Interactive Biology Glossary
Deconstruct complex molecular mechanisms, genetic engineering acronyms, and structural biology concepts with plain-language definitions and clinical relevance.
Prime Editing
A search-and-replace gene-editing technology that writes new genetic information directly into a specified DNA site using an engineered reverse transcriptase fused to an RNA-guided nickase.
Horvath Epigenetic Clock
A biochemical test based on DNA methylation levels at specific CpG dinucleotides across the genome that accurately estimates the biological age of human cells and tissues.
PROTAC (Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera)
A heterobifunctional small molecule composed of two active domains connected by a linker: one binds the target disease protein, and the other recruits an E3 ubiquitin ligase.
Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP)
A spherical vesicle composed of ionizable cationic lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and PEGylated lipids designed to encapsulate and protect nucleic acid payloads (mRNA, siRNA, sgRNA).
Allosteric Modulation
The regulation of an enzyme or receptor by binding an effector molecule at a site other than the active catalytic site, inducing conformational shifts.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)
Synthetic engineered receptor protein that grafts an arbitrary target specificity (such as a monoclonal antibody scFv) onto an immune T-cell effector domain.
Optogenetics
Biological technique utilizing light-gated ion channels (channelrhodopsin) to stimulate or inhibit specific target neurons with millisecond temporal precision.
Spatial Transcriptomics
Method profiling gene expression while preserving 2D and 3D coordinate architecture within intact histological tissue sections.