Glossary of terms used on this site
Glossary of biology.
Glossaries
Term | Main definition |
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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
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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
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mark and recapture |
Glossaries - Biology glossary
technique used to determine population size in mobile organisms |