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Glossary of terms used on this site

Glossary of biology.

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Glossaries

Term Main definition
lateral line
Glossaries - Biology glossary

sense organ that runs the length of a fish’s body; used to detect vibration in the water

lateral meristem
Glossaries - Biology glossary

meristematic tissue that enables a plant to increase in thickness or girth

lateral rotation
Glossaries - Biology glossary

rotation away from the midline of the body

law of dominance
Glossaries - Biology glossary

in a heterozygote, one trait will conceal the presence of another trait for the same characteristic

law of independent assortment
Glossaries - Biology glossary

genes do not influence each other with regard to sorting of alleles into gametes; every possible combination of alleles is equally likely to occur

law of mass action
Glossaries - Biology glossary

chemical law stating that the rate of a reaction is proportional to the concentration of the reacting substances

law of segregation
Glossaries - Biology glossary

paired unit factors (i.e., genes) segregate equally into gametes such that offspring have an equal likelihood of inheriting any combination of factors

layering
Glossaries - Biology glossary

method of propagating plants by bending a stem under the soil

leading strand
Glossaries - Biology glossary

strand that is synthesized continuously in the 5'-3' direction, which is synthesized in the direction of the replication fork

learned behavior
Glossaries - Biology glossary

behavior that responds to changes in the environment

lens
Glossaries - Biology glossary

transparent, convex structure behind the cornea that helps focus light waves on the retina

lenticel
Glossaries - Biology glossary

opening on the surface of mature woody stems that facilitates gas exchange

lepidosaur
Glossaries - Biology glossary

modern lizards, snakes, and tuataras

leptin
Glossaries - Biology glossary

hormone produced by adipose tissue that promotes feelings of satiety and reduces hunger

lichen
Glossaries - Biology glossary

close association of a fungus with a photosynthetic alga or bacterium that benefits both partners