gene. The basic unit of inheritance. A gene is a segment of DNA that specifies the structure of a protein or an RNA molecule. genotype. The particular set of genes carried by an individual organism. insulin. A hormone produced by special cells in the pancreas. Insulin allows glucose to enter the body's cells, where it is used as an energy source. In type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) the body does not produce insulin, causing glucose to build up in the blood, giving high blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetics can't make their own insulin so they must inject it every day. For more information see Type 1 diabetes (Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health). messenger RNA. RNA molecule that is transcribed from DNA and is used to direct the synthesis of a protein. phenotype. The observable characteristics of an individual. The expression of these characteristics results from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. signal transduction pathway. A series of steps by which a signal outside the cell causes a functional change inside the cell. Signal transduction pathways are important means of regulating numerous cellular functions in response to changes in the cell's chemical or physical environment.
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Posted July 2004.
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