Allele
One of a number of different forms of a gene. Each person inherits two alleles for each gene, one allele from each parent. These alleles may be the same or may be different from one another.

Assay
A chemical or biological test in which the activity of a biological target molecule (often a protein) is measured in the presence of other substances (often chemicals).

Autonomic nervous system
The portion of the nervous system that regulates involuntary body functions, including those of the heart and intestines. Controls blood flow, digestion and temperature regulation.

Bioactives
molecules that can have a biological effect on our bodies, independent of and in addition to the actual nutritional benefit that they provide.

Compounds
A collection of distinct, defined and characterized molecules or mixtures thereof.

Compound libraries
Collections of compounds that provide a variety of chemically diverse structures that can be used to identify structure types that have affinity with pharmacological targets.

Dopamine
A neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation and feelings of pleasure.

Drug discovery
The process by which drugs are discovered and/or designed.

Dyskinesia
Defect in voluntary movement.

Dystonia
Abnormal and awkward posture or sustained movements of a hand, foot, or other part of the body; may be accompanied by rigidity and twisting

Expression
The actual production of the protein which the gene encodes.

Gene
A portion of a chromosome (DNA) that contains the hereditary information necessary for the production of a protein.

Genotype
The genetic makeup of an organism, as distinguished from its physical appearance (the phenotype).

High throughput screen
High-throughput screening (HTS) aims to rapidly assess the activity of a large number of compounds or extracts on a given target.

Hits
A compound that shows activity in a primary screen.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV)
A method of administering fluid directly into the ventricles by means of surgically-implanted osmotic minipumps that deliver solution at a constant rate

In vivo
Within the body. The opposite of in vitro (outside the body or in the laboratory). In this case, experiments that will take place in living mice.

Knockout
A knockout mouse is a genetically engineered mouse one or more of whose genes have been made inoperable.

Lead
A compound with a confirmed activity profile that warrants development.

Phenotype
The observable traits or characteristics of an organism.

Protein
A large biomolecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order. Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of cells, tissues, and organs.

Screen
Testing large numbers of compounds in order to identify those with particular characteristics.

Serotonin
A neurotransmitter involved in many functions, including mood, appetite, and sensory perception.

Substantia nigra
A dark band of gray matter deep within the brain where cells manufacture the neurotransmitter dopamine for movement control. Degeneration of cells in this region may lead to a neurologic movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.

Wildtype
The type or form of an organism or gene that occurs most frequently in nature. Often refers to how organisms or genes are found naturally, in the wild, in comparison to mutated versions.

X chromosome
The sex chromosme that is present in both sexes: singly in males and doubly in females.

X-inactivation, XCI, XI
In normal females with two X chromosomes, the genes on one or the  
other of them are silenced to avoid duplication, or overexpression. Typically, each X contributes roughly half the active genetic  
information, usually within a 40/60 range.