W

Watson Strand:

Antisense DNA strand or template for RNA transcription.

Western Blot:

A technique for detecting specific proteins using an antibody. Proteins are separated by electrophoresis in an acrylamide gel (PAGE), and transferred onto a membrane. The membrane is then probed with an antibody.

Wildtype:

The native or predominant genetic constitution before mutations, usually referring to the genetic consitution normally existing in nature.

Wobble Position:

The third base position within a codon, which can often (but not always) be altered to another nucleotide without changing the encoded amino acid

Wobble Hypothesis:

It accounts for the ability of a tRNA to recognize more than one codon by unusual pairing with the third base of the codon.

Writhing Number:

It is the number of times a duplex axis crosses over itself in space.