Glossary
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A2A receptors
signalling molecule found on brain cells and blocked by caffeine
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AAV
a virus that can be used to deliver gene therapy drugs to cells. AAV stands for adeno-associated virus.
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acetyl
a chemical tag that can be added to proteins or removed from them
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aggregate
Lumps of protein that form inside cells in Huntington’s disease and some other degenerative diseases
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Allele
one of the two copies of a gene
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alpha-1
a protein which is faulty in a genetic disease called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which affects the lived and lungs
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amino acid
the building blocks that proteins are made from
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Amygdala
A small brain area, in the temporal lobe, important for emotions and response to fear.
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amyloid
The main protein that builds up in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients
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anti-sense
the half of the DNA double-helix that is mostly used as a backup, but sometimes produces message molecules
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Antioxidant
a chemical that can 'mop up' harmful chemicals produced when cells release energy from food
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apoptosis
A type of cell death where the cell uses specialized signals to kill itself
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ASOs
A type of gene silencing treatment in which specially designed DNA molecules are used to switch off a gene
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axon
long extensions of neurons, that act like electrical wires to carry signals in the nervous system.
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BAC
an abbreviation for 'bacterial artificial chromosome'
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BACE1
The gene for a protein called beta secretase 1, which thought to be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease
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BACHD
a mouse model of Huntington's disease that develops symptoms slowly. BAC stands for bacterial artificial chromosome, referring to the way the HD gene was put into the mouse.
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BDNF
brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a growth factor that may be able to protect neurons in HD
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biomarker
a test of any kind – including blood tests, thinking tests and brain scans – that can measure or predict the progression of a disease like HD. Biomarkers may make clinical trials of new drugs quicker and more reliable.
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blood-brain barrier
A natural barrier, made from reinforcements to blood vessels, that prevents many chemicals from getting into the brain from the bloodstream
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bone marrow
The gooey stuff in the middle of bones, that manufactures blood cells. When eaten, gives dogs a healthy coat and vitality
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caffeine
stimulant chemical found in tea, coffee and soft drinks like cola
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CAG repeat
The stretch of DNA at the beginning of the HD gene, which contains the sequence CAG repeated many times, and is abnormally long in people who will develop HD
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Cas
The bit of a gene-editing system that cuts the DNA. It's a type of protein called a nuclease. Cas is short for 'CRISPR-associated'.
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caspase inhibitor
A drug that reduces the activity of caspases, the enzymes that snip huntingtin protein up so it can enter the nucleus and cause problems
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CED
convection-enhanced delivery, a way of using pressure to spread drugs further in the brain
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cervix
the neck of the uterus (womb)
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chaperone
chaperone proteins help other proteins to fold correctly, and can protect proteins against damage
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chorea
Involuntary, irregular ‘fidgety’ movements that are common in HD
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chorionic villus sampling
A medical procedure used to get a sample of DNA from a developing baby during pregnancy. A needle passed through the skin of the abdomen, or through the cervix, is used to collect tissue from the placenta.
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chromosomes
Long strings of genes, tightly coiled into packages of DNA inside cells. Each cell's DNA is stored as 46 chromosomes. The HD gene is on chromosome 4. Each chromosome has two copies, one inherited from each parent.
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cilia
Hair-like protrusions on the surface of cells
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circadian
a circadian rhythm is something that repeats every day, like the body's sleep-wake cycle
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clinical trial
Very carefully planned experiments designed to answer specific questions about how a drug affects human beings
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coenzyme-Q10
a nutritional supplement that has some anti-oxidant properties
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cohort
a group of participants in a clinical research study
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CRISPR
A system for editing DNA in precise ways
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cross-sectional study
A study where each participant is looked at only once – unlike in a longitudinal study, where each participant is looked at several times over a time period
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CSF
A clear fluid produced by the brain, which surrounds and supports the brain and spinal cord.
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Cyclic-AMP
a chemical found in neurons that responds to stimulation and is important for learning and memory
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Cyclic-GMP
a chemical found in neurons that responds to stimulation and is important for learning and memory
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cytokine
a signalling chemical of the immune system
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cytoplasm
A part of a cell including everything inside the cell and outside the nucleus; where most of the cell's work happens
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deep brain stimulation
direct stimulation of the brain using electrical impulses through tiny wires.
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dendritic cell
A type of cell that comes from bone marrow and is part of the immune system
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differentiate
differentiation is the process of one cell type turning into another cell type.
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DNA fingerprinting
a method of discovering what chromosome came from what parent or grandparent, without testing for the HD genetic mutation.
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dominant
A genetic condition that only requires one copy of a mutation to occur
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dopamine
A signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) involved in movement control, mood and motivation
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dystonia
sustained involuntary muscle contractions, a bit like chorea but lasting longer
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efficacy
A measure of whether a treatment works or not
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embryo
the earliest stage during the development of a baby, when it consists of just a few cells
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Endoplasmic Reticulum
part of the cell that, among other things, stores excess calcium
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endpoint
A specific outcome or measurement that researchers use to assess the effectiveness or safety of a treatment. Endpoints are predefined before the trial begins and can be either primary (the main result the trial is designed to evaluate, such as improvement in symptoms) or secondary (additional outcomes of interest, such as quality of life or biomarker changes).
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enteric nervous system
The collective name for the neurons found in the stomach and intestines.
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ependymal cells
Cells that line the cavities of the brain
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epigenetic
Referring to changes in gene activity caused by chemical tags on DNA or its packaging, without altering the DNA sequence—these changes can affect how cells read and use genes.
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epigenome
The collection of chemical tags on DNA and its packaging that control which genes are turned on or off—like switches that affect how the genetic instructions are used without changing the DNA sequence itself.
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excitotoxic
the death of neurons due to overstimulation
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exclusion testing
an optional add-on to prenatal testing, where DNA from parents and grandparents is compared with the DNA of the embryo or fetus. Exclusion testing means that the at-risk parent doesn't have to have an HD genetic test to have HD-free children.
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Exons
The small fraction of our DNA that is directly used to instruct cells how to make proteins
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exosome
Tiny bubble-like particles produced by cells that can transfer chemicals to other cells
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expression profiling
a technique that allows measurement of the activation levels of many thousands of genes at once
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fetus
a developing baby in the womb
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Food and Drug Administration
The government regulatory authority in the US responsible for approving new drugs
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frontotemporal dementia
a degenerative brain disease that can cause problems with speech and behavior
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GABA
A chemical the brain uses to signal 'slow down' from one brain cell to another
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Ganglioside
a type of fat with important roles in the brain, decreased in HD patient brains
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GDNF
glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor: a growth factor that protects neurons in Parkinson’s Disease, and maybe HD
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gene silencing
An approach to treating HD that uses targeted molecules to tell cells not to produce the harmful huntingtin protein
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genetic engineering
A technique used by scientists to alter the genes (DNA) of an animal or other organism, so that its cells produce different proteins and behave differently
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genome
the name given to all the genes that contain the complete instructions for making a person or other organism
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Genome Editing
The use of zinc-finger nucleases to make changes in DNA. 'Genome' is a word for all the DNA we each have.
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glossary
These popups will explain any technical terms we have to use.
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glutamate
a signalling chemical in the brain, or 'neurotransmitter'
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glutamine
the amino acid building block that is repeated too many times at the beginning of the mutant huntingtin protein
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growth factor
chemicals produced by the brain that help neurons to survive
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HDAC
histone de-acetylases (HDACs) are machines that remove acetyl tags from histones, causing them to release the DNA they're attached to
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heat shock response
a defensive strategy that cells can activate when in danger or under stress. The heat shock response includes the production of more chaperone proteins, to help protect other proteins.
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hippocampus
the seahorse-shaped part of the brain that's crucial for memory
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histone
special proteins that our DNA wraps around to stabilize and protect it
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hormone
Chemical messengers, produced by glands and released into the blood, that alter how other parts of the body behave
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HTT
one abbreviation for the gene that causes Huntington’s disease. The same gene is also called HD and IT-15
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HTTAS
the anti-sense (backwards) version of the HTT gene
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huntingtin protein
The protein produced by the HD gene.
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Hydrophilic
'water loving' – chemicals that mix well with water are hydrophilic
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Hydrophobic
'water hating' – chemicals that do not mix well with water are hydrophobic
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hypothalamus
A tiny brain region with important roles in controlling the body’s hormones and metabolism
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In vitro fertilization
A medical procedure where eggs and sperm are combined in the laboratory, then embryos are implanted in the mother's womb.
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induced pluripotent stem cells
Stem cells that have been grown from adult cells.
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inflammation
Activation of the immune system, thought to be involved in the HD disease process
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insulin
A hormone that regulates the body’s use of sugar and fats, and many other aspects of metabolism
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intermediate allele
A copy of the huntingtin gene with a CAG-repeat length that never leads to disease for the carrier, but may place the carriers children at some risk of HD.
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intermediate alleles
HD genes with CAG lengths between 27-35, which do not result in HD symptoms, but are longer than normal. Intermediate alleles are thought to be at risk of expanding in the offspring of people who carry them.
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interventional
A study in which an experimental drug or treatment is given to volunteers
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intracranial volume
An MRI measurement that reflects the largest size a brain ever achieves
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JM6
an experimental drug that is converted by the body into Ro-61, which inhibits the enzyme KMO
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juvenile HD
Huntington's disease where symptoms begin before the age of 20.
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kinase
A protein whose job it is to add a specific kind of chemical tag to other proteins. Kind of like a stapler.
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KMO
kynurenine mono-oxygenase, an enzyme that controls the balance of harmful and protective chemicals resulting from the breakdown of proteins
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knock-in
an organism that has had one of its genes altered, for example by adding a long CAG repeat into the huntingtin gene.
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knockout
a form of genetic engineering in animals are bred to lack a chosen gene
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kynurenic acid
kynurenic acid, a chemical produced naturally in the brain that can protect neurons from harmful over-stimulation
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kynurenine
a chemical similar to kynurenic acid (Kyna)
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leptin
A hormone that regulates appetite
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longitudinal study
A study where each participant is looked at several times over a time period – unlike a cross-sectional study, where each participant is looked at only once
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magnetic resonance
A technique using powerful magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the brain in living humans and animals
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manifest
after HD diagnosis, or when symptoms are already showing
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medium spiny neuronmedium spiny neurons
brain cells in the striatum that are most damaged early in HD
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Melatonin
a hormone produced by the pineal gland, important for regulating sleep
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Mesenchmal
mesenchymal stem cells are cells with multiple functions that can be grown from adult bone marrow.
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messenger RNA
A message molecule, based on DNA, used by cells as the final set of instructions for making a protein.
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meta-analysis
Combining the results of several different studies and analyzing them together, to increase their ability to answer a particular question.
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metabolism
The process of cells taking in nutrients and turning them into energy and building blocks to build and repair cells.
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Metabolite
a chemical produced by cells as they break down fuels for energy
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Metabolomics
the simultaneous measurement of many metabolites in a sample
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methionine
one of the amino acid 'building blocks' that proteins are made from
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microdialysis
a technique that enables researchers to measure the levels of chemicals in the living brain
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microglia
the brain's immune cells
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mitochondria
tiny machines inside our cells that process fuel into energy, enabling cells to function
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monitoring committee
An independent group of experts responsible for overseeing the trial's safety, progress, and integrity.
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motor neuron disease
A progressive neurological disease in which motor (movement) neurons die. Also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.
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multiple sclerosis
a disease of the brain and spinal cord, in which episodes of inflammation cause damage. Unlike Huntington's disease, MS isn't genetically inherited.
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n-terminal fragment
A piece of a protein, like huntingtin, taken from the beginning of the protein.
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neurodegenerative
A disease caused by progressive malfunctioning and death of brain cells (neurons)
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neuron
Brain cells that store and transmit information
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neuroprotection
something that protects brain cells against damage
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neutron
Small sub-atomic particles that can be produced by some nuclear reactions and can help to study proteins in detail
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NfL
biomarker of brain health
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Non-disclosure
an optional add-on to PGD, where an HD genetic test is performed on an at-risk parent but the result is kept secret. Non-disclosure PGD enables HD-free embryos to be implanted without the at-risk parent having to learn their HD status.
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Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis
A technique for preventing HD from being passed to children. A blood sample from the mother is taken, and DNA from the fetus is found in the blood and genetically tested for the risk of HD.
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nucleotide bases
A single 'letter' of the genetic code, abbreviated A, T, G or C
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nucleus
A part of the cell containing genes (DNA)
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observational
A study in which measurements are made in human volunteers but no experimental drug or treatment is given
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open label
A trial in which the patient and doctor know what drug is being used. Open label trials are susceptible to bias through placebo effects.
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PACSIN
a normal protein that might be involved in helping huntingtin to function
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Parkinson's Disease
A neurodegenerative disease that, like HD, involves motor coordination problems
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PDE10
a brain protein that may be a good drug target and biomarker in Huntington's disease. PDE10 is found almost exclusively in parts of the brain where brain cells die in HD.
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peptides
Small pieces of protein that signal in the body from one cell to another
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perseveration
The inability to to change thoughts or actions to match changed plans
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phase III
The phase in the development of a new treatment where clinical trials are conducted using many patients, to determine whether the treatment is effective
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phenylbutyrate
a 'non-selective' HDAC inhibitor that affects all HDACs without targeting any particular HDAC enzyme
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phosphatase
A protein whose job it is to remove a specific kind of chemical tag from other proteins. Kind of like a staple remover.
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Phosphodiesterase
a protein that breaks down cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP
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pineal
a gland in the brain that produces the hormone melatonin
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placebo
A placebo is a dummy medicine containing no active ingredients. The placebo effect is a psychological effect that causes people to feel better even if they’re taking a pill that doesn’t work.
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placenta
the 'afterbirth', which supplies the fetus with oxygen and nutrients via the umbilical cord. The placenta's DNA is the same as the fetus's.
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pluripotency
the ability of some cells to turn into different types of cell
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polymerase chain reaction
PCR or the polymerase chain reaction is a scientific technique used to detect and amplify specific bits of DNA. It's used in the process of genetic testing for Huntington;s disease.
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PolyQ
A description of HD and other diseases that are caused by abnormal expansion of stretches of DNA containing the sequence CAG repeated many times. Too many CAGs in a gene results in proteins with too many ‘glutamine’ building blocks, and glutamine is represented by the symbol Q.
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pooping
Come on, you know what this one means
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post-translational modification
the addition of small chemical tags to a protein after it has been synthesized. These tags often change the location or function of the tagged protein.
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Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis
A technique for preventing HD from being passed to children. Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory, and the embryos are tested genetically for the mutation. Only embryos without it are implanted into the mother's womb.
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Preimplantation genetic testing or PGT
A technique for preventing HD from being passed to children. Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory, and the embryos are tested genetically for the mutation. Only embryos without it are implanted into the womb.
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prenatal testing
A technique for preventing HD from being passed to children. A DNA sample is taken during pregnancy and tested genetically. If the HD mutation is found, the pregnancy is terminated.
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prevalence
A figure estimating how many people there are in a particular population who have a certain medical condition.
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primary endpoint
The main question asked in a clinical trial
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primate
a group of mammal species including monkeys, apes and humans
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prion
special proteins that can become harmful, and cause disease called prion disease. Like falling dominoes, prion proteins can 'infect' other proteins, making them become harmful.
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prodromal
prior to onset or diagnosis of movement symptoms
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promoter
a special part of a gene devoted to turning the gene on and off
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putamen
part of the striatum, a deep brain region important for movement control, that's affected early in the course of HD.
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quinolinic acid
quinolinic acid, a chemical produced naturally in the brain that can harm neurons by over-stimulating them
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R6/2
a mouse model of Huntington's disease. R6/2 mice have been genetically altered with an abnormal gene that makes them produce a harmful fragment of the mutant huntingtin protein
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rabies
A virus that infects the brain
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Receptor
a molecule on the surface of a cell that signalling chemicals attach to
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recombinant
artificial DNA that has been stuck together from small pieces from different sources.
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reduced penetrance allele
A copy of the huntingtin gene with a CAG-repeat length long enough to cause symptoms in some, but not all, people who carry it.
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Rhes
a protein found in the brain regions damaged early in Huntington's disease.
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ribosome
A molecular machine that makes proteins using the genetic instructions in RNA message molecules
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RNA
the chemical, similar to DNA, that makes up the 'message' molecules that cells use as working copies of genes, when manufacturing proteins.
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RNA interference
A type of gene silencing treatment in which specially designed RNA molecules are used to switch off a gene
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Ro 61-8048
an experimental drug that inhibits the enzyme KMO
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Ryanodine Receptor
a pore that lets calcium enter cells
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SAHA
an HDAC-inhibitor drug. Its full name is Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid.
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SBMA
Spinobulbar muscular atrophy, another neurodegenerative disease caused by increased CAG size
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SCA
Spinocerebellar ataxia, another neurodegenerative disease caused by increased CAG size
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secondary endpoints
Additional questions asked in a clinical trial that help scientists look at treated patients as broadly as they can to determine the effects of a drug
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sense strand
the half of the DNA double-helix that contains instructions for most proteins. The 'business' strand.
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significance testing
A method used by statisticians to try to decide whether the result of a study or trial is genuine or likely to have happened by chance
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single nucleotide polymorphisms
a single-letter spelling difference in a gene. SNPs, pronounced 'snips', are common and most don't change the function of the gene.
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siRNA
A way of silencing genes using specially designed molecules of RNA – like DNA but made of only a single strand – that target the message molecules in cells and tell them not to make a certain protein
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Sodium
A chemical element found abundantly on planet earth, in rocks, plants and animals (including humans). The main constituent of salt, AKA sodium chloride.
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soma
the main cell body of a neuron, which contains the cell nucleus where genes (DNA) are located
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somatic
relating to the body
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spinocerebellar ataxia
A family of diseases which result in characteristic movement disorders. Many types of spinocerebellar ataxia are caused by the same type of mutation as HD – a CAG expansion.
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splicing
the cutting up of RNA messages, to remove non-coding regions and join together coding regions.
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statistically significant
Unlikely to have arisen by chance, according to a statistical test
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stem cells
Cells that can divide into cells of different types
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suprachiasmatic nucleus
the part of the brain that controls daily or 'circadian' rhythms
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Synapse
the site of connection between two neurons in the brain
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Synaptic transmission
The passage of messages between neurons at a synapse
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synaptophysin
a protein essential for the formation of synapses, the connections between neurons.
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therapeutics
treatments
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Total Functional Capacity
A standardized rating scale for function in HD, used to assess capacity to work, handle finances, perform domestic chores and self-care tasks
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TR-FRET
"Time Resolved Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer" – a sophisticated technique for measuring interactions between antibodies.
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transcranial magnetic stimulation
applying magnetic fields to the brain to study its functioning
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transcription
the first step in making a protein from the recipe stored in a gene. Transcription means making a working copy of the gene from RNA, a chemical messenger similar to DNA.
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transcription factor
a gene-control protein. In response to signals from inside and outside cells, transcription factors attach to the DNA and cause specific genes to be more or less activated, producing more or less of the corresponding protein.
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transcriptional dysregulation
disruption of the mechanisms that control the activation levels of different genes, leading to genes being wrongly activated or inactivated
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transcriptional regulation
the mechanisms that control the activation levels of different genes
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transgenic
an organism that has had an extra 'foreign' gene or genes inserted into its DNA.
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trinucleotide repeat
A stutter in the genetic code that results in the repetition of a three 'letter' sequence
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UHDRS
A standardized neurological examination that aims to provide a uniform assessment of the clinical features of HD
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uterus
womb
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Vascular system
the vessels and/or tissue that carry fluids like blood throughout the body
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ventricle
Normal fluid-filled spaces within the brain.
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vesicle
a tiny 'bubble' produced by a cell that can deliver chemicals to other cells
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Whole Exome Sequencing
Decoding exons, the ~1.5% of a persons DNA which contains instructions for directly building proteins
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Whole genome sequencing
Decoding every one of the approximately 3 billion 'letters' of an individuals DNA
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wild-type
the opposite of 'mutant'. Wild-type huntingtin, for example, is the 'normal', 'healthy' protein.
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YAC
an abbreviation for 'yeast artificial chromosome'
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YAC128
one of several mouse models of HD. YAC stands for "yeast artificial chromosome".
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Zinc-finger Nucleases
Molecular machines that attach to a specific DNA sequence and then cut the DNA strand