Glossary Plant Breeding

production were also added to the TM. The mission ended by the end of ninth fiveyear
plan.
Telocentric Chromosome. A chromosome having the centromere (placed) at one end.
Telomerase. An enzyme that acts from telomeric end; an enzyme that adds repetitive
units to the ends of linear chromosomes to prevent shortening after replication, by
using a special small RNA as a template. By way of its action, it shortens the length
of a chromosome. Cancerous cells do not have this enzyme.
Telomere. The tip (or end) of a chromosome. It consists of repetitive units of nucleotides,
which possibly confer non-sticky property to the telomere.
Telophase. The last stage in cell division during which daughter chromosomes reach
towards respective poles and daughter nuclei re-form.
Telotrisomics. An otherwise diploid individual carrying a telocentric chromosome as the
extra one (2n + telocentric chromosome). The total number of telotrisomics amounts
to 2n.
Temperate Phage. A phage that can become a prophage.
Temperature-sensitive Mutation. A conditional mutation that produces the mutant
phenotype in one temperature range and the wild-type phenotype in another
temperature range.
Template. Amolecularmold that shapes the structure or sequence of another molecule.
For instance, the nucleotide sequence of DNA acts as a template to control the
nucleotide sequence of RNA during transcription.
Teosinte Theory (Beadle 1939). An accepted theory for evolution of maize. According
to it, modern maize was derived directly by human selection from teosinte (Zea
mexicana L.). Several scientists and findings in the course of time have substantiated
this old theory.
Teratogen. An agent that interferes with normal development.
Terminalization. A process by which chiasma move towards either end of the paired
homologues.
Terminator Codon. A chain terminating stop codon.
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