CHIMAERA An animal that is generated from, and comprises, several genetically distinct populations of cells that are derived from more than one individual.
CHORDONEURAL HINGE A region at the posterior end of a vertebrate embryo that gives rise to both neural and mesodermal cells.
COELENTERATE Radially symmetrical invertebrates, which include corals, sea anemones and jellyfish.
EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (ES cells). Stem cells have the dual capacity to self-replicate and differentiate into several specialized derivatives. ES cells are pluripotent cells that are derived from pre-implantation stage (usually blastocyst) mammalian embryos. Mouse ES cells can be propagated and manipulated in vitro, yet still retain their pluripotency.
EMBRYONIC-STEM-CELL-MEDIATED TRANSGENESIS A method in which DNA is introduced into embryonic stem (ES) cells and integrates randomly, or through gene targeting, into the genome. Transgenic ES cells are delivered to the germline through the generation of (ES cell
embryo) chimaeras.
EPIBLAST An embryonic lineage that is derived from the inner-cell mass of the blastocyst, which gives rise to the body of the fetus.
FATE MAP A spatial map of the fates of different embryonic cells at a particular stage of development.
FLUOROPHORE The core portion of a molecule that is directly responsible for absorbing photons.
HAEMATOPOIETIC Giving rise to the cellular elements of the blood, such as the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
HEMIZYGOTE An animal with a transgene insertion on one chromosome of a homologous pair, rather than on each of the two homologous chromosomes (homozygote).
MOSAIC An organism that consists of cells of more than one genotype. The strict definition requires that the genotypically different cells all derive from a single zygote. The term mosaic is also used more broadly to describe any organism comprised of cells of different genotypes.
MUSHROOM BODIES The region of the Drosophila brain that is required for olfactory learning and memory.
PERDURANCE The ongoing stability and activity of a protein in the cellular environment.
PHOTOBLEACHING The irreversible destruction of a fluorophore that is under illumination.
PLURIPOTENT Able to give rise to a wide range of, but not all, cell lineages (usually all fetal lineages and a subset of extraembryonic lineages).
QUANTUM YIELD The probability of luminescence occurring under given conditions, which is expressed as the ratio of the number of photons emitted to the number absorbed.
THERMOLABILE Unstable at moderate or increased temperatures.
THERMOSTABLE Able to withstand moderate heat without the loss of characteristic properties, such as fluorescence.
TROPHOBLAST An extraembryonic lineage that is derived from the trophectoderm of the blastocyst, which gives rise to the fetal portion of the placenta.
