Active immunity – acquired immunity to a disease where resistance is built up either by having the disease or having vaccination against the disease.

Aerobic – needing oxygen for growth.

Allogenic – of the same species but with a different genotype.

Anaerobic – growing without the need for oxygen.

Antibiotic – chemical substance which was a byproduct in bacteria or fungi and used to treat bacterial infections.

Antibody – a protein produced by humans in response to the presence of a specific antigen.

Antigen – a substance which induces an immune response by a specific antibody.

Autoimmune disease – a disease in which the body produces antibodies against its own tissue.

Autoimmunity – a condition in which the body mounts an immune response against one of its own organs.

A virulent – unable to cause disease.

Bacterium – a large group of microorganisms with a very simple cell like structure.

Biochemical – the product of a chemical reaction in a living organism.

Biodegradable – capable of being reduced to water and carbon dioxide by the action of microorganisms.

Biologic – a therapeutic derived from a living source such as animal or human.

Biomass – the totality of biological matter in any given area as commonly used in biotechnology.

Biomaterials – biological molecules such as proteins and complex sugars commonly used to make medical devices such as structural elements used in reconstructive surgery.

Bioprocess – a process in which living cells are used to produce the desired product.

Bioreactor – a vessel used in Bioprocessing.

Biosynthesis – production of a chemical by a living organism.

Biotechnology – the use of a biological process to make a useful product.

Cell – the smallest unit of a living organism that can grow and reproduce independently.

Cell culture – the growth of cells under laboratory conditions.

Chromosomes – threadlike components in the cell that contain DNA and proteins.

Clone – a term that is applied to genes, cells or entire organisms.

Co-enzyme – an organic compound that is necessary for the correct functioning of an enzyme.

Culture – living organisms in a prepared medium.

DNA fingerprinting – technology used as a forensic tool to detect similarities in blood and tissue samples.

Enzyme – a protein catalyst that facilitates specific chemical or metabolic reactions needed for cell growth and reproduction.

Fermentation – growing microorganisms fro the production of various chemical or pharmaceutical compounds.

Gene – a segment of chromosomes.

Gene sequencing – determination of the sequence of nucleotide bases of a strand of DNA.

Genome – the total hereditary material of a cell.

Heredity – the transfer of genetic information from parent cells to progeny.

Microbiology – the study of living organisms seen under a microscope.

Pathogen – a disease causing organism.

Polyclonal – derived from different types of cells.

Protein – a molecule composed of amino acids.

Recombinant DNA – the DNA formed by combining segments of DNA from two separate sources.

Scale-up – the transition from small scale production to production large industrial quantities.

Somatic cells – cells other than sex or germ cells.

Yeast – single cell fungi that reproduce by budding.