BIO - TERMS - GENERAL PT 3 Flashcards
Absorbance (A)
In optical spectroscopy, the logarithm of the intensity of the incident light divided by the intensity of the light transmitted through a sample; A = log I₀/I.
Acute intermittent porphyria
A hepatic porphyria, with abdominal pain and neurological symptoms.
adventitia
(ad-ven-tish′ă) Outermost covering of some organs.
agnosia
The inability to recognize objects, even though simple sensory skills appear to be normal; most commonly caused by damage to posterior parietal areas of the brain.
aliphatic hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon— including alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes—that does not contain an aromatic ring.
Alu sequences
A large family of short interspersed elements.
Anabolic steroids
Synthetic androgens that mimic the tissue-building effects of natural testosterone.
annual training plan
A long-term training plan that typically lasts for 1 year.
Anther
The organ in flowers that produces pollen.
Aplastic anemia
Anemia caused by bone marrow failure.
appendicular
(ap′en-dik′-ū-lăr) Relating to an appendage or limb; e.g., the appendicular skeleton.
area IT
An area of neocortex, on the inferior surface of the temporal lobe, that is part of the ventral visual processing stream; contains neurons with responses to complex objects, including faces, and appears to be involved in visual memory.
aseptic techniques
Laboratory techniques used to minimize contamination.
atmosphere (atm)
A unit of pressure based on the average pressure of air at sea level; 1 atm = 101,325 Pa.
Autonomous
A term applied to any biological unit that can function on its own, that is, without the help of another unit. For example, a transposable element that encodes an enzyme for its own transposition (cf. Nonautonomous).
azole
Antifungal agents that interfere with sterol synthesis.
basic theories of emotion
Explanations of emotions based on the principle that there are a small set of hard-wired emotions that are universal across cultures.
Bicycloalkane
A cycloalkane that contains two rings.
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
A measure of the biologically degradable organic matter in water.
biosphere
All the living matter on or in the earth, the seas, and the atmosphere.
boiling point elevation
The effect of a solute that causes a solution to have a higher boiling point than the pure solvent.
brass
A widely used alloy that contains copper and zinc.
bulking
A condition arising when sludge floats rather than settles in secondary sewage treatment.
Cannon–Bard theory
A theory of emotion proposing that emotional experience is independent of emotional expression and is determined by the pattern of thalamic activation.
Carnosine
The dipeptide β-alanyl-histidine; used as a pH buffer in muscle tissue.
Cdh1
Activating subunit of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C).
cerebellar hemispheres
The lateral regions of the cerebellum.
Charles’s law
The law that states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature (V ∝ T ).
chemotherapy
Treatment of disease with chemical substances.
chronic infection
An illness that develops slowly and is likely to continue or recur for long periods.
classical C3 convertase
The complex of activated complement components C4b2a, which cleaves C3 to C3b on pathogen surfaces in the classical pathway of complement activation.
Coevolution
Two or more species reciprocally influence each other’s evolution.
colon
The large intestine.
complex medium
A culture medium in which the exact chemical composition is not known.
Conditional lethal mutation
A mutation that is lethal under one set of environmental conditions—the restrictive conditions—but is viable under another set of environmental conditions—the permissive conditions.
consciousness
Awareness of external stimuli and internal thoughts and feelings.
Correlation
A statistical association between variables.
Cracking
A process used in petroleum reining in which large alkanes are thermally cracked into smaller fragments.
critical point
The temperature and pressure above which a supercritical fluid exists.
Crown ethers
Large-ring polyethers; used as phase-transfer catalysts.
cutaneous mycosis
A fungal infection of the epidermis, nails, or hair.
cytostome
The mouthlike opening in some protozoa.
declarative memory
Memory for facts and events.
delayed non-match to sample (DNMS)
A behavioral task in which animals are trained to displace one of two alternative objects that does not match a previously seen sample object.
derived unit
A unit that is a combination of other base units. For example, the SI unit for speed is meters per second (m/s), a derived unit.
detraining
Reversal of the adaptations stimulated by training. The effects of detraining can occur very rapidly when workloads are significantly reduced.
Diels–Alder reaction
The cyclo addition reaction of a diene with a dienophile to yield a cyclohexene.
diopter
A unit of measurement for the refractive power of the eye; the reciprocal of the focal distance.
disk-diffusion method
An agar-diffusion test to determine microbial susceptibility to chemotherapeutic agents; also called Kirby-Bauer test.
DOM
Dissolved organic matter.
droplet transmission
The transmission of infection by small liquid droplets carrying microorganisms.
easy problems of consciousness
Phenomena related to consciousness that can be studied by scientific methods; not the hard problem of the neural basis of conscious experience.
Elastase
An endopeptidase from pancreas and other sources.
emission spectrum
The range of wavelengths emitted by a particular element; used to identify the element.
endogenous attention
Attention voluntarily directed by the brain to serve a behavioral goal; also called top–down attention.
enterotoxin
An exotoxin that causes gastroenteritis, such as those produced by Staphylococcus, Vibrio, and Escherichia.
epiphyseal line
The remnant of the epiphyseal plate that remains when long bone growth ceases; thin, defined area of compact bone.
esophagus
(ē-sof′ă-gŭs) Portion of the gastrointestinal tract between the pharynx and the stomach.
exhaustion
Training to the point of momentary muscular failure.
extrafusal fiber
A muscle fiber in skeletal muscle that lies outside muscle spindles and receives innervation from alpha motor neurons.
falx cerebri
(falks se-rē′brē) Portion of the dura mater septa that projects into the longitudinal fissure between the right and left cerebral hemispheres of the brain.
ferrous
The inorganic form of iron with a +2 charge.
flat sour spoilage
Thermophilic spoilage of canned goods not accompanied by gas production.
focal infection
A systemic infection that began as an infection in one place.
free energy change of a reaction under nonstandard conditions (ΔGᵣₓₙ)
The free energy change of a reaction under nonstandard conditions; given by the relationship: ΔGᵣₓₙ = ΔGºᵣₓₙ + RT ln Q
Gas chromatography (GC)
Separation technique based on the interaction of analytes in a gaseous mobile phase with a solid stationary phase.
germ theory of disease
The principle that microorganisms cause disease.
Glycol
A diol, such as ethylene glycol, HOCH2CH2OH.
HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy)
A combination of drugs used to treat HIV infection.
heat of fusion (ΔHfus)
The amount of heat required to melt 1 mol of a solid.
Hemoglobin H
A β4 tetramer, in patients with α-thalassemia.
Herbivory
Feeding of animals on plants.
heterotropic
Describes an allosteric modulator that is distinct from the normal ligand.
Hofmann elimination reaction
The elimination reaction of an amine to yield an alkene by reaction with iodomethane followed by heating with Ag2O.
Hydrogenated
Addition of hydrogen to a double or triple bond to yield a saturated product.
hypereosinophilic syndrome
Disease associated with an overproduction of eosinophils.
iC3b
Inactive complement fragment produced by cleavage of C3b.
implantation
Embedding of the pre-embryo in the uterine wall.
indirect contact transmission
The spread of pathogens by fomites (nonliving objects).
inspiration
(in-spi-rā′shŭn) To breathe in; inhalation.
International System of Units (SI)
The standard unit system used by scientists, based on the metric system.
isometric contraction
Muscle contraction during which its length does not change because tension does not exceed resistance (load).
kilogram (kg)
The SI standard unit of mass defined as the mass of a block of metal kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures at Sèvres, France.
Lactams
Cyclic amides.
language acquisition
The process by which humans learn to understand language and speak.
lateral ventricle
The CSF-filled space within each cerebral hemisphere.
Lentic
Refers to ecosystems with slow-moving or standing water, e.g., lakes, ponds, swamps.
light-dependent reactions
The reactions of photosynthesis that require light and cannot occur in the dark; also known as light reactions.
Liquid chromatography (LC)
Separation technique based on the interaction of analytes in a liquid mobile phase with a solid stationary phase.
Low fluence response
Class of sensitive light responses triggered by type-II phytochromes that can be induced by a single red-light pulse.
M2 macrophages
The name sometimes given to ‘alternatively’ activated macrophages, which develop in in the context of type 2 responses (e.g., parasite infection) and promote tissue remodeling and repair.
mantle zone
A rim of B lymphocytes that surrounds lymphoid follicles.
maximum growth temperature
The highest temperature at which a species can grow.
memory
The retention of learned information.
mesenchyme
(mez′en-kı̄m) An embryonic connective tissue.
metallurgy
The part of chemistry that includes all the processes associated with mining, separating, and refining metals and the subsequent production of pure metals and mixtures of metals called alloys.
metric system
The system of measurements used in most countries in which the meter is the unit of length, the kilogram is the unit of mass, and the second is the unit of time.
micrometer (mm)
A unit of measurement equal to 10-6 m.
minute ventilation
The amount of air either inspired or expired during one minute; calculated by multiplying the tidal volume (volume of air per breath) by the respiratory rate (number of breaths per minute).
Model
A mathematical description of a biological phenomenon.
monoecious
Having both male and female reproductive capacities.
motor neuron pool
All the alpha motor neurons innervating the fibers of a single skeletal muscle.
muscle endurance
The ability of the neuromuscular system to produce force in a repetitive manner.
Myxedema
The clinical condition caused by adultonset hypothyroidism.
Neochrome
Class of photoreceptors that triggers light responses in the red and blue light part of the light spectrum; evolved from a fusion between a phototropin photoreceptor with a phytochrome chromophorebinding domain.
node of Ranvier
A space between two consecutive myelin sheaths where an axon comes in contact with the extracellular fluid.
Nonpoint source pollution
Environmental pollution arising from diffuse sources.
NSAID
A nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
Olein
An alternative name for an alkene.
opioids
A class of drugs, including morphine, codeine, and heroin, that can produce analgesia as well as mood changes, drowsiness, mental clouding, nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
orientation column
A column of visual cortical neurons stretching from layer II to layer VI that responds best to the same stimulus orientation.
osteon
(os′tē-on) Functional unit of compact bone tissue; also called a Haversian system.
ovulation
(ov′ū-lā′shŭn) Release of a secondary oocyte from a mature follicle.
Pacinian corpuscle
A mechanoreceptor of the deep skin, selective for high-frequency vibrations.
parahippocampal cortex
A cortical region in the medial temporal lobe that lies lateral to the rhinal sulcus.
pasteurization
The process of mild heating to kill particular spoilage microorganisms or pathogens.
peaking curve
The line depicting the dynamic of the athlete’s athletic shape throughout the annual plan.
percent yield
The percentage of the theoretical yield of a chemical reaction that is actually produced; the ratio of the actual yield to the theoretical yield multiplied by 100%.
peripheral tolerance
Tolerance acquired by mature lymphocytes in the peripheral tissues, as opposed to central tolerance, which is acquired by immature lymphocytes during their development.
phase diagram
A map of the state or phase of a substance as a function of pressure (on the y-axis) and temperature (on the x-axis).
phosphocreatine
(PCr)—A component of the ATPPC system that provides energy for muscle actions by maintaining ATP stores.
Phototherapy
Treatment by exposure to light; used for hyperbilirubinemia in newborns.
Phytosterols
Steroids from plants.
pleated sheet
The side-by-side, hydrogenbonded arrangement of polypeptide chains in the extended conformation.
polyubiquitin chains
Polymers of ubiquitin covalently linked from lysine residues within one ubiquitin monomer to the carboxy terminus of a second ubiquitin.
postactivation potentiation complex
Performing a heavy or an explosive exercise to excite the neuromuscular system before jumping or sprinting, thus obtaining a short-term performance improvement.
Pre-procollagen
The earliest precursor of collagen.
pressure–volume work
The work that occurs when a volume change takes place against an external pressure.
primer terminus
The end of a primer to which monomeric subunits are added.
prodromal period
The time following the incubation period when the first symptoms of illness appear.
proteolytic subunits β1, β2, β5
Constitutive components of the proteasome’s catalytic chamber.
proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
A kidney tubule that connects the Bowman capsule to the loop of Henle of the nephron unit.
putamen
A part of the basal ganglia in the basal forebrain; involved in motor control.
quantum number
One of four interrelated numbers that determine the shape and energy of orbitals, as specified by a solution of the Schrödinger equation.
rate coding
The firing rate of a motor unit.
Reactivation
A switch from a latent to a productive infection; usually applied to herpesviruses. (Chapter 8)
red tide
A bloom of planktonic dinoflagellates.
relational memory
A type of memory in which all of the events occurring at a given time are stored in a manner linking them.
respiratory zone
Respiratory system passageways transporting air from respiratory bronchioles to the alveoli; airways that participate in gas exchange. Compare to conducting zone.
retrograde transport
Axoplasmic transport from an axon terminal to the soma.
Riparian
Related to banks of watercourses.
ruxolitinib
An inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2 approved for treatment of myelofibrosis.
saxitoxin
A neurotoxin produced by some dinoflagellates.
scolex
The head of a tapeworm, containing suckers and possibly hooks.
selective medium
A culture medium designed to suppress the growth of unwanted microorganisms and encourage the growth of desired ones.
Sensor domain
Here used as a synonym to chromophorebinding domain of photoreceptors.
Sex-limited
Expression of a trait in only one sex. Examples: milk production in mammals; horns in Rambouillet sheep; egg production in chickens.
significant figures (significant digits)
In any reported measurement, the non–place-holding digits (those that are not simply marking the decimal place) that indicate the precision of the measured quantity.
smear
A thin film of material containing microorganisms, spread over the surface of a slide.
specific heat capacity (Cs)
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of a substance by 1 °C.
Sphingosine
A long-chain, hydrophobic amino alcohol.
sporadic disease
A disease that occurs occasionally in a population.
Standard conditions
Conditions with 1 mol/L concentrations of all reactants at a pH of 7.
stapes
An ossicle in the middle ear attached to the oval window that somewhat resembles a stirrup.
sterile
Free of microorganisms.
stress-relaxation response
The response of smooth muscle to stretch; the smooth muscle contracts in response to the stretch and then, after a period of time, relaxes.
subclinical infection
An infection that does not cause a noticeable illness; also called inapparent infection.
Sulfur reduction and assimilation
Metabolic reduction of sulfate and its incorporation in cysteine.
sweat
Fluid secreted by special glands in the skin that is composed mostly of water and dissolved salts. sweat water The water component of sweat.
Syndiotactic
A chain-growth polymer in which the stereochemistry of the substituents alternates regularly on opposite sides of the backbone.
systole
(sis′tō-lē) Contraction of the heart.
tectospinal tract
A tract originating in the superior colliculus and terminating in the spinal cord; involved in the control of head and neck movement.
testosterone/cortisol ratio (T:C ratio)
An indicator of the anabolic-to-catabolic balance.
thermoluminescent dosimeter
A device used to measure the dose of radiation to which a person is exposed.
thymic anlage
The tissue from which the thymic stroma develops during embryogenesis.
Tophi
Subcutaneous deposits of sodium urate in gouty patients.
training intensity
The intensity determined by dividing the total volume load by the total number of repetitions.
transport media
Media used to keep microorganisms alive between sample collection and laboratory testing; usually used for clinical samples.
tropical sprue
Inflammation of the small intestine that occurs in people living in tropical regions.
type II interferon
The antiviral interferon IFN-γ.
unsaturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon that is not loaded to capacity with hydrogen; a hydrocarbon that includes one or more double or triple bonds.
V1
Primary visual cortex or striate cortex.
Vehicle
The base formulation in which the drug is applied to the skin.
Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)
The lipoprotein that carries triglycerides from the liver to other tissues.
visual acuity
The ability of the visual system to distinguish between two nearby points.
volatile
Tending to vaporize easily.
Water potential
Measure of the relative tendency of water to move from one area to another. It is represented by the Greek letter Ψ (Psi).
working memory
Information storage that is temporary, limited in capacity, and requires continual rehearsal.
zeitgeber
Any environmental cue, such as the light– dark cycle, which signals the passage of time.
β-Keto ester
A 3-oxoester.
