate
correlate the readings of (an instrument) with those of a standard in order to check the instrument’s accuracy
define cathode
the negatively charged electrode by which electrons enter an electrical device. The opposite of anode
define caudal
of or like a tail, at or near the tail or the posterior part of the body
define cloned
make an identical copy of
define cuvette
a straight-sided clear container for holding liquid samples in a spectrophotometer or other instrument.
define decant
In the laboratory, the process of pouring away a liquid while leaving a solid (often a precipitate) behind. Decanting a liquid from a solid using a stirring rod.
define dermal
relating to the skin or dermis
define distal
situated away from the centre of the body or from the point of attachment. The opposite of proximal.
define dorsal
on or relating to the upper side or back of an animal, plant, or organ. Compare with ventral.
define electrophoresis
laboratory technique used to separate DNA, RNA, or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge.
define eluate
unbound (eluted) antibodies are referred to as the eluate.
define elute
remove (an adsorbed substance) by washing with a solvent, especially in chromatography
define elution
noun form of elute
define epithelium
the thin tissue forming the outer layer of a body’s surface and lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures.
define Eppendorf
small vial-like structure used to collect and store samples, extracts, solvents
define equilibration
bring into or keep in equilibrium
define frontal
relating to the forehead or front part of the skull
define genome
the haploid set of chromosomes in a gamete or microorganism, or in each cell of a multicellular organism.
the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
define homologous
pairing at meiosis and having the same structural features and pattern of genes.
define incubation
the process of incubating eggs, cells, bacteria, a disease,
Define invert
mix the solution by putting it upside down a few times
define ladder
DNA ladder is a solution of DNA molecules of different lengths used in agarose or acrylamide gel electrophoresis which is used as a reference to estimate the size of unknown DNA molecules separated on the basis of their mobility in an electrical field through the gel.
define lateral
directional term that describes the position of a structure relative to the median plane and the sides of the body
define ligated
chemo selective condensation of unprotected peptide segments
define lysate
a solution containing the contents of cells that have been lysed
define mandible
largest bone in the human skull
define matrix
material between animal or plant cells
define media
plural form of medium whereas medium is the substance used to grow cells in microbiology.
define microtiter
flat plate with multiple wells used as small test tubes in laboratory experiments
define miniprep
A rapid, abbreviated method for identifying cloned DNA in a culture of host bacteria
define oligonucleotide
short DNA or RNA molecules, oligomers, that have a wide range of applications in genetic testing, research, and forensics
define pectoral
muscles and structures located on the anterior chest wall
define pellet
particles are concentrated as a pellet at the bottom of the centrifuge tube and separated from the remaining solution, called supernatant.
define pericardial
the membrane enclosing the heart, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner double layer of serous membrane
define precise
marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail
define phenotype
the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment
define plasmid
a genetic structure in a cell that can replicate independently of the chromosomes, typically a small circular DNA strand in the cytoplasm of a bacterium or protozoan.
define polyacrylamide
a synthetic resin made by polymerizing acrylamide, especially a water-soluble polymer used to form or stabilize gels and as a thickening or clarifying agent
define polymorphism
when there are two or more possibilities of a trait on a gene.
define posterior
further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end. The opposite of anterior.
define primers
short, single-stranded nucleic acid used in the initiation of DNA syntheis
define proximal
situated nearer to the centre of the body or the point of attachment. The opposite of distal.
define reagent
a substance or mixture for use in chemical analysis or other reactions
define rostral
anterior (front) aspect of the head
define sagital
relating to or denoting the suture on top of the skull which runs between the parietal bones in a front to back direction.
define sepharose
a preparation of agarose used as a gel in chromatography, electrophoresis, and other separation techniques.
define squamous
one of the three forms of epithelial cell found in the epithelial and endothelial tissues, squamous, cuboidal, and columnar
define substrate
molecule acted upon by an enzyme
define supernatant
clear liquid that remains above a solid residue after centrifugation, precipitation, crystallization, or settling.
define suspension
heterogeneous mixture in which particles disperse within a liquid or gas (fluid) but do not dissolve
define terminal
the end of a polymer molecule
define transverse
direction of a wave that is perpendicular to the displacement of the particles of the medium through which it passes.
define ventral
underside of an organism, of that side which is normally directed downwards in the usual stance or resting position
define vibrio
aquatic microorganisms, some species of which cause serious diseases in humans and other animals
define vortex
a whirling mass of fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind
define alimentary
nutrition or providing sustenance or nourishment
define inoculate
inoculation refers to introducing an antigenic substance (aka antigens that induce an immune response) or a vaccine (weakened/dead/
inactivated germs/pathogens) into the body in order to induce immunity to that substance/pathogen.
