Glossary of terms

A serotype refers to a subgroup of a micro-organism species such as viruses or bacteria. Group members share similar surface structures, and can be distinguished from other serotypes with different surface structures. Adenoviruses are an example of a viral serotype.

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is a molecule composed of a single strand of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which consists of two complementary strands that are connected by hydrogen bonds. In contrast, ssDNA exists as a lone strand without a complementary partner. ssDNA is involved in various biological processes, including DNA replication, transcription, and recombination. It is also used in molecular biology techniques such as DNA sequencing, DNA hybridisation, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Somatic cells include any body cell within an organism, except for the cells that arise from gametocytes (egg and sperm cells) and undifferentiated stem cells. Somatic cells are diploid cells, having two sets of chromosomes (one set inherited from each parent). They divide through mitotic division to maintain and repair tissue. While they are more susceptible to genetic mutations than stem cells or gametes, these mutations can affect the individual carrying them but are not genetically inherited by their children,

Somatic gene therapy is an approach to treat genetic diseases in patients by changing gene expression. Changes in therapy-induced gene expression impact only the patients; they are not inherited by the patients' potential children.

See Adult stem cells.

Stem cells are a type of undifferentiated or unspecialised cells that have the unique ability to develop into various specialised cell types in the body. They are characterised by their capacity for self-renewal (the ability to replicate and produce more stem cells) and their potential to differentiate into a wide range of cell types with specific functions. There are two different types of stem cells: the embryonic stem cells and the adult or somatic stem cells. Stem cells play a crucial role in development, tissue repair, and homeostasis in the adult body. They are of great interest to scientists and medical researchers because of their potential applications in regenerative medicine, including the treatment of various diseases and injuries.

Substitution is a form of genetic mutation. It refers to the replacement of one or more nucleotides ('building blocks') in a DNA sequence with different nucleotides. This can potentially alter the gene's function.

Suicide genes are a safety strategy for cell-based therapies. A drug-inducible 'switch' activates a gene whose product kills the cells. Suicide mechanisms include the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene and Caspase-9. The suicide system is stably incorporated into the cell's genome. It can be activated to kill off the cells in the event of a severe side-effect linked to the genetically engineered cells.