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Glossary of terms used on this site

Glossary of biology.

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Glossaries

Term Main definition
macroevolution
Glossaries - Biology glossary

broader scale evolutionary changes that scientists see over paleontological time

macromolecule
Glossaries - Biology glossary

large molecule, typically formed by the joining of smaller molecules

macronutrient
Glossaries - Biology glossary

nutrient that is required in large amounts for plant growth; carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur

macrophage
Glossaries - Biology glossary

large phagocytic cell that engulfs foreign particles and pathogens

macula densa
Glossaries - Biology glossary

group of cells that senses changes in sodium ion concentration; present in parts of the renal tubule and collecting ducts

madreporite
Glossaries - Biology glossary

pore for regulating entry and exit of water into the water vascular system

major depression
Glossaries - Biology glossary

mental illness characterized by prolonged periods of sadness

major histocompatibility class (MHC) I/II molecule
Glossaries - Biology glossary

protein found on the surface of all nucleated cells (I) or specifically on antigen-presenting cells (II) that signals to immune cells whether the cell is healthy/normal or is infected/cancerous; it provides the appropriate template into which antigens can be loaded for recognition by lymphocytes

malleus
Glossaries - Biology glossary

(also, hammer) first of the three bones of the middle ear

Malpighian tubule
Glossaries - Biology glossary

excretory tubules found in arthropods

maltase
Glossaries - Biology glossary

enzyme that breaks down maltose into glucose

mammal
Glossaries - Biology glossary

one of the groups of endothermic vertebrates that possesses hair and mammary glands

mammary gland
Glossaries - Biology glossary

in female mammals, a gland that produces milk for newborns

mantle
Glossaries - Biology glossary

(also, pallium) specialized epidermis that encloses all visceral organs and secretes shells

mark and recapture
Glossaries - Biology glossary

technique used to determine population size in mobile organisms