| Term |
Definition |
| ACVM Act |
Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997. |
| ANZFA |
Australia New Zealand Food Authority. |
| Biotechnology |
Any technological application that uses biological systems, living
organisms or derivatives thereof (whether genetically modified or
not) to make or modify products or processes for general use. |
| Bt |
Bacillus thuringiensis. |
| Chromosome |
Components in a cell that contain genetic information. Each chromosome
contains numerous genes. |
| Clone |
- (of DNA): an identical copy. The term may be applied to a
fragment of DNA, a plasmid that contains a single fragment of
DNA, or a bacterium that contains such a plasmid
- (of animal or plant): an identical offspring, artificially
created by transferring an identical nucleus into a recipient
egg or by taking a cutting from a plant. Cloning need not be
artificial – identical twins are natural clones of a single
egg.
|
| Containment |
Restricting an organism or substance to a secure location or facility
to prevent escape. This includes, in respect of genetically modified
organisms, field-testing and large-scale fermentation. |
| DNA |
Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule present in the cells of living
things, which controls the structure, function and behaviour of
each cell. It carries genetic information during reproduction. |
| ERMA |
Environmental Risk Management Authority (also known as ‘the
Authority’), an independent authority set up under the HSNO
Act. |
| ERMA New Zealand |
The organisation that supports the activities of the Environmental
Risk Management Authority (ERMA). |
| Field test |
The carrying out of trials on the effects of the organism, under
conditions similar to those of the environment into which the organism
is likely to be released. The organism, or any heritable material
from it, must be retrieved or destroyed at the end of the trials.
‘Field test’ includes large-scale fermentation of micro-organisms. |
| Gene |
A sequence of DNA on a chromosome that contains an instruction
for inherited characteristics. |
| Genetic engineering (GE) |
Another term for genetic modification. |
| Genetic modification (GM) |
Using modern biotechnology to alter the genetic material of cells
or organisms in order to make them capable of making new substances
or performing new functions. Also referred to as genetic engineering. |
| Germ cells |
The reproductive cells in multicellular organisms. |
| GM |
Genetically modified or genetic modification. |
| GMO |
Genetically modified organism. A plant, animal or micro-organism
whose genes have been altered using genetic modification by the
inclusion of foreign genetic material or by the alteration of some
DNA. The foreign material may come from other individuals of the
same or a different species, or it may be synthetic. |
| Heritable material |
Viable biological material, including gametes and spores, arising
from an organism that can, without human intervention, regenerate
the organism or reproduce a new generation of the same species of
the organism. |
| HSNO Act |
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. |
| IBSC |
Institutional Biological Safety Committee. |
| In vitro |
In a test-tube or other laboratory environment. |
| In vivo |
In the living body. |
| MAF |
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (formerly Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries). |
| Medsafe |
New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. |
| OIA |
Official Information Act 1982. |
| OSH |
Occupational Safety and Health Service, Department of Labour. |
| Plasmid |
A small, circular piece of DNA found outside the chromosome in
bacteria. Plasmids are the principal tools used for inserting new
genetic information into micro-organisms or plants. |
| Release |
Under New Zealand law, ‘releasing’ a genetically modified
organism means it can be used without any environmental controls
on it, and the necessary permission has been obtained. Overseas,
‘release’ is taken to mean a commercial application
for a genetically modified organism or release onto the market,
and it may have voluntary or mandatory controls on it. |
| Somatic cell |
Any cell of a multicellular organism that will not contribute
to the production of gamates; i.e. most cells of which an organism
is made, other than germ cells. |
| WTO TRIPs |
Agreement World Trade Organisation agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. |
