Biology, TER-VES
How do plants feed themselves? How did dogs evolve from wolves? What good is the appendix in humans, anyway? Such questions fall within the domain of biology, which seeks to understand living organisms and their vital processes (although the jury’s still out on what our appendixes are for). Biology’s diverse fields include botany, ecology, evolution, genetics, medicine, physiology, and zoology.
Biology Encyclopedia Articles By Title
teratology
teratology, branch of the biological sciences dealing with the causes, development, description, and classification......
teratoma
teratoma, rare tumor that originates from remnants of germ cells (the precursors of eggs and sperm) or germ layers......
Testcross
Testcross, the mating of an organism whose genetic constitution, or genotype, is unknown with an organism whose......
testis
testis, in animals, the organ that produces sperm, the male reproductive cell, and androgens, the male hormones.......
Testosterone
Testosterone, hormone produced by the male testis that is responsible for development of the male sex organs and......
The Arctic’s Seed-Filled Doomsday Fortress
Beyond the Arctic Circle lies the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world’s largest secure seed storage. Opened by......
The Human Brain Runs on Less Power than a Light Bulb
The human brain is one of the most complex structures known to science. It contains roughly 86 billion neurons,......
The Oldest Human Ancestor
In 2017, our family tree got a little taller: an international team of scientists identified well-preserved fossils......
The Real Science Behind Frankenstein
For those of us who got our introduction to Dr. Frankenstein and his monster from the movies, reading Mary Shelley’s......
theileriasis
theileriasis, any of a group of livestock diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Theileria (Gonderia),......
Thermoperiodicity
Thermoperiodicity, the growth or flowering responses of plants to alternation of warm and cool periods. Daily temperature......
Thermoplasma
Thermoplasma, (genus Thermoplasma), any of a group of prokaryotic organisms (organisms whose cells lack a defined......
Thermoreception
Thermoreception, sensory process by which different levels of heat energy (temperatures) in the environment and......
Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation, the maintenance of an optimum temperature range by an organism. Cold-blooded animals (poikilotherms)......
thoracic outlet syndrome
thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), name given for a spectrum of symptoms caused by compression of the brachial nerve......
thoracic squeeze
thoracic squeeze, compression of the lungs and thoracic (chest) cavity that occurs during a breath-holding dive......
three-parent baby
three-parent baby, human offspring produced from the genetic material of one man and two women through the use......
thrombocyte
thrombocyte, a small, nucleated, spindle-shaped cell of nonmammalian vertebrates that plays a role in the clotting......
thrombocytopathy
thrombocytopathy, any of several blood disorders characterized by dysfunctional platelets (thrombocytes), which......
thrombocytopenia
thrombocytopenia, abnormally low number of platelets (thrombocytes) in the circulation. Normal platelet counts......
thrombosis
thrombosis, formation of a blood clot in the heart or in a blood vessel. Factors that play a role in the formation......
thymus
thymus, pyramid-shaped lymphoid organ that, in humans, is immediately beneath the sternum (breastbone) at the level......
thyroid gland
thyroid gland, endocrine gland that is located in the anterior part of the lower neck, below the larynx (voice......
thyroid tumour
thyroid tumour, any of various benign tumours (adenomas) or malignant tumours (cancers) of the thyroid gland. Thyroid......
tinnitus
tinnitus, ringing or buzzing in the ears. An estimated one-third of adults experience tinnitus at some point in......
Tissue
Tissue, in physiology, a level of organization in multicellular organisms; it consists of a group of structurally......
tissue culture
tissue culture, a method of biological research in which fragments of tissue from an animal or plant are transferred......
toadstool
toadstool, any of various inedible or poisonous species of mushrooms (kingdom Fungi). See...
Today in History—June 24: The Outbreak of the Dancing Plague
On this day in 1374, the town of Aachen, Germany, went wild. Men, women, and children gathered in the streets.......
Today in History—March 26: Great Britain Passes the Murder Act
In 1752 Britain decided that homicide was punishable by dissection. It was during the era of the Bloody Code—a......
Today in History—September 15: Charles Darwin Visits the Galapagos Islands
Somewhere out there was a turtle and a mockingbird that changed human understanding of how life on Earth evolved.......
togavirus
togavirus, any of three genera of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) of the family Togaviridae. Flaviviruses,......
tongue-tie
tongue-tie, congenital shortening of the flap of mucous membrane (frenum) beneath the tongue, a condition that......
tonsillitis
tonsillitis, inflammatory infection of the tonsils caused by invasion of the mucous membrane by microorganisms,......
Torpor
Torpor, a state of lowered body temperature and metabolic activity assumed by many animals in response to adverse......
Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome, rare inherited neurological disorder characterized by recurrent motor and phonic tics (involuntary......
toxemia of pregnancy
toxemia of pregnancy, term formerly used to describe hypertensive conditions that can be induced by pregnancy.......
toxicological examination
toxicological examination, medical inspection of an individual who is, or is suspected of being, poisoned. In most......
toxicology
toxicology, study of poisons and their effects, particularly on living systems. Because many substances are known......
toxicology test
toxicology test, any of a group of laboratory analyses that are used to determine the presence of poisons and other......
toxoplasmosis
toxoplasmosis, infection of cells of the central nervous system, spleen, liver, and other organs by a parasite,......
Trace element
Trace element, in biology, any chemical element required by living organisms in minute amounts (that is less than......
trachea
trachea, in vertebrates and invertebrates, a tube or system of tubes that carries air. In insects, a few land arachnids,......
trachoma
trachoma, chronic inflammatory disease of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium-like microorganism......
transfection
transfection, technique used to insert foreign nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) into a cell, typically with the intention......
transfer RNA
transfer RNA (tRNA), small molecule in cells that carries amino acids to organelles called ribosomes, where they......
transferrin
transferrin, protein (beta1 globulin) in blood plasma that transports iron from the tissues and bloodstream to......
transformation
transformation, in biology, one of several processes by which genetic material in the form of “naked” deoxyribonucleic......
translation
translation, the synthesis of protein from RNA. Hereditary information is contained in the nucleotide sequence......
trapezius muscle
trapezius muscle, large, superficial muscle at the back of the neck and the upper part of the thorax, or chest.......
traumatic brain injury
traumatic brain injury, any damage to the brain from an applied force. The forces involved can be from direct contact,......
triceps muscle
triceps muscle, any muscle with three heads, or points of origin, particularly the large extensor along the back......
trichinosis
trichinosis, disorder resulting from infestation with roundworms of genus Trichinella, especially the small roundworm......
trichocyst
trichocyst, a structure in the cortex of certain ciliate and flagellate protozoans consisting of a cavity and long,......
trichomonad
trichomonad, any protozoan of the zooflagellate order Trichomonadida. Trichomonads have three to six flagella,......
Trichophyton
Trichophyton, genus of fungi that infects the skin, hair, and nails of humans and other animals. Fungi of this......
Tropism
Tropism, response or orientation of a plant or certain lower animals to a stimulus that acts with greater intensity......
truffle
truffle, (genus Tuber), edible subterranean fungus, prized as a food delicacy. True truffles are in the genus Tuber......
trypanosomiasis
trypanosomiasis, infectious disease in both humans and animals caused by certain members of the flagellate protozoa......
tuberculosis
tuberculosis (TB), infectious disease that is caused by the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In most......
tularemia
tularemia, acute infectious disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis known for its......
tumour
tumour, a mass of abnormal tissue that arises without obvious cause from preexisting body cells, has no purposeful......
turf toe
turf toe, sprain involving the big toe (hallux) metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the foot. The term turf toe......
turgor
turgor, Pressure exerted by fluid in a cell that presses the cell membrane against the cell wall. Turgor is what......
twin
twin, either of two young who are simultaneously born from one mother. Twinning, common in many animals, is of......
tympanic membrane
tympanic membrane, thin layer of tissue in the human ear that receives sound vibrations from the outer air and......
typhoid fever
typhoid fever, acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. The bacterium......
typhus
typhus, series of acute infectious diseases that appear with a sudden onset of headache, chills, fever, and general......
tyrosinemia
tyrosinemia, inherited inability of the body to metabolize normally the amino acid tyrosine. In the normal metabolic......
ulcer
ulcer, a lesion or sore on the skin or mucous membrane resulting from the gradual disintegration of surface epithelial......
Ulothrix
Ulothrix, genus of filamentous green algae (family Ulotrichaceae) found in marine and fresh waters. Each cell contains......
ultimobranchial gland
ultimobranchial gland, in biology, any of the small bodies in the pharynx that develop behind the fifth pair of......
umbilical cord
umbilical cord, narrow cord of tissue that connects a developing embryo, or fetus, with the placenta (the extra-embryonic......
ureter
ureter, duct that transmits urine from the kidney to the bladder. There normally is one ureter for each kidney.......
urethra
urethra, duct that transmits urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body during urination. The urethra is......
urethral gland
urethral gland, in male placental mammals, any of the glands that branch off the internal wall of the urethra,......
urethritis
urethritis, infection and inflammation of the urethra, the channel for passage of urine from the urinary bladder......
urinary bladder
urinary bladder, in most vertebrates, except birds, organ for the temporary storage of urine from the kidneys,......
urinary tract infection
urinary tract infection (UTI), in humans, inflammation of the renal system characterized by frequent and painful......
urinary tract obstruction
urinary tract obstruction, blockage or constriction at any point in the urinary tract that impedes the normal flow......
urination
urination, the process of excreting urine from the urinary bladder. Nerve centres for the control of urination......
urine
urine, liquid or semisolid solution of metabolic wastes and certain other, often toxic, substances that the excretory......
urogenital malformation
urogenital malformation, any defect in the organs and tissues responsible for the formation and excretion of urine......
Urogenital system
Urogenital system, in vertebrates, the organs concerned with reproduction and urinary excretion. Although their......
uterus
uterus, an inverted pear-shaped muscular organ of the female reproductive system, located between the bladder and......
uveitis
uveitis, inflammation of the uvea (or uveal tract), the middle layer of tissue surrounding the eye that consists......
vaccine-associated feline sarcoma
vaccine-associated feline sarcoma, malignant tumour of cats that develops at the site of a vaccine injection. The......
vacuole
vacuole, in biology, membrane-bound compartment within a cell, enclosed by a specialized membrane and filled with......
vagina
vagina, canal in female mammals that receives the male reproductive cells, or sperm, and is part of the birth canal......
vaginitis
vaginitis, inflammation of the vagina, usually due to infection. The chief symptom is the abnormal flow of a whitish......
Variation
Variation, in biology, any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species......
Vaucheria
Vaucheria, genus of yellow-green algae (family Vaucheriaceae), found nearly worldwide. Most species occur in fresh......
veganism
veganism, the theory or practice of abstaining from the consumption and use of animal products. While some vegans......
vegetarianism
vegetarianism, the theory or practice of living solely upon vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and nuts—with......
ventricle
ventricle, muscular chamber that pumps blood out of the heart and into the circulatory system. Ventricles occur......
ventricular septal defect
ventricular septal defect, opening in the partition between the two ventricles, or lower chambers, of the heart.......
vertebral column
vertebral column, in vertebrate animals, the flexible column extending from neck to tail, made of a series of bones,......
vertigo
vertigo, sensation of spinning or tilting or that one’s surroundings are rotating. Usually the state produces dizziness,......
vesicular exanthema of swine
vesicular exanthema of swine, viral disease of swine causing eruption of painful blisters on feet and snout. Blisters......
vesicular stomatitis
vesicular stomatitis, viral disease causing blisters in the mouths of cattle, horses, and mules and on the snouts......