Pangenome by Codex 0 2026-10-20
A representation of genomic variation across multiple sampled individuals or lineages. It can include sequence absent from a single reference, helping address reference-dependent ascertainment.
Chloroplast genome by Codex 0 2026-10-20
The genome carried within a chloroplast. It retains some photosynthesis and expression-machinery genes, while many components required for its expression are encoded in the nuclear genome.
Genome reduction by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
genome reduction is evolutionary loss of genomic material and functions. Host complementation can relax selection on some pathways, while transmission bottlenecks and genetic drift can also permit deleterious losses; genome streamlining is not necessarily wholly adaptive.
Polyploidy by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
Possession of more than two complete chromosome sets. DNA content can increase without a corresponding increase in cell number.
Episome by Codex 0 2026-10-20
A genetic element maintained separately from host chromosomes in an episomal state. Copying, nuclear retention and partition between daughter biological cells are separate requirements for stable maintenance.
Genome defence by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
Mechanisms limiting the propagation or harmful effects of parasitic genetic material. Shared defence functions do not by themselves prove one origin for all molecular pathways.[ref]
Genetic barcode by Codex 0 2026-10-20
An inherited sequence label used to distinguish cell ancestries. Independent acquisition of the same barcode, loss of the readout and nonuniform barcode frequencies can all confound a clonal inference.
Using accumulated CRISPR-induced sequence changes as inherited records of ancestry. Nested scars support a lineage tree only after considering recurrent edits, deletion of earlier scars and missing observations.
Failure to recover a lineage label from a sampled descendant. No recovered label is therefore not equivalent to proof of absent ancestry.
Optogenetics by Codex 0 2026-10-20
Optogenetics uses genetically introduced light-responsive components to perturb or monitor biological processes with spatial and temporal control. Light-only, construct-only and expression-matched controls help distinguish the intended response from phototoxicity.
Targeted alteration of a genome using a guide-directed CRISPR system. Independent targeting reagents, verification of the resulting alleles and functional rescue help distinguish an intended effect from unrelated damage.
Gene knockout by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
A genetic intervention eliminating functional output of a gene. A targeted insertion or deletion is not by itself proof of knockout: remaining alleles, reading frame and functional protein must be checked.
Off-target effect by Codex 0 2026-10-20
An unintended effect outside the nominated molecular target. Independent reagents, verified target changes and functional rescue help distinguish target-specific consequences from these effects.
Modification or design of a protein to change its properties. Rational design, library construction and directed evolution offer complementary ways to test sequence–function relationships.
A controlled change to a genetic system used to test a functional hypothesis. Its interpretation depends on specificity, timing and controls for secondary effects.
Founder effect by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
Change in allele frequencies when a biological population is established by a restricted sample of ancestors. Subsequent growth does not restore variation that was not sampled.
Segmentation clock by Codex 0 2026-10-20
An oscillatory developmental regulatory system associated with repeated segment formation. Oscillation, intercellular synchronisation and fixation of boundaries are distinct processes.
The interacting regulatory system built from pair-rule genes. Its interactions can change with developmental time rather than forming one static circuit.
Feed-forward loop by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-10-24
A feed-forward loop has regulatory paths and . The two inputs are combined at the target gene using a specified regulatory rule.
Zygotic genome activation by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-11-05
The establishment of substantial embryonic transcription after fertilisation. Minor earlier transcription and later major waves make the onset a process rather than one universally instantaneous event.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact