DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): The chemical substance that genes are made of.Functional Genomics: The study of how genes express themselves to result in a biological function.
Gene: A specially ordered sequence of DNA located in a certain position on a chromosome.
Gene Expression: The process by which a gene’s coded information is converted into the structures present and operating in the cell. Expressed genes are first transcribed into messenger RNA and then translated into protein.
Genome: The sequence or the structure of the DNA and all the genes contained within it.
Microarray: Miniature chips that are used to test pieces of DNA, RNA or proteins by the thousands simultaneously.
Molecular Signature: A molecular profile of normal and diseased cells obtained through the use of microarray or other functional genomics technologies.
Protein: A molecule that is necessary for the structure, function,and regulation of the body’s cells. Proteins may function as hormones, enzymes, and antibodies.
Proteomics: The scientific study of all the proteins produced by a genome.