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Genome

All the genetic material in the chromosomes of a particular organism. USDA’s research agencies have a Plant Genome Mapping Program to identify, characterize, and map the position of agriculturally important genes on the chromosomes of plants grown as crops or trees in order to better use these genes for improving the characteristics of the plant (resistance to disease, higher yields, etc.) through breeding.

Geosphere

The soils, sediments, and rock layers of the Earth's crust, both continental and beneath the ocean floors.

Geostationary Satellite

A satellite that rotates at the same rate as the earth, remaining over the same spot above the equator.

Geothermal energy

Heat transferred from the earth's molten core to under-ground deposits of dry steam (steam with no water droplets), wet steam (a mixture of steam and water droplets), hot water, or rocks lying fairly close to the earth's surface.

Germicide

Any compound that kills disease-causing microorganisms. Germicides must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency as pesticides.

Glacier

Bodies of land ice that consist of recrystallized snow accumulated on the surface of the ground, and that move slowly downslope.

Glass

A non-crystaline rock that results from very rapid cooling of magma.

Gleaning

Collecting unharvested crops from fields or obtaining unused agricultural products from farmers, processors, or retailers, usually for distribution to food banks and charitable feeding organizations.

Global warming

The progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns. An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. See climate change, greenhouse effect, enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing.

GNP Deflator

Measure of the percentage increase in the average price of products in GNP over a certain base year (now 1972) published by the Commerce Department.

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