Knockout

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Knockout

Knockout (pronunciation: /ˈnɒkaʊt/) is a term used in various fields of medicine, particularly in genetics and neurology.

Etymology

The term "knockout" originates from the English language, where it is used to describe a situation where something is completely removed or defeated. In the context of medicine, it refers to the process of deactivating or "knocking out" a specific gene or neuron to study its effects.

Definition

In Genetics, a knockout is a genetic technique in which one of an organism's genes is made inoperative ("knocked out" of the organism). Also known as knockout organisms or simply knockouts, they are used in learning about a gene that has been sequenced, but whose function is unknown or incompletely understood.

In Neurology, knockout can refer to a method where specific neurons or groups of neurons are deactivated to observe any changes in an organism's behavior. This is often used in research to understand the function of specific brain regions.

Related Terms

  • Gene: The basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Knockouts are created by manipulating genes.
  • Neuron: A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are often the target of knockout techniques in neurology.
  • Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism. The genome is often studied using knockout organisms.
  • Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. The phenotype of knockout organisms is often studied to understand the function of the knocked-out gene.

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