STEM CELL TECHNOLOGIES AND THERAPY

Antibody
Immunoglobulin structures produced in response to non-self biological material and showing high binding affinity for the target
Antigen

Specific molecular structure capable of eliciting an immune response leading to the production of antibodies

Bioassay
A system or method for interrogating a biological system
Biomarker

A biological parameter that serves to indicate a specific biological property; a biochemical feature or facet that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment.

cGMP
Current Good Manufacturing Practice 
EMEA
European Medicines Evaluation Authority
CNS
Central Nervous System
CSCB
Centre for Stem Cell Biology
Differentiation (cellular)

The progression of cell development from a more primitive state to a more mature, specialised state

Embryogenesis
The process of development leading to formation of the embryo
Feeder cell
A cell population that serves to sustain another within a culture system
GLP
Good Laboratory Practice
Glycosylation
The addition of carbohydrate groups to proteins or lipids
HESC derivation

The process of isolating the inner cell mass of the embryo and obtaining a self-perpetuating populating of HESCs from it

HFEA
Human Fertilization and Embryo Authority
ICM

Inner cell mass: a group of pluripotent cells found within the blastocyst stage of the early embryo

In vivo
In the body (of a living organism)
In vitro
In glass: in culture systems
IP
Intellectual property
Karyotype

The gross chromosomal complement of a cell, including number, and any specific rearrangements of chromosome structure

Lectin
Carbohydrate-binding protein molecules
Line (cell)

A self perpetuating (dividing) population of cells, usually of the same type and often clonal

Lineage types

A pathway of differentiation leading to a restricted repertoire of cell types

Methylation (of DNA)
The enzymatic addition of methyl (CH3) groups to cytosine nucleotides of DNA
PCR

Polymerase chain reaction: a method for exponentially amplifying regions of DNA using short DNA primer sequences that are extended by a thermostable DNA polymerase in a multiple phase reaction (in commercial terms is the term ‘PCR’ copyrighted?)

Phenotype
The observable characteristics of an organism or cell
Plasmid

Non-chromosomal DNA element capable of replication

Pluripotent
Capable of differentiation along multiple lineages
Proliferating factor
A chemical or biological agent that promotes cell division
Promoter

A region of DNA sequence to which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription for gene expression

Regenerative medicine
Restoration of function of damaged organs, tissues or structures within the body by cell or cell targeting therapies
Reporter system
A system established to identify and measure the activity of specific signalling or other systems within a cell.  Commonly this might include a genetic construct that includes a regulatory element that is responsive to the signalling system to be measured, driving expression of a gene the product of which can easily be assayed (e.g. green fluorescent protein)
RNAi
Ribonucleic acid inhibition; degradation of specific single stranded messenger RNA within a cell induced by double-stranded RNA showing homology to the targeted sequence
SOP
Standard operating procedures; documented protocols pertaining to a specific process that are implemented to ensure uniformity
Transdifferentiation
The transition of a cell from one lineage to another