Selected Glossary Terms
- Accreditation
- Certification for a institution as having the capacity to fulfill a particular function.
- Alleles
- One of the variant forms of a gene or genetic marker at a particular locus on a chromosome. Alleles express differently from person to person. One of two or more different genes containing specific inheritable characteristics that occupy corresponding position (loci) on paired chromosomes.
- Amelogenin
- A PCR amplified locus that varies between males (212 and 218 bp) and females (212 bp only). One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- Amniotic fluid
- The water-like fluid, also known as “bag of waters,” that fills the amniotic sac surrounding the developing baby. This fluid supports and protects the baby, permits it to move around, prevents heat loss and provides a barrier to infection
- Ancestral
- An ancestor is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, and so on).
- Anthropology
- The study of the physical and social characteristics of humanity through the examination of historical and present geographical distribution, cultural history, acculturation, and cultural relationships.
- Antigens
- Substances that cause an immune response in the body. The body "sees" the antigens as harmful or foreign. To fight them, the body produces antibodies, which attack and try to eliminate the antigens.
- Base pairs
- (Abbreviated "bp") In DNA the bases adenosine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T) and Cytosine (C) always pairs with Guanine (G). Because DNA is a double stranded helix, the size of DNA molecules is often expressed in base pairs.
- Biological
- Related by blood or genetic lineage.
- Blood Typing
- A test that can help establish compatibility between two different types of blood. Blood types include A, B, AB or O.
- Buccal swab
- A buccal swab is soft and resembles a large Q-Tip. It is used to collect a sample of cheek cells by simply rubbing the inside of the cheeks.
- Chromosome
- Structures in our cells that carry genes, which are the basic units of heredity. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, one member of each pair inherited from the mother(x/X-chromosome), the other from the father(X/Y-chromosome).
- CSF1PO
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D13S317
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D16S539
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D18S51
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D21S11
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D3S1358
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D5S818
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D7S820
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- D8S1179
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- DNA
- DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the collection of chemicals inside the nucleus and mitochondria of our body's cells that carries the genetic instructions for the construction of all the cells in our body.
- FGA
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- Fraternal Twin
- Fraternal twins develop when there are two different eggs in the mother's womb that are fertilized by two different sperms. Fraternal twins will not have exactly the same DNA, although like other siblings, they can be expected to share some of the DNA they inherit from both parents.
- Grandparentage test
- A test based on blood groups to determine whether a particular person could be the biological grandparent of a particular person
- Gene
- The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
- Genealogy
- A record of a person's or a family's ancestors or relatives.
- Genetic Marker
- A tool that allows a scientist to detect variation (or the absence of variation) among individuals or between alleles in a particular segment of DNA.
- Genome
- The DNA contained in an organism or a cell which includes both the chromosomes within the nucleus and the DNA in mitochondria.
- Geogenetic
- Geogenetics draws correlations between any single person and diverse populations around the world based on genetic evidences. This allows a person's likely genetic and ethnic heritage to be discovered.
- Heterozygous
- Possessing two different forms of a particular gene or marker, one inherited from each parent.
- Homozygous
- Possessing two identical forms of a particular gene or marker, one inherited from each parent.
- ISO
- ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, is a non-governmental organization that provides International Standards to safeguard consumers, provide public and governments with a technical base for health, safety and environmental conformity. Adopting ISO standards means businesses are meeting specification that have international acceptance within their sectors.
- ISO 17025
- Specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed methods.
- Identical Twin
- Identical twins come from one fertilized egg, called a zygote. The zygote, which usually develops into one child, grows and splits early in development to form two twins. Because the twins come from one egg and one sperm, they have exactly the same DNA.
- Indigenous
- Having origins in a region or a country.
- Locus
- (plural: loci) Refers to the location of a specific gene on a chromosome; the plural is loci.
- Maternity test
- A test based on blood groups to determine whether a particular woman could be the biological mother of a particular child.
- Mitochondrial DNA
- The genetic material of the mitochondria, the organelles that generate energy for the cell.
- Nucleotide
- A building block of DNA or RNA
- Paternity test
- A test used to determine whether a particular man could be the biological father of a particular child. Older techniques to prove paternity have included ABO blood group typing, analysis of various proteins and enzymes, and using HLA antigens. The current technique for paternity testing utilizes polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in DNA.
- PCR
- PCR, short for Polymerase Chain Reaction, is a fast, inexpensive technique for making an unlimited number of copies of any piece of DNA.
- Power of Exclusion
- The ability of a genetic test to exclude a falsely accused man from paternity. It is dependent upon the actual genetics in the mother and child, and upon the ethnic backgrounds of the mother and alleged father.
- PENTA_D
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- PENTA_E
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- Prenatal
- Pertaining to the period of offspring development during pregnancy; before birth.
- Serology
- The study of fluid components of the blood, esp. antigens and antibodies.
- Siblingship test
- A test based on blood groups to determine whether a person could be the biological sibling of particular person.
- STR
- (Short Tandem Repeat) Short, repetitive sequence elements of 2-5 bases. STR's used in DNA profiling are polymorphic, which is to say that the number of repeat elements varies between individuals in a population. STR alleles can be sized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) or capillary electrophoresis (CE).
- SNP
- (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) Refers to a particular nucleotide (or base) in a DNA sequence that is variable within related species.
- TH01
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- TPOX
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- Twin Zygosity test
- DNA test determines whether siblings are fraternal or identical twins.
- VWA
- One of 16 loci used as a genetic marker in parentage analysis.
- X-SV test
- A test used to determine whether two or more people are related through their maternal lineage.
- Y-STR test
- A test used to determine whether two or more males are related through their paternal lineage.
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