44. Biology
See also 16. ANIMALS ; 54. BOTANY ; 72. CELLS ; 244. LIFE ; 302. ORGANISMS ; 319. PLANTS ; 430. ZOOLOGY .
- abiogenesis
- the process of generation of living organisms from inanimate matter; spontaneous generation. — abiogenetic, adj. — abiogenetically, adv.
- agamogenesis
- asexual reproduction. — agamogenetic, adj.
- agrobiology
- the branch of biology that studies the relation of soil management to the nutrition, growth, and erop yield of plants. — agrobiologist, n. — agrobiologic, agrobiological, adj.
- amensalism
- the living together of two organisms in a relationship that is destructive to one and has no effect on the other.
- anamorphism
- gradual change in type, usually from a lower to a higher type. Also anamorphosis , (Obsolete) anamorphosy . — anamorphic, adj.
- anastomosis
- connection between parts that have branched off from each other at some earlier point. — anastomotic, adj.
- anisogamy
- a form of reproduction in which dissimilar gametes, often dirfering in size, unite. — anisogamous, anisogamic, adj.
- apomixis
- any of several processes of asexual reproduction. Cf. parthenogenesis.
- astrosphere
- 1. the central part of an aster, containing the centrosome.
- 2. the whole aster excluding the centrosome.
- autecology
- the branch of ecology that studies the relation of an organism to its environment. Cf. synecology.
- auxanography
- the branch of microbiology that studies the rate of growth or inhibition exhibited by individual organisms in various plateculture media. — auxanographic, adj.
- auxesis
- growth, especially owing to an increase in cell size. Cf. merisis. — auxetic, adj.
- biodegradability
- the capacity of some substances to decompose readily by biological process. — biodegradable, adj.
- biogenesis, biogeny
- 1. the process by which living organisms develop from other living organisms.
- 2. the belief that living organisms can only develop from other living organisms. — biogenic, biogenetic, adj. — biogenetically, biogenically, adv.
- biogeography
- the branch of biology that studies the geographical distribution of animals and plants.
- biologism
- a theory or doctrine based on a biological viewpoint. — biologistic, adj.
- bioluminescence
- the property of some organisms, as fireflies, of producing light. — bioluminescent, adj.
- biometrics, biometry
- 1. the calculation of the probable extent of human lifespans.
- 2. the application to biology of mathematical and statistical theory and methods. — biometric, biometrical, adj.
- bionomics, bionomy
- ecology. — bionomist, n. — bionomic, bionomical, adj.
- biophysiology
- the branch of biology that studies the growth, morphology, and physiology of organs. — biophysiologist, n.
- bioscience
- any of the sciences that deal with living organisms.
- biosphere
- that part of the earth where most forms of life exist, specifically, where there is water or atmosphere.
- biosynthesis
- the formation of chemical compounds by living organisms, either by synthesis or degradation. — biosynthetic, adj.
- biosystematics
- biosystematy.
- biosystematy, biosystematics
- the science of the classification of living things. — biosystematic, biosystematical, adj.
- biotypology
- the science or study of biotypes, or organisms sharing the same hereditary characteristics. — biotypologic, biotypological, adj.
- cataplasia
- degeneration of cells or tissues. — cataplastic, adj.
- cetology
- the study of whales. — cetologist, n. — cetological, adj.
- chemotropism
- growth or motion in response to a chemical stimulus. — chemotropic, adj.
- chiasmatypy
- the formation of chiasma, the basis for crossing over or the interchange of corresponding chromatid segments of homologous chromosomes with their linked genes. — chiasmatvpic, adj.
- chorology
- Biogeography. the study of organisms, especially their migrations and distribution. — chorologic, chorological, adj.
- commensalism
- the living together of two organisms in a relationship that is beneficial to one and has no effect on the other. — commensal, adj.
- consortism
- a relationship of mutual dependency between two living organisms.
- crustaceology
- the study of crustaceans. — crustaceologist, n. — crustaceological, adj.
- cryptobiosis
- Medicine. a state in which the signs of life of an organism have weakened to the point where they are barely measurable or no longer measurable. — cryptobiotic, adj.
- ctetology
- the branch of biology that studies the origin and development of acquired characteristics. — ctetologic, ctetological, adj.
- cytogenetics
- the branch of biology that studies the structural basis of heredity and variation in living organisms from the points of view of cytology and genetics. — cytogeneticist, n. — cytogenetic, cytogenetical, adj.
- cytology
- the branch of biology that studies the structure, growth, and pathology of cells. — cytologist, n. — cytologie, cytological, adj.
- diakinesis
- the final stage of prophase prior to the dissolution of the nuclear membrane. — diakinetic, adj.
- dialysis
- the process whereby colloids and crystalloids separate in solution by diffusion through a membrane. — dialytic, adj.
- diapause
- a period of rest or quiescence between phases of growth or reproduction.
- digenesis
- successive reproduction by two different processes, sexual in one generation and asexual in the following generation. — digenetic, adj.
- digitigradism
- Zoology. the condition of walking on the toes. — digitigrade, adj.
- dysmerogenesis
- a form of generation characterized by irregularity of constituent parts, which differ in function, time of budding, etc. Cf. eumerogenesis. — dysmerogenetic, adj.
- ecdysis
- the process of shedding skin or other covering, typical of snakes and some insects. Cf. endysis. — ecdysial, adj.
- ecology, oecology
- 1. the branch of biology that studies the relations between plants and animals and their environment. Also called bionomics, bionomy .
- 2. the branch of sociology that studies the environmental spacing and interdependence of people and institutions, as in rural or in urban settings. — ecologist, oecologist, n. — ecological, oecological, adj. — ecologically, oecologically, adv.
- electrobiology
- the study of electrical activity in organisms and of the effect of electricity on them. — electrobiologist, n. — electrobiological, adj.
- embryogeny
- the formation and growth of an embryo. — embryogenic, embryogenetic, adj.
- endogenesis, endogeny
- the formation of cells from within. — endogenous, adj. — endogenicity, n.
- endysis
- the growth of new scales, hair, plumage, etc. Cf. ecdysis. — endysial, adj.
- enzymology
- the branch of biology that studies fermentation and enzymes. Also called zymology. — enzymologist, n. — enzymologie, enzymological, adj.
- epicenism
- the state or quality of combining characteristics of both sexes. — epicenity, n. — epicene, adj.
- epigenesis
- the biological theory that germ cells are structureless and the embryo develops through the action of environment on the protoplasm. Cf. preformation. See also 46. BIRTH ; 122. DISEASE and ILLNESS ; 179. GEOLOGY . — epigenetic, adj.
- epigenesist
- a supporter of the theory of epigenesis.
- eumerogenesis
- generation by unit parts, as in the tape worm, in which each part repeats the one before. Cf. dysmerogenesis. — eumerogenetic, adj.
- galactosis
- the process of producing milk.
- galvanotropism
- growth or movement of an organism in response to an electric current. — galvanotropic, adj.
- gamogenesis
- the process of reproduction by the joining of gametes, a form of sexual reproduction. Also called zoogamy. — gamogenetic, adj.
- genetics
- the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in plants and animals. — geneticist, n. — genetic, adj.
- gnotobiotics
- a branch of biology that studies animals under germ-free conditions.
- Haeckelism
- theories and doctrines of Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919), German biologist and philosopher, especially the notion “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.” — Haeckelian, adj.
- heterogamete
- a gamete differing from the gamete with which it unites in sex, structure, size, or form. Cf. isogamete .
- heterogamy
- 1. the condition of being heterogamous, or reproducing sexually and asexually in alternating generations.
- 2. the process of indirect pollination. Cf. heterogenesis. — heterogamous, adj.
- heterogenesis
- 1. reproduction by a sexual and asexual process alternately. Cf. heterogamy .
- 2. reproduction in which the parent bears offspring different from itself. Cf. xenogenesis. — heterogenetic, adj.
- 3. abiogenesis.
- heterolysis
- the destruction of the cells of one species by the enzymes or lysins of another species. — heterolytic, adj.
- heterotopism
- heterotopy.
- heterotopy, heterotopia
- deviation from the normal ontogenetic sequence with regard to the placing of organs or other parts. Also heterotopism . See also 56. BRAIN . — heterotopous, adj.
- hexiology, hexicology
- the study of the effects of environment on an organism’s growth and behavior. — hexiological, hexicological, adj.
- histogenesis, histogeny
- the growth of organic tissues. — histogenic, histogenetic, adj.
- histography
- a treatise or other work on organic tissues, or histogenesis. — histographer , n. — histographic, histographical, adj.
- histolysis
- the disintegration or dissolution of organic tissues. — histolytic, adj.
- homodynamy
- the homology of serial segments. Cf. parhomology.
- homogenesis
- the normal course of generation in which the offspring resembles the parent from generation to generation. Cf. heterogenesis. — homogenetic , adj.
- homology
- 1. similarity of form or structure in two or more organisms owing to common descent.
- 2. similarity in form or structure between different parts of an organism owing to common origin. Cf. homodynamy. — homologous, adj.
- isogamete
- a gamete that is not sexually differentiated from the other gamete with which it unites. Cf. heterogamete.
- isogamy
- reproduction by means of the union of isogametes. — isogamous, adj.
- isogenesis
- the state or process of deriving from the same source or origins, as different parts deriving from the same embryo tissues. Also isogeny.
- isogonism
- production of similar reproductive parts from stocks that are dissimilar, as with certain hydroids. — isogonic, adj.
- isomorphism
- similarity in the form or structure of organisms that belong to a different species or genus. — isomorph , n. — isomorphic, adj.
- karyology
- a specialty within cytology that studies the anatomy of cell nuclei with emphasis upon the nature and structure of chromosomes. — karyologist , n. — karyologic, karyological, adj.
- kinetogenesis
- 1. the genesis of organic structure by kinetic processes.
- 2. the belief that the structure of animals is determined and produced by their movements. — kinetogenetic, adj.
- Lysenkoism
- the theories of the 20th-century Russian geneticist Trofim Lysenko, who argued that somatic and environmental factors have a greater influence on heredity than orthodox genetics has found demonstrable; now generally discredited.
- macrobiotics
- the branch of biology that studies longevity. — macrobiosis, n. — macrobiotist, n.
- malacology
- the study of molluscs. — malacologist, n.
- Mendelianism
- the principles or use of Mendel’s law. — Mendelian, n., adj.
- merisis
- any form of growth, especially as a product of cell division. Cf. auxesis. — meristic, adj.
- merogenesis
- the process of segmentation in which similar parts unite and form a complex individual entity from the aggregate of the parts. — merogenetic, adj.
- metagenesis
- alternation of generations across reproductive cycles. Cf. xenogenesis. — metagenetic, metagenic, adj.
- Michurinism
- the biological theory of Ivan Michurin who asserted the fundamental influence of environmental factors on heredity in contradiction of orthodox genetics. — Michurinist , n. — Michurinite, adj.
- microtomy
- the science or practice of preparing extremely thin slices of tissue, etc, cut by a microtome, for study under the microscope. — microtomist , n. — microtomic, adj.
- mimicry
- the ability of some creatures to imitate others, either by sound or appearance, or to merge with their environment for protective purposes. See also 310. PERFORMING . — mimic, mimical, adj.
- mitosis
- the normal process of cell division. — mitotic, adj.
- monogenesis
- 1. asexual processes of reproduction, as budding.
- 2. development of an ovum directly into a form like that of the parent, without metamorphosis. — monogenetic, adj.
- monosymmetry
- the state of being zygomorphic, or bilaterally symmetrie, or divisible into symmetrical halves by one plane only. Cf. zygomorphism. See also 316. PHYSICS . — monosymmetric, monosymmetrical, adj.
- morphology
- the study of the form and structure of plants and animals. — morphologist , n. — morphologic, morphological, adj.
- mutualism
- the living together of two organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship.
- neontology
- the scientific study of recently living plants and animals. — neontologist, n. — neontologic, neontological, adj.
- ontogenesis
- ontogeny. — ontogenetic, ontogenetical, adj.
- ontogeny
- the life cycle, development, or developmental history of an organism. Also ontogenesis. — ontogenic, adj. — ontogenic, adj.
- oogamy
- the union of sexually differentiated reproductive cells. — oogamous, adj.
- oogenesis
- the formative process of the ovum in preparation for fertilization and subsequent development. — oogenetic, adj.
- ooscopy
- observation of the development of an embryo inside an egg by means of an ooscope.
- organogenesis, organogeny
- the origin and growth of organs. — organogenetic, organogenic, adj.
- organography
- the scientific description of the organs of plants and animals. — organographist , n. — organographic, organographical, adj.
- organology
- the study of the structure and organs of plants and animals. — organologist , n. — organologic, organological, adj.
- organonomy
- 1. the laws of organic life.
- 2. the doctrine upon which these laws are based. — organonomic, adj.
- organonymy
- the nomenclature of organs. — organonymal , — organonymic, adj.
- orthogamy
- the property or process of self-fertilization, as in certain plants and animals. — orthogamous, adj.
- orthogenesis
- progressive evolution, leading to the development of a new form, as can be seen through successive generations. See also 376. SOCIETY . — orthogenetic, adj.
- ovism
- the theory that the female reproductive cell contains the entire organism and that the male cell does not contribute anything, merely initiating the growth of the female cell.
- ovology
- the study of the formation and structure of animal ova. — ovologist , n. — ovological, adj.
- palynology
- the science that studies live and fossil spores, pollen grains, and other microscopic plant structures. — polynologist, n. — polynological, adj.
- parabiosis
- the uniting of two individual organisms or animals anatomically and physiologically, under either experimental or natural conditions. — parabiotic, adj.
- parasitism
- the living together of two organisms in a relationship that is beneficial to one and destructive to the other. — parasitic, parasitical, adj.
- parasitology
- the branch of biology that studies parasites and parasitism. — parasitologist , n.
- parhomology
- the biological process of imitative homodynamy. — parhomologous , adj.
- parthenogenesis, parthogeny
- reproduction without fertilization, as certain ova, seeds and spores, insects, algae, etc. Also called unigenesis . — parthenogenetic, parthenogenic, adj.
- photoperiodism, photoperiodicity
- the effect on the growth and reproduction of plants or animals of varying exposures to light and darkness. Cf. thermoperiodism. — photoperiod, n. — photoperiodic, adj.
- photosynthesis
- the synthesis of complex organic substances from carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic salts, with sunlight as the energy source and a catalyst such as chlorophyll. — photosynthetic, adj.
- phototropism
- growth or motion in response to light. — phototropic, adj.
- physiogeny
- the history or science of the development or evolution of vital activities in the individual and the genesis of organic functions; a division of ontogeny. Also called physiogenesis. — physiogenetic, physiogenic, adj.
- phytobiology
- plant biology. — phytobiologist, n. — phytobiological, adj.
- pleomorphism, pleomorphy
- the existence of a plant or animal in two or more distinct forms during a life cycle. Also called polymorphism. — pleomorphic, pleomorphous, adj.
- polygenesis
- 1. derivation from more than one kind of cell in the generative process.
- 2. Also called polygenism . the theory that different species have descended from different original ancestors. Cf. monogenesis. — polygenic, polygenetic, adj.
- polyphagia, polyphagy
- the tendency to eat a wide variety of food. — polyphagist , n. — polyphagic, adj.
- polyzoism
- the character of being made up of a number of smaller organisms that are acting as a colony. — polyzoic, adj.
- preformation
- the theory that germ cells contain every part of the future organism in miniature form, future development being only a matter of increase in size. Cf. epigenesis .
- preformationism
- the theory that an organism is fully formed at conception and that reproduction is thereafter simply a process of growth. — preformationist, n.
- protozoology
- the study of protozoa, especially of those that cause disease. — protozoological, adj. — protozoologist , n.
- psychobiology
- 1. the branch of biology that studies the interactions of body and mind, especially as exhibited in the nervous system.
- 2. psychology as studied in terms of biology. — psychobiologist, n. — psychobiologic, psychobiological, adj.
- speciation
- the formation of new species.
- spermism
- an obsolete biological theory that stated that sperm contained the preformed germ or the embryo. — spermist, n.
- spongology
- the science and study of the sponges. — spongologist, n.
- sporogenesis
- 1. the process of reproduction by means of spores.
- 2. the formation and growth of spores. — sporogenetic, sporogenous, adj.
- stereotaxis
- orientation or movement of an organism in response to the stimulus of a solid object. Cf. stereotropism. — stereotactic, adj.
- stereotropism
- growth or movement determined by contact with a solid. Cf. stereotaxis. Also thigmotropism. — stereotropic, adj.
- stirpiculture
- selective breeding to develop strains with particular characteristics. — stirpicultural, adj.
- superfetation
- a conception occurring during a pregnancy from an earlier conception.
- symbiosis
- the living together of two dissimilar organisms; the relationship may be beneficial to both ( mutualism and symbiosis), beneficial to one without effect on the other ( commensalism ), beneficial to one and detrimental to the other ( parasitism ), detrimental to the first without any effect on the other (amensalism), or detrimental to both ( synnecrosis ). — symbiotic, adj.
- symphytism
- Rare. the tendency of two separate elements to grow together. — symphytic, adj.
- synecology
- the branch of ecology that studies the relation of various groups of organisms to their common environment. Cf. autecology.
- synnecrosis
- the living together of two organisms in a mutually destructive relationship.
- teratology
- the branch of biology that studies abnormal formations in animals or plants. — teratologist , n. — teratologie, teratological, adj.
- testaceology
- the study of the shell-bearing animals. — testaceological, adj.
- thermoperiodism, thermoperiodicity
- the effect on the growth and reproduction of plants or animals of timed exposures to varied temperatures. — thermoperiod, n. — thermoperiodic, adj.
- therology
- the study of animals. — therologist , n. — therologic, therological, adj.
- thigmotaxis
- involuntary response or reaction to the touch of outside objects or bodies, as in motile cells. — thigmotactic , adj.
- thigmotropism
- stereotropism. — thigmotropic , adj.
- ultrastructure
- the submicroscopic, elemental structure of protoplasm. — ultrastructural , adj.
- unigenesis
- parthenogenesis. — unigenetic , adj.
- uterogestation
- the process of gestation taking place in the womb from conception to birth.
- xenogenesis, xenogeny
- 1. abiogenesis; spontaneous generation.
- 2. metagenesis, or alternation of generations.
- 3. production of an offspring entirely different from either of the parents. — xenogenetic, xenogenic, adj.
- zoogamy
- gamogenesis. — zoogamous, adj.
- zygomorphism
- the state or quality of being bilaterally symmetrical, as certain organisms. Cf. monosymmetry. — zygomorphic, zygomorphous, adj.
- zygosis
- the biological process of conjugation; the union of cells or gametes. — zygose , adj.
- zymogenesis
- the process in which a zymogen becomes an enzyme, as in the fermentation process. — zymogenic, zymogenous, adj.
- zymology
- enzymology. — zymologist , n. — zymologic , adj.
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