Agricultural sector
Uses advanced plant breeding techniques to introduce beneficial traits to crops grown for food and fiber. Tools allow plant breeders to select genes that produce beneficial traits and move them from one plant to another. Benefits include increased production, decreased costs, and higher nutritional value.
Agricultural waste
A vast amount of waste product known as biomass is produced from the agriculture industry. These may include: animal byproducts, stalks from processed corn, or pesticide residue.
Alkaline cellulase
Enzyme used in detergents that helps reduce disadvantages like degradation of the fabric, loss of strength, and "back staining" (discoloration of the white weft yarn and reddening of original indigo stain).
Amino acids
A group of 20 different kinds of small molecules that link together in long chains to form proteins. Often referred to as the "building blocks" of proteins. The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines the structure and function of the protein.
Amylase
An enzyme that digests starch, removing the residue of starchy foods.
Animal feed
A rapidly growing market for enzymes. The common protein sources used in animal feeds are deficient in certain essential amino acids; they are added through the biotechnology methods as supplements for poultry, pigs, etc.
Antibody
A blood protein that is produced in response to and counteracts an antigen. Antibodies are produced in disease states and help the body fight against the particular disease.
Antigens
A foreign substance that can stimulate an immune response when introduced into the body.
Ascorbic acid
A natural antioxidant which traps oxygen; used in beverage processing such as beer manufacturing to reduce oxygen.
Autoimmune disorders
A disease whereby an individual's immune system mounts an attack on a portion of its own tissues. Tissues undergoing such an attack can be destroyed in the process. Rheumatoid arthritis is an example of an autoimmune disease.
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Biocatalysts
In bioprocessing, an enzyme that activates or speeds up a biochemical reaction. Developed by industrial biotechnology companies to be used in chemical synthesis.
Biodiversity
The variety of life in all its forms, levels, and combinations. Includes ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.
Biofinishing
A characteristic that gives textiles such things as a stonewashed or sand washed look.
Bioinformatics
The science of informatics as applied to biological research. Informatics is the management and analysis of data using advanced computing techniques.
Biomass
A vast amount of waste product of plant or animal origin. An abundant and inexpensive source of renewable fuel.
Biomaterials
Biologically derived materials or bio based materials (eg, proteins, complex sugars), used to make among other things medical devices, including structural elements used in reconstructive surgery.
Biopharmaceuticals
Biopharmaceuticals are proteins produced by living organisms that have medical or diagnostic uses.
Bioprocess
A process in which living cells, or components thereof, are used to produce a desired product.
Biotechnology
The application of biological research techniques to the development of products that improve human health, animal health, and agriculture.
Building block
An element or component contributing to the growth of a system. Amino Acids are building blocks for proteins.
Byproducts
Other substances produced during the manufacture or production of a desired product.
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Carbohydrate
A chemical compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Starch, sugar, and cellulose are the most common carbohydrates that supply energy.
Catalyst
A substance that speeds up a reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change.
Cellulase
An enzyme that breaks down cellulose, the primary component of plants. Cellulases are used in the textile industry to give denim a stonewashed look, prevent pilling, and improve texture of clothes.
Chemical synthesis
The construction of complex chemical compounds from simpler ones. A synthesis usually is undertaken for one of three reasons:
- To meet an industrial demand for a product
- To determine structures of compounds that occur naturally
- To obtain a compound of specific structure that does not occur naturally and has not previously been made in order to examine the properties of the compound.
Crop-based sources
Raw materials taken from crops; ie, Soya beans used to develop products like diesel fuels or fabric softeners; corn, beets, or rice used to develop feed stocks; sugar used for alcohol.
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DesignPath®
Genencor’s approach to metabolic pathway engineering; it is the integration of a variety of tools including genomics and functional genomics.
Desizing
In textiles: the removal of the sizing (starch sizing is used to strengthen warp yarns in order to speed up the weaving process) with amylases.
Directed molecular evolution
A laboratory process whereby mechanisms employed during "natural" selection are employed at the molecular and single-cell level to cause and then identify evolutionary adaptations to novel environmental challenges. This often includes deliberate modification of genetic sequences.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
A macromolecule composed of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous present in the nucleus of a cell. It is the genetic material of most livings organisms.
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Enzyme
A protein that catalyzes a biochemical reaction, usually speeding it up. Enzymes are vital components of any living organism.
Enzyme substrate
A substrate is a substance that is acted upon by the enzyme in a biochemical reaction. The enzyme binds its substrate by forming weak chemical bonds with it. Since these bonds break rapidly it is a readily reversible reaction and so the enzyme, substrate, and enzyme-substrate complex exist in a state of equilibrium. If one examines all the enzyme molecules individually at one time, one would find that a proportion of them exist as free enzyme molecules, while the remainder exist bound to substrate molecules, in the form of an enzyme-substrate complex.
Enzyme-catalyzed reactions
Biochemical reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes leading to the building or breaking down of biological material.
Enzymology
The branch of biochemistry that studies enzymes.
Ethanol
The most widely used renewable biofuel today. Ethanol is made by converting starch crops into sugars, the sugars are fermented into ethanol which is then distilled into its final form. Its main uses are to enhance vehicle performance and as a fuel oxygenate to improve the emissions profile of gasoline.
Expression technology
In industrial biotechnology, expression technology is used to mean the production of a protein by a gene that has been inserted into a new host organism.
Extremophile
Microorganisms that live optimally at relatively extreme levels of acidity, salinity, temperature, and pressure; discovered through bio-prospecting. Enzymes isolated from these organisms are used in some industrial manufacturing processes.
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Filamentous fungi
Filamentous fungi are microorganisms that grow as long, multi-celled strands (filaments). These filaments can combine to form larger masses like mushrooms or toadstools. The production of valuable molecules and materials by genetically engineered fungi has tremendous potential in industrial, medicinal, agricultural, and basic science.
Formulation delivery system
A system in which final products (biomaterials) are formulated in a manner customized for the intended use by the customer. These formulations protect biomaterials against harsh chemical and environmental conditions.
Fossil fuels
Fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas that we rely on for the majority of our energy.
Fuel ethanol
A liquid transportation fuel, which accounts for roughly two thirds of world ethyl alcohol. Most bioethanol is made from sugar cane, corn, and other starch crops. Significant progress is being made by industries like Genencor to develop technologies to obtain fuel ethanol from cellulosic material (biomass).
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Gelatin solution
A transparent protein material - made from boiling animal hides, bone, and cartilage - that forms a firm gel when mixed with water. It is used in foods, medicine, glue, and photography.
Gene
The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
Genetic code
The instructions in a gene that tell the cell how to make a specific protein. A, T, G, and C are the "letters" of the DNA code; they stand for the chemicals adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, respectively, that make up the nucleotide bases of DNA. Each gene's code combines the four chemicals in various ways to spell out 3-letter "words" that specify which amino acid is needed at every step in making a protein.
Genetically engineered enzymes (GMOs)
Enzymes derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are obtained by altering the genetic material of cells or organisms in order to make them capable of making new substances or performing new functions. GMO-derived enzymes are used primarily in laundry and dish washing detergents; and as aids in food processing.
Genomics
The study of the genetic content of an organism.
Glucose isomerase
A bacterial enzyme, routinely used in the production of high-fructose syrups. Protein engineering of glucose isomerase has led to improved performance under normal operating conditions, at elevated temperatures, and at lower pH levels.
Granulation
The process of forming granules (small grains or particles) from a chemical.
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Hazardous waste
A subset of solid wastes that pose potential threats to public health or the environment and meet any of the following criteria: is specifically listed as a hazardous waste by EPA; exhibits one or more of the characteristics of hazardous wastes (ignitability, corrosiveness, reactivity, and/or toxicity); is generated by the treatment of hazardous waste; or is contained in a hazardous waste.
Hemicellulases
Cellulose-degrading enzymes that are used to improve and standardize the quality of bread in the baking industry (softness, volume, crumb quality) and bleach in the pulp and paper industry (to decrease chemical costs, reduce harmful compounds in the environment, and help achieve higher pulp brightness).
Heterologous proteins
Different proteins.
High-fructose corn syrup
A natural sweetener made by converting glucose (produced from corn) to fructose.
High-throughput screening
Automated robotic systems which allow scientists to automatically search and screen gene sequences.
Hormone
A chemical or protein that acts as a messenger or stimulatory signal, relaying instructions to stop or start certain physiological processes. Hormones are synthesized in one type of cell and then released to direct the function of other cell types.
Host production organism
A cell or organism used for growth of a virus, plasmid, or other forms of foreign DNA, or for the production of proteins from cloned genes.
Hypoallergenic
Not likely to cause an allergic reaction.
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i-biotech®
An approach developed by Genencor to address the complexity inherent in the commercialization of biomaterials (for application in the health care, agricultural and industrial chemical markets). i-biotech integrates several related technology platforms that we apply to the discovery, optimization, production, and delivery of biomaterials.
Immunology
Study of all phenomena related to the body's response to antigenic challenge (ie, immunity, sensitivity, and allergy).
Industrial biocatalysts
Biocatalysts used in industrial processes (generally referring to enzymes).
Industrial biotechnology
Application of biotechnology to create new and alternative bio-products for consumers. Key areas include chemicals, textiles and leather, food and animal feed, pulp and paper, the energy industry, metals, and minerals.
Industrial Chemicals
Chemicals used for industrial processes; includes commodity chemicals, pharmaceuticals, specialty and fine chemicals, plastics, and enzymes.
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L-threonine
One of the essential amino acids.
L-tryptophan
One of the essential amino acids.
Lipase
An enzyme used to digest fats and remove greasy stains.
Liquefaction
The first major step in the conversion of starch to syrup. The starch as a raw material comes as dry matter and needs to be first gelatinized and liquefied to make it susceptible to further enzymatic breakdown. This is achieved by adding a temperature-stable enzyme to the starch suspension. The mechanical part of the process involves the use of stirred tank reactors, continuous stirred tank reactors or jet cookers.
Low allergenicity
Little or no potential for human allergic response.
Lysine
An amino acid with a pharmacological use much more specific than that of most other amino acids. So far, supplementation of l-lysine is one of the best options available for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, especially oral forms. Also ensures the adequate absorption of calcium, helps form collagen (which makes up bone cartilage and connective tissues), and aids in the production of antibodies, hormones, and enzymes.
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Metabolic engineering
A process used to modify host production organisms so they will produce small molecules and chemicals, or biochemicals.
Microbe
Any organism that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope. Also called microorganism.
Microorganism
Living cell seen only with the aid of a powerful microscope. A general term referring to bacteria, molds, and yeasts.
Molecular biology
A branch of biological science that studies the biology of a cell at the molecular level. Molecular biological studies are directed at studying the structure and function of biological macromolecules and the relationship of their functioning to the structure of a cell and its internal components, including nuclei, cell membranes, and mitochondria.
Molecular evolution and design
The process or set of tools by which we accelerate the natural evolutionary process in order to engineer or optimize gene products for customer needs.
Mutator Technology®
A technology whereby the host production organism is adapted/mutated to allow economical, high level production of the desired biochemicals.
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Organic chemicals
Raw materials of the chemical industry such as acetone, glycerol, and alcohols. These are key components for the development and production of substances like explosives, resins, plastics, and fibers.
Organism
A living being whose physiological functions are carried out by subunits, or "organs" (like a heart or a liver), which are separate in function but mutually dependent.
Oxidase
Enzymes that catalyze the transfer of hydrogen from a donor molecule to oxygen in an acceptor molecule. Oxidative enzymes (eg, glucose oxidase) can partially replace the use of chemical oxidants and thus achieve better bread quality. Enzymes such as oxidases can directly or indirectly improve the strength of the gluten network and so improve the quality of the finished bread.
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Pathogen
Disease-causing organism.
Peptides
Two or more amino acids chained together by a bond called a "peptide bond."
Petrochemical
A commercially-used chemical derived from petroleum or natural gas.
Phosphates
Derived from the mineral apatite; any salt or ester formed by the reaction of a metal, alcohol, or other radical with phosphoric acid.
Product stewardship
Part of the sustainability management system. Includes working with customers and ensuring safety in terms of product use and disposal.
Protease
Enzymes that are involved in the breakdown of proteins. They are the most widely used enzymes in detergents; it removes protein stains from egg, grass, blood, and sweat. Also used to treat wool and raw silk.
Protein
A large complex molecule made up of one or more chains of amino acids. Proteins perform a wide variety of activities in the cell.
Protein engineering
Protein engineering is a technology tool set used to optimize properties of a protein to tailor it to specific applications. Protein engineering technology will often be used in conjunction with genetic modification to improve existing proteins, usually enzymes, and to create proteins not found in nature. These new and improved proteins will encourage the development of ecologically sustainable industrial processes because they are renewable, biodegradable resources.
Protein processing
Modification of a protein such that the protein may be cleaved to form the mature protein or peptide; amino acid residues may become modified, such as by addition of other groups. The polypeptide must be folded into its active three-dimensional conformation; the polypeptide may travel to a destination other than the one in which it was synthesized; or the polypeptide may be targeted for degradation. Following their synthesis most proteins undergo some form of protein processing within the cell.
Protein production
A process that covers all aspects of protein formation right from its gene expression to the production of the final product. Within a cell, this process is achieved through adjustments of cell physiology, post-translational processing, and secretion of the final product.
Proteomics
The study of proteins.
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Raw materials
A natural, unprocessed material used in a manufacturing process.
Recombinant enzymes
Enzymes derived from recombinant DNA technology as opposed to naturally occurring enzymes.
Renewable resources
Resources that can be sustained or renewed indefinitely, either because of inexhaustible supplies or because of new growth.
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Secretion technology
The capability to manipulate microorganisms to accept and express foreign genes to produce proteins encoded by them.
Sorghum
One of two cereal grasses, Sorghum vulgare or S. bicolor, with broad, cornlike leaves, and a tall stem; cultivated mainly for stock feed and syrup.
Substrate
A substrate is a substance that is acted upon by the enzyme in a biochemical reaction. Depending on the type of enzyme, the substrate is uniquely modified to yield the product.
Sustainability
A goal that aims towards preserving quality interactions with the local environment, economy, and social system.
Sustainable development
Developing policies and programs that contribute to the sustainability of a company.
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Textile enzymes
Enzymes used for treatment of yarn, fabric, and garments in wet processing operations such as pretreatment, including desizing, scouring, and bleaching; and finishing operations including surface improvement of fabric and treatment of garments for surface effects, for example in denim processing.
Transgenic model
An organism whose genome has been altered by the inclusion of foreign genetic material. This foreign genetic material may be derived from other individuals of the same species or from wholly different species. Genetic material may also be of an artificial nature.
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Vitamins
A group of essential micronutrients.
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X-ray crystallography
Study of the molecular structure of crystalline compounds through X-ray diffraction techniques. When an X-ray beam bombards a crystal, the atomic structure of the crystal causes the beam to scatter in a specific pattern.
Xylanase
An enzyme that breaks down the non-starch components of complex carbohydrates. These are used in animal feed and added to cereal-based diets to aid the efficiency of carbohydrate breakdown. Also used in the pulp and paper industry to cut and remove hemicelluloses from fibers.
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