Glossary

A pattern of Mendelian inheritance whereby an affected individual possesses one copy of a mutant allele and one normal allele. (In contrast, recessive diseases require that the individual have two copies of the mutant allele.) Individuals with autosomal dominant diseases have a 50-50 chance of passing the mutant allele and hence the disorder onto their children. Examples of autosomal dominant diseases include Huntington's disease, neurofibromatosis, and polycystic kidney disease.

A chromosome not involved in sex determination. The diploid human genome consists of 46 chromosomes, 22 pairs of autosomes, and 1 pair of sex chromosomes.

One of two categories in which microorganisms are classified on the basis of their carbon source. Autotrophs use carbon dioxide as a carbon source.

Autotrophy is the capacity of an organism to use light as the sole energy source in the synthesis of organic material from inorganic elements or compounds. Autotrophic organisms include green photosynthesizing plants and some photosynthetic bacteria.

An additional label applied to already packaged and labeled supplies to update or add additional/new information (e.g., Change to storage Conditions, review date updates). Also referred as Ancillary Label

Storage device other than main memory (RAM); e.g., disks and tapes.

Atrioventricular

A reflection of the form and location of nutritional elements and their suitability for absorption. In tissue culture media this is related to the abundance of each nutritional element, the osmotic concentration and pH of the medium, the stability and solubility of the item in question, the presence of absorbing agents in the media, and other factors.

AIDS Vaccine Evaluation Group

Averaged volume of air per unit time, to determine the air exchange rate in a cleanroom or clean zone.NOTE: Air flow rate is expressed in cubic meters per hour (m³/h).ISO 14644-3.

Unable to cause disease.

The genetic relationship between nieces and nephews and their aunts and uncles.

Arc Welding

American Welding Society

American Water Works Association

A single organism in culture that is not contaminated by, or associated with, any foreign organism. Also used to denote “germ free” animals born and raised in sterile environment.

Not contaminated by or associated with any other living organisms. Usually used in reference to pure cultures of microorganisms that are completely free of the presence of other organisms. Also used to denote “germ-free” animals born and raised in a sterile environment.

Free of external contaminants and internal symbionts; generally not possible with surface sterilization alone, and incorrectly used to indicate aseptic culture.

A blend of two or more components with equilibrium vapor phase and liquid phase compositions that are the same at a given temperature and pressure.

Bacillus

A type of lymphocyte (B lymphocyte) produced and matured in the bone marrow, and normally involved in the production of antibodies to combat infection. During infections, individual b-cell clones multiply and are transformed into plasma cells, which produce large amounts of antibodies against a particular antigen on a foreign microbe.

Biovailability/Bioequivalence

Bacterial Artificial Chromosome

Large segments of DNA, 100,000 to 200,000 bases, from another species cloned into bacteria. Once the foreign DNA has been cloned into the host bacteria, many copies of it can be made.