Bioinformatics Glossary

noun deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

• DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known living organisms.
• I did a DNA test to find out more about my ancestry.
• My DNA is a mix of different backgrounds.
• Her artistic DNA is evident in every piece she creates.

noun the act of bringing a ship or boat into a dock or pier for loading, unloading, or repairs

• The docking of the spacecraft to the International Space Station was a precise and carefully coordinated maneuver.
• I watched the docking of the boats at the marina from the shore.
• We're going to be docking at the coolest beach party tonight!
• The docking of their business partnership brought together two powerful forces in the industry.

adjective relating to the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms

• The phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationships among different species.
• Scientists used phylogenetic methods to study how different animals are related.
• I heard that new study used some fancy phylogenetic stuff to figure out how plants are connected.
• The phylogenetic tree of languages shows how different languages have evolved and branched out over time.

noun abbreviation for ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells

• RNA, or ribonucleic acid, plays a crucial role in protein synthesis.
• Scientists are studying how RNA can be used to treat certain genetic disorders.
• I heard that RNA is like the messenger that tells cells what to do.
• Just like how RNA carries genetic information, communication is the RNA of relationships.

noun the state or quality of being similar; resemblance or likeness

adjective similar in appearance, character, or nature

• The researchers found a striking similarity between the two datasets.
• There's a lot of similarity between these two things.
• These two are like peas in a pod, so much similarity!
• The similarity between their personalities is like looking in a mirror.

noun CAGs

• The company is currently analyzing the CAGs to determine the impact on their financial performance.
• I heard they're looking into the CAGs to see how it will affect their profits.
• They're checking out the CAGs to figure out how much money they're making.
• The CAGs are like puzzle pieces that need to be put together to understand the bigger picture.