C12N - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Microorganisms (e.g. protozoa, bacteria, fused plant cells, hybridomas, viruses, animal cells or tissue, stem cells, tumour cells) and enzymes or proenzymes and compositions containing microorganisms and enzymes or proenzymes.
Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating, or purifying enzymes.
Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy.
Processes of reproducing, maintaining, or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof.
Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing microorganisms.
Preparing mutants and screening processes therefor.
Processes of fusing two or more cells to each other.
Recombinant DNA-technology including:
- processes for manipulating genetic material;
- processes of preparing, isolating and purifying nucleic acids;
- methods for the introduction of genetic material into microorganisms using vectors or other expression systems, using microencapsulation, using microinjection, and other ways;
- methods of regulating gene expression;
- non-coding nucleic acid sequences, e.g. promoters, operators, enhancers, suppressors, silencers, locus control regions, antisense nucleic acids, and aptamers, used in regulating gene expression or in other recombinant DNA technology related methods.
- genes, per se; and
- vectors and expression systems, per se.
Media for supporting or sustaining the growth of microorganisms.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
In subclasses C12M-C12Q, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate subclass of subclasses C12M-C12Q.
Multiple classification
Biocidal, pest repellant, pest attractant or plant growth regulatory activity of compounds or preparations containing microorganisms and enzymes is further classified in subclass A01P.
Therapeutic activity of compounds containing microorganisms, single cell proteins, or enzymes, is further classified in subclass A61P.
Uses of cosmetics or similar toilet preparations containing microorganisms or enzymes are further classified in subclass A61Q.
It is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R for microorganisms which are considered to be of interest for search.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Nucleic acids not used in recombinant technology and their chemical preparation | C07H 21/00 |
Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Preparing such compositions | C12Q 1/00 |
New breeds of multicellular plants, e.g. transgenic plants, and processes of obtaining these plants | A01H |
New breeds of multicellular animals, e.g. transgenic animals, and processes of obtaining these animals | A01K 67/00 |
Compositions and use of the compositions and compounds for preservation of bodies of humans or animals or parts thereof | A01N 1/00 |
Compositions and use of the compositions and compounds for preservation of plants or parts thereof | A01N 3/00 |
Biocides, pest repellents or attractants or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, enzymes, fermentates, or substances produced by, or extracted from, microorganisms or animal material | A01N 63/00 |
Bakery products which may contain microorganisms or enzymes | A21D 10/00, A21D 13/00 |
Foods or foodstuffs containing microorganisms or enzymes | A23 |
Body treating or pharmaceutical preparations containing microorganisms or enzymes | A61K |
Medicinal preparations containing nucleic acids | A61K 31/7088 |
Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy | A61K 48/00 |
Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids containing microorganisms | A61L 15/36 |
Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids containing enzymes | A61L 15/38 |
Biological compost | C05F 9/04 |
Organic fertilizers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia or the like | C05F 11/08 |
Enzyme containing detergent compositions | C11D |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Preservation of living parts of humans or animals | A01N 1/02 |
Food compositions | A21, A23 |
Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles | A61L |
Compositions, characterized by the use of bacteria, which are used to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons from underground formations | C09K 8/582 |
Preparing polynucleotides using enzymes or microorganisms | C12P 19/34 |
Special rules of classification
In this subclass, with the exception of group C12N 5/07, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place.
In this subclass, viruses, human, animal, or plant cells, protozoa, tissues, and unicellular algae are considered as microorganisms.
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Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Antisense | DNA or RNA composed of the complementary sequence to the target DNA/RNA |
| Aptamers | Oligonucleotide molecules that bind a specific target molecule. |
| CpG-motifs | Cytosine-Phosphate-Guanine motifs; a cytosine is directly followed by a guanine in the DNA sequence; methylation of cytosine in CpG- motifs negatively regulates gene expression. |
| Enzyme | Proteinaceous materials, which cause a chemical change in a starting material without being consumed in the reaction. |
| Genetic Engineering | Technology used to alter the hereditary apparatus or gene structure of a living cell so that the cell can produce more or different chemicals, or perform completely new functions. |
| Germ cell | Reproductive cells of the body, specifically, either egg or sperm cells. |
| Maintaining | Supporting or sustaining growth or metabolic activity of microorganisms. |
| Microorganism | Comprises single-celled organisms such as bacteria, actinomycetales or single-celled fungi, e.g. yeasts; for the purposes of classification, this term also includes viruses, human, animal or plant cells, protozoa, tissues and unicellular algae. |
| Multipotent stem cell | A stem cell with the ability to give rise to multiple cell types belonging to one particular embryonic germ layer, the endoderm, the mesoderm or the ectoderm. |
| Mutation | Any change that alters the sequence of bases along the DNA thereby changing the genetic material of a microorganism. |
| NK cell | Natural killer cell |
| Non-coding nucleic acid sequence | Nucleic acid sequence which does not contain instructions for making proteins. |
| Pluripotent stem cell | A stem cell with the ability to differentiate into cells of at least two of the three embryonic germ layers, the endoderm, the mesoderm and the ectoderm. |
| Preserving | Rendering microorganisms reversibly dormant. |
| Proenzyme | An enzyme precursor |
| Progenitor cell | A parent cell that gives rise to a distinct cell lineage by a series of cell divisions. |
| Recombinant DNA Technology | Techniques for cutting apart and splicing together pieces of DNA from the same or different sources. |
| Single-cell protein | Protein derived from microorganisms, usually bacteria or yeast, that are cultivated on a suitable medium and then harvested and processed for use as a food for livestock or humans. For example, blue-green bacterium Spirulina is processed and sold as a protein-rich health food. |
| Stem cell | Cells capable of renewing themselves through mitotic cell division as well as differentiating into a diverse range of specialized cell types. The term covers adult stem cells as well as embryonic stem cells (ES) as derived from blastocysts. |
| Totipotent stem cell | A stem cell with the ability to generate a whole organism autonomously; totipotent mammalian cells thus can differentiate into all three somatic lineages (endoderm or mesoderm or ectoderm), the germ line and extra embryonic tissues such as the placenta. |
| Vector | ADNA sequence (e.g., plasmid, phage DNA) which may be employed to introduce a foreign gene into a host cell and is able to replicate autonomously in the host cell. |