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Glossary of terms used on this site

Glossary of biology.

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Glossaries

Term Main definition
dead space
Glossaries - Biology glossary

area in the lung that lacks proper ventilation or perfusion

dead space
Glossaries - Biology glossary

area in the lung that lacks proper ventilation or perfusion

dead zone
Glossaries - Biology glossary

area within an ecosystem in lakes and near the mouths of rivers where large areas of ecosystems are depleted of their normal flora and fauna; these zones can be caused by eutrophication, oil spills, dumping of toxic chemicals, and other human activities

death rate (D)
Glossaries - Biology glossary

number of deaths within a population at a specific point in time

decomposer
Glossaries - Biology glossary

organism that carries out the decomposition of dead organisms

deductive reasoning
Glossaries - Biology glossary

form of logical thinking that uses a general inclusive statement to forecast specific results

degeneracy
Glossaries - Biology glossary

(of the genetic code) describes that a given amino acid can be encoded by more than one nucleotide triplet; the code is degenerate, but not ambiguous

dehydration synthesis
Glossaries - Biology glossary

reaction that links monomer molecules together, releasing a molecule of water for each bond formed.

Synonyms - condensation
demographic-based population model
Glossaries - Biology glossary

modern model of population dynamics incorporating many features of the r- and K-selection theory

demography
Glossaries - Biology glossary

statistical study of changes in populations over time

denaturation
Glossaries - Biology glossary

loss of shape in a protein as a result of changes in temperature, pH, or exposure to chemicals.

denature
Glossaries - Biology glossary

process that changes a subtance's natural properties

dendrite
Glossaries - Biology glossary

structure that extends away from the cell body to receive messages from other neurons

dendritic cell
Glossaries - Biology glossary

immune cell that processes antigen material and presents it on the surface of other cells to induce an immune response

denitrification
Glossaries - Biology glossary

transformation of nitrate from soil to gaseous nitrogen compounds such as N2O, NO, and N2