Appendix B 



Glossary of Terms 



Artificial insemination: A breeding technique, 

 commonly used in domestic animals, in which 

 semen is introduced into the female reproduc- 

 tive tract by artificial means. 



Biochemical analysis: The analysis of proteins or 

 DNA using various techniques, including elec- 

 trophoretic testing and restriction fragment length 

 polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. These techniques 

 are useful methods for assessing plant diversity 

 and have also been used to identify many strains 

 of micro-organisms. 



Biogeography: A branch of geography that deals 

 with the geographical distribution of animals and 

 plants. 



Biological diversity: The variety and variability 

 among living organisms and the ecological com- 

 plexes in which they occur. 



Biologically unique species: A species that is the 

 only representative of an entire genus or family. 



Biosphere reserves: Established under UNESCO's 

 Man in the Biosphere (MAB) Program, biosphere 

 reserves are a series of protected areas linked 

 through a global network, intended to demon- 

 strate the relationship between conservation and 

 development. 



Biota: The living organisms of a region. 



Biotechnology: Techniques that use living organ- 

 isms or substances from organisms to make or 

 modify a product. The most recent advances in 

 biotechnology involve the use of recombinant 

 DNA techniques and other sophisticated tools to 

 harness and manipulate genetic materials. 



Breed: A group of animals or plants related by de- 

 scent from common ancestors and visibly simi- 

 lar in most characteristics. Taxonomically, a spe- 

 cies can have numerous breeds. 



Breeding line: Genetic lines of particular signifi- 

 cance to plant or animal breeders that provide 

 the basis for modern varieties. 



Buffer zones: Areas on the edge of protected areas 

 that have land use controls and allow only activ- 

 ities compatible with protection of the core area, 

 such as research, environmental education, rec- 

 reation, and tourism. 



Captive breeding: The propagation or preservation 

 of animals outside their natural habitat, involv- 

 ing control by humans of the animals chosen to 

 constitute a population and of mating choices 

 within that population. 



Centers of diversity: The regions where most of 

 the major crop species were originally domesti- 

 cated and developed. These regions may coin- 

 cide with centers of origin. 



Chromatography: A chemical analysis technique 

 whereby an extract of compounds is separated 

 by allowing it to migrate over or through an 

 adsorbent (such as clay or paper) so that the com- 

 pounds are distinguished as separate layers. 



Clonal propagation: The multiplication of an organ- 

 ism by asexual means such that all progeny are 

 genetically identical. In plants, it is commonly 

 achieved through use of cuttings or in vitro cul- 

 ture. For animals, embryo splitting is a method 

 of clonal propagation. 



Community: A group of ecologically related popu- 

 lations of various species of organisms occurring 

 in a particular place and time. 



Critical habitats: A technical classification of areas 

 in the United States that refers to habitats essen- 

 tial for the conservation of endangered or threat- 

 ened species. The term may be used to designate 

 portions of habitat areas, the entire area, or even 

 areas outside the current range of the species. 



Cryogenic storage: The preservation of seeds, se- 

 men, embryos, or micro-organisms at extremely 

 low temperatures, below — 130° C. At these tem- 

 peratures, water is absent, molecular kinetic 

 energy is low, diffusion is virtually nil, and stor- 

 age potential is expected to be extremely long. 



Cryopreservation: See cryogenic storage. 



Cultivar: International term denoting certain cul- 

 tivated plants that are clearly distinguishable 

 from others by one or more characteristics and 

 that when reproduced retain their distinguish- 

 ing characteristics. In the United States, "vari- 

 ety" is considered to be synonymous with cuUi- 

 var (derived from "cultivated variety"). 



Cutting: A plant piece (stem, leaf, or root) removed 

 from a parent plant that is capable of developing 

 into a new plant. 



Cycad: Any of an order of gymnosperms of the fam- 

 ily cycadaceae. Cycads are tropical plants that 

 resemble palms but reproduce by means of sper- 

 matozoids. 



Database: An organized collection of data that can 

 be used for analysis. 



DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid. The nucleic acid in 

 chromosomes that codes for genetic information. 



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