Medications

DNA splicing, alternative: See Alternative splicing. Last Editorial Review: 11/7/2002 Alternative splicing: A mechanism by which different forms of mature mRNAs (messengers RNAs) are generated from the same gene. Alternative splicing is a regulato...

DNA sequence, finished - Medical

DNA sequence, finished: A DNA sequence in which the bases are identified to an accuracy of no more than 1 error in 10,000 and are placed in the right order and orientation along a chromosome with almost no gaps. A finished sequence is as opposed to a...

DNA sequence, draft - Medical

DNA sequence, draft: Sequence of a DNA with less accuracy than a finished sequence. In a draft sequence, some segments are missing or are in the wrong order or are oriented incorrectly. A draft sequence is as opposed to a finished DNA sequence.Last E...

DNA sequence - Medical

DNA sequence: The precise ordering of the bases (A,T,G,C) from which the DNA is composed. DNA sequencing involves determining the exact order of the base pairs in a segment of DNA. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

DNA replication - Medical

DNA replication: A wondrous complex process whereby the ("parent") strands of DNA in the double helix are separated and each one is copied to produce a new ("daughter") strand. This process is said to be "semi-conservative...

DNA repair pathway - Medical

DNA repair pathway: The sequence of steps in the repair of DNA. Each step is governed by an enzyme. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

DNA repair gene, Med1 - Medical

DNA repair gene, Med1: A gene that codes for one of the key enzymes involved in repairing DNA. The DNA in genes is constantly mutating and being repaired. This repair process is controlled by special genes. A mutation in a DNA repair gene such as Med...

DNA repair gene - Medical

DNA repair gene: A gene engaged in DNA repair. When a DNA repair gene is impaired, mutations pile up throughout the DNA. The DNA in genes is constantly mutating and being repaired. This repair process is controlled by special genes. A mutation i...

DNA repair - Medical

DNA repair: The body has a series of special enzymes to repair mutations (changes) in the DNA and restore the DNA to its original state. The DNA in genes is constantly mutating and being repaired. This repair process is controlled by special g...

DNA polymerase - Medical

DNA polymerase: Enzyme that catalyzes (speeds) the polymerization of DNA. DNA polymerase uses preexisting nucleic acid templates and assembles the DNA from deoxyribonucleotides. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Enzyme: A protein ...

DNA molecules, recombinant - Medical

DNA molecules, recombinant: A combination of DNA molecules of different origin that are joined using recombinant DNA technology.Last Editorial Review: 3/26/1998 2:24:00 PM...

DNA forensics - Medical

DNA forensics: The application of DNA technology and the knowledge of DNA genetics to the practice of forensic medicine and to the power of legal medicine. Crime scene investigation has been markedly changed -- some would say revolutionized --...

DNA cloning - Medical

DNA cloning: The use of DNA manipulation procedures to produce multiple copies of a single gene or segment of DNA.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

DNA assembly - Medical

DNA assembly: The process of putting fragments of DNA that have been sequenced into their correct chromosomal positions. The pieces of DNA are assembled to reconstitute the sequence of the chromosome from which they came. Last Editorial Review: 4/8/...

DNA amplification - Medical

DNA amplification: The production of multiple copies of a sequence of DNA. Repeated copying of a piece of DNA. DNA amplification plays a role in cancer cells. A tumor cell amplifies, or copies, DNA segments as a result of cell signals and sometime...

DNA (figurative) - Medical

DNA (figurative): The essence or master blueprint of something. Since DNA became widely known to be the genetic material of humans and many other organisms, the term DNA has moved into the popular domaine as a figurative synonym for the basic bluepri...

DNA (did not attend) - Medical

DNA (did not attend): In the UK, DNA is an abbreviation for "did not attend." (In the US, the term used for a patient who missed an appointment is "no-show.")Last Editorial Review: 7/6/2000 5:51:00 AM...

DNA - Medical

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid. One of two types of molecules that encode genetic information. (The other is RNA. In humans DNA is the genetic material; RNA is transcribed from it. In some other organisms, RNA is the genetic material and, in reverse fa...

DMD (dystonia musculorum deformans) - Medical

DMD dystonia musculorum deformans): Also called torsion dystonia, this is a rare, generalized dystonia (a state of abnormal -- either excessive of inadequate -- muscle tone) that can be inherited, usually begins in childhood, and becomes progressivel...

DM2 - Medical

DM2: Myotonic dystrophy type 2. See also: Myotonic dystrophy. Last Editorial Review: 9/26/2004 Myotonic dystrophy, type 2: An inherited disorder of the muscles and other body systems characterized by progressive muscle weakness, prolonged muscle co...

DM1 - Medical

DM1: Type 1 myotonic dystrophy. See: Myotonic dystrophy.Last Editorial Review: 9/15/2003 Myotonic dystrophy: An inherited disease in which the muscles contract but have decreasing power to relax -- this phenomenon is termed myotonia (irritability a...

DM - Medical

DM: Myotonic dystrophy.Last Editorial Review: 9/15/2003 Myotonic dystrophy: An inherited disease in which the muscles contract but have decreasing power to relax -- this phenomenon is termed myotonia (irritability and prolonged contraction of muscl...

DLI - Medical

DLI: Donor lymphocyte infusion.Last Editorial Review: 9/30/2004 Donor lymphocyte infusion: (DLI) A cancer treatment in which lymphocytes from a bone marrow donor are infused into the person who received the original bone marrow transplant. The goal ...

DKK1 - Medical

DKK1: A gene that inhibits the activity of osteoblasts, the cells that build bone. DKK1 acts by inhibiting Wnt signaling, which is essential for the growth and development of osteoblasts. DKK1 is overexpressed in the plasma cells in multiple mye...

Dizziness, pre-syncopal - Medical

Dizziness, pre-syncopal: Dizziness before fainting. Some symptoms of dizziness such as wooziness, feeling about to black out, and tunnel vision may be pre-syncopal and are due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. These symptoms are typically wor...

Dizziness, anxiety as a cause of - Medical

Dizziness, anxiety as a cause of: One cause of dizziness is overbreathing (hyperventilation) due to anxiety. The overbreathing also causes lightheadedness, a sense of unsteadiness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips. Relief can be gotten...

Dizygotic twin - Medical

Dizygotic twin: A twins who have shared a common uterine environment with its twin but is due to a different fertilized ovum. Dizygotic twins are also called fraternal twins.Last Editorial Review: 3/26/1998 2:24:00 PM...

Diving injury - Medical

Diving injury: An injury incurred from diving into water that is too shallow or has hidden hazards. These injuries may be to the head, neck, or spinal cord. Many diving injuries result when persons --predominantly males aged 15-25 years -- plunge i...

Diverticulum, Zenker - Medical

Diverticulum, Zenker: See: Zenker diverticulum.Last Editorial Review: 2/22/2004 Zenker diverticulum: The most common type of outpouching in the esophagus, due to increased pressure causing the mucous membrane of the esophagus to herniate through...

Diverticulum, pharyngoesophageal - Medical

Diverticulum, pharyngoesophageal: See: Zenker diverticulum.Last Editorial Review: 2/22/2004 Zenker diverticulum: The most common type of outpouching in the esophagus, due to increased pressure causing the mucous membrane of the esophagus to her...