Ecosystems & Biology | U.S. Geological Survey

A

Assays

Assays are methods that utilize living materials to detect substances and/or determine the potential toxicity of chemicals or contaminated matrices. They are used to screen for potential hazardous chemicals in contaminated soils, wastewater, etc.

B

Barcode

Taxa specific amplicon.

Bio-related software

All or part of software used to design, control, manufacture, simulate, model, manage, access, analyze, store, or process biological materials and associated data, especially as it pertains to laboratory equipment, instrumentation, data management, and bioinformatics.

Bioengineering

The application of engineering principles and practices (including from chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines) to the life sciences. Also known as biological engineering.

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is the application of computational approaches for the processing and analysis of biological data to make biological discoveries and/or predictions. Bioinformatics may encompass computer science, biology, statistics, mathematics and/or engineering to interpret biological data.

Biological Engineering

the application of engineering principles and practices (including from chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines) to the life sciences. Also known as bioengineering.

Biological data

The information, including associated descriptors, derived from the structure, function, or process of a biological system(s) that is either measured, collected, or aggregated for analysis.

Biomonitoring

Biomonitoring involves the use of organisms to assess environmental contamination such as the contamination of surrounding air or water. It can be done qualitatively by observing and noting changes in organisms, or quantitatively by measuring accumulation of chemicals or contaminants in organism tissues.

Biotechnology

Technology that applies to and/or is enabled by life sciences innovation or product development.

C

Cell line

Living cells isolated from a multicellular organism and growing in vitro under controlled laboratory conditions and that are able to multiply for extended periods and maintained by serial subculture.

Cell line domain of applicability

Characterizing cell line physiological capabilities and function of cells after being maintained in vitro for an extended period of time.

Crispant

Mutant organism as a result of CRISPR/Cas (not just Cas9) genetic manipulation.

Cytotoxicity

Causing a decline in natural biological functions of cells.

E

Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicology is the study of the effects of toxic chemicals on biological organisms especially at the population, community, ecosystem and biosphere levels. Ecotoxicology is a multidisciplinary field, which integrates toxicology and ecology.

Environmental DNA

Also known as eDNA. Genetic material that living organisms leave behind in the water, soil, or air as they move through.

Environmental RNA

Also known as eRNA. Shed RNA found in environmental samples such as water, sediment, or air.

G

Gene Delivery

A process by which foreign nucleic acid is introduced to host cells through mechanical, chemical, or biological approaches.

Gene Drive

A naturally occurring process or genetic engineering technology whereby the probability of a gene or suite of genes propagating throughout a population is altered to bias inheritance of the gene(s) in each generation.

Gene Editing

Techniques for genome engineering that involve nucleic acid damage, repair mechanisms, replication, and/or recombination for incorporating site-specific modification(s) into a gene or genes.

Gene Flow

The movement of genetic material from one population to another, either by interbreeding or migration.

Gene silencing

Interruption or suppression of the expression of a gene at transcriptional or translational levels.

Gene silencing agent

A RNA-based complex designed to limit expression of target traits in an organism

Genetic biocontrol

Range of approaches to modify genes or gene expression of an organism for the purpose of reducing populations, including genetic engineering, gene drives, gene silencing and other methods.

Genetic diversity

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Genetic engineering

Selective, deliberate alteration of genes (genetic material) by means of recombinant DNA technology.

Genetic sequence data

Nucleic acid sequences and associated information pertaining to their structure and/or function.

Genome editing

Techniques for genome engineering that involve nucleic acid damage, repair mechanisms, replication, and/or recombination for incorporating site-specific modification(s) into a genome.

Genome engineering

The process of introducing intentional changes to genomic nucleic acid, including through genome editing or genetic engineering.

Genomic data

Data pertaining to all or part of the genetic or epigenetic sequence information of organisms and their functions, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, and genome sequence, transcriptomic, metagenomic, epigenomic, and gene expression data.

Genomics

The study of all or a significant portion of nucleic acids and their function(s) in an organism.

Genotype

Complete set of genetic material. Genotype can also be used to refer to the alleles or variants an individual carries in a particular gene or genetic location.

H

High throughput screening

High throughput screening is a testing approach that uses robotics, liquid-handling devices, detectors, and associated software to quickly conduct a large number of chemical or biochemical tests.

I

In silico

In silico is scientific studies or research conducted or produced by means of computer modeling or simulation.

In vitro

Experiment, observation, or analysis that takes place outside of a living organism.

L

Landscape genetics

Also referred to as landscape genomics. One of many strategies used to identify relationships between environmental factors and the genetic adaptation of organisms in response to these factors.

Landscape genomics

Also referred to as landscape genetics. One of many strategies used to identify relationships between environmental factors and the genetic adaptation of organisms in response to these factors.

M

Macrogenetics

The aggregation of hundreds of genetic datasets across species, space and/or time to answer broad questions about patterns and environmental drivers of genetic diversity.

Metabarcoding

Barcode - taxa specific amplicon. Metabarcoding - Using barcodes in conjunction with high throughput sequencing to simultaneously identify multiple taxa within a sample.

Metabolomics

The study of all or a significant portion of metabolites within an organism or biological material.

Metadata analysis

Metadata analysis is analyzing data from different sources, like multiple scientific studies.

Metagenomics

The study of nucleic acids and their function(s) from all or a significant portion of the organisms within a collection.

Microbiome

A microbiome is the community of microorganisms that can usually be found living together in any given habitat.

P

Phylogeography

The study of the historical processes that may be responsible for the past to present geographic distributions of genealogical lineages.

Point of Use

Research tool that allows the processing and analysis of a sample at the site of collection.

Polymorphism

The genetic variants of an individual at one or many gene regions or loci.

Population differentiation

The number of different genetic variants and their frequencies within a population or species.

Population genetics

The study of genome-wide variation and evolution within and/or among populations.

Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing

RNA interference (RNAi) or Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) is a conserved biological response to double-stranded RNA that mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and regulates the expression of protein-coding genes. This natural mechanism for sequence-specific gene silencing promises to revolutionize experimental biology and may have important practical applications in functional genomics, therapeutic intervention, agriculture and other areas

Proteomics

The study of all or a significant portion of proteins produced and/or modified by an organism.

R

RNA interference

RNA interference (RNAi), or Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS), is a conserved biological response to double-stranded RNA that mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and regulates the expression of protein-coding genes. This natural mechanism for sequence-specific gene silencing promises to revolutionize experimental biology and may have important practical applications in functional genomics, therapeutic intervention, agriculture and other areas.

S

Single nucleotide polymorphism

(SNP) The most common type of genetic variation among people. Each SNP represents a difference in a single DNA building block, called a nucleotide.

Synthetic Biology

The design, construction, and/or assembly of the components of living systems (including genetic circuits, enzymes, metabolic pathways, etc.) to achieve an intended function or outcome.

T

Transcriptomics

The study of all or a significant portion of RNA transcripts, including coding and non-coding, that are produced within an organism or biological material.