Biology, CEL-CON
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
cell membrane
cell membrane, thin layer that surrounds every living cell, delimiting the cell from the environment around it.......
cell theory
cell theory, fundamental scientific theory of biology according to which cells are held to be the basic units of......
cell wall
cell wall, specialized form of extracellular matrix that surrounds every cell of a plant. The cell wall is responsible......
cellular respiration
cellular respiration, the process by which organisms combine oxygen with foodstuff molecules, diverting the chemical......
cellulitis
cellulitis, bacterial infection of the skin. Cellulitis can be caused by any bacteria that enters a superficial......
Central nervous system
Central nervous system (CNS), system of nerve tissue in vertebrates that consists of the brain and spinal cord.......
centromere
centromere, structure in a chromosome that holds together the two chromatids (the daughter strands of a replicated......
cephalic disorder
cephalic disorder, any of several conditions affecting the structure and function of the human brain and central......
Ceratium
Ceratium, genus of single-celled aquatic dinoflagellate algae (family Ceratiaceae) common in fresh water and salt......
cerebral palsy
cerebral palsy, a group of neurological disorders characterized by paralysis resulting from abnormal development......
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), clear, colorless liquid that fills and surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and provides......
cerebrum
cerebrum, the largest and uppermost portion of the brain. The cerebrum consists of the cerebral hemispheres and......
cervicitis
cervicitis, inflammation of the uterine cervix, the small, thick-walled tube that is the protruding extension of......
cestodiasis
cestodiasis, infestation with cestodes, a group of flattened and tapelike hermaphroditic worms that are intestinal......
chancre
chancre, typical skin lesion of the primary stage of infectious syphilis, usually appearing on the penis, labia,......
chanterelle
chanterelle, (Cantharellus cibarius), highly prized, fragrant, edible mushroom. It is bright yellow in color and......
character
character, in biology, any observable feature, or trait, of an organism, whether acquired or inherited. An acquired......
Charophyceae
Charophyceae, class of green algae (division Chlorophyta) commonly found in fresh water. The taxonomy of the group......
Chemoreception
Chemoreception, process by which organisms respond to chemical stimuli in their environments that depends primarily......
- Introduction
- Taste, Smell, Receptors
- Olfaction, Odorants, Receptors
- Taste, Smell, Interaction
- Bacteria, Insects, Fish
- Specialized chemosensory structures
- Pheromones, Olfaction, Taste
- Sex Attractant, Pheromones
- Aphrodisiac, Pheromones
- Foraging, Taste, Smell
- Chemical Defense, Signaling, Receptors
- Taste, Smell, Signaling
- Human, Animals, Smell
Chemotaxy
Chemotaxy, method of biological classification based on similarities in the structures of certain compounds among......
Chestnut blight
Chestnut blight, plant disease caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (formerly known as Endothia parasitica).......
chewing
chewing, up-and-down and side-to-side movements of the lower jaw that assist in reducing particles of solid food,......
chickenpox
chickenpox, contagious viral disease characterized by an eruption of vesicles (small blisters) on the skin. The......
chikungunya virus
chikungunya virus, infectious agent of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. The virus causes chikungunya......
chilblain
chilblain, an inflammatory swelling of the skin of the hands or feet, resulting from exposure to cold. The condition......
child behaviour disorder
child behaviour disorder, any deviation in conduct that is aggressive or disruptive in nature, that persists for......
child development
child development, the progressive maturation of perceptual, emotional, intellectual, and behavioral functions......
childhood disease and disorder
childhood disease and disorder, any illness, impairment, or condition that primarily affects infants and children,......
childhood disintegrative disorder
childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), a rare neurobiological disorder characterized by the deterioration of......
chimera
chimera, in genetics, an organism or tissue that contains at least two different sets of DNA, most often originating......
Chlorella
Chlorella, genus of green algae (family Chlorellaceae) found either singly or clustered in fresh or salt water......
Chloromonad
Chloromonad, any protozoan of the phytoflagellate order Chloromonadida, sometimes considered a member of the algal......
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll, any member of the most important class of pigments involved in photosynthesis, the process by which......
chloroplast
chloroplast, structure within the cells of plants and green algae that is the site of photosynthesis, the process......
Chlorosis
Chlorosis, symptom of plant disease in which normally green tissue is pale, yellow, or bleached. It results from......
choanoflagellate
choanoflagellate, any protozoan of the flagellate order Choanoflagellida (sometimes classified in the order Kinetoplastida)......
cholera
cholera, an acute infection of the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and characterized by......
chorea
chorea, neurological disorder characterized by irregular and involuntary movements of muscle groups in various......
chorea
chorea, in dogs, a disorder in which muscle spasms are prominent. It is usually associated with distemper, encephalitis,......
chromatid
chromatid, one of a pair of daughter strands of a replicated chromosome. Chromatids serve an essential role in......
chromatophore
chromatophore, pigment-containing cell in the deeper layers of the skin of animals. Depending on the colour of......
chromoblastomycosis
chromoblastomycosis, chronic fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that is characterized by the......
chromosomal disorder
chromosomal disorder, any syndrome characterized by malformations or malfunctions in any of the body’s systems,......
chromosome
chromosome, the microscopic threadlike part of the cell that carries hereditary information in the form of genes.......
chromosome number
chromosome number, precise number of chromosomes typical for a given species. In any given asexually reproducing......
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), progressive respiratory disease characterized by the combination......
chyle
chyle, lymph laden with fat that has been absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. The fat globules,......
chyme
chyme, a thick semifluid mass of partially digested food and digestive secretions that is formed in the stomach......
Chytridiomycota
Chytridiomycota, a phylum of fungi (kingdom Fungi) distinguished by having zoospores (motile cells) with a single,......
Chédiak-Higashi syndrome
Chédiak-Higashi syndrome, a rare inherited childhood disease characterized by the inability of white blood cells......
ciliaris muscle
ciliaris muscle, muscle of the ciliary body of the eye, between the sclera (white of the eye) and the fine ligaments......
ciliate
ciliate, any member of the protozoan phylum Ciliophora, of which there are some 8,000 species; ciliates are generally......
cilium
cilium, short eyelashlike filament that is numerous on tissue cells of most animals and provides the means for......
circadian rhythm
circadian rhythm, the cyclical 24-hour period of human biological activity. Within the circadian (24-hour) cycle,......
circulation
circulation, in anatomy and physiology, the continuous movement of blood throughout the body, driven by the pumping......
Circulatory system
Circulatory system, network of tissues, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and supporting components that transports......
cirrhosis
cirrhosis, irreversible change in the normal liver tissue that results in the degeneration of functioning liver......
Cladophora
Cladophora, genus of green algae (family Cladophoraceae) found growing attached to rocks or timbers submerged in......
cleavage
cleavage, in embryology, the first few cellular divisions of a zygote (fertilized egg). Initially, the zygote splits......
cleft lip
cleft lip, relatively common congenital deformity in which the central to medial upper lip fails to fuse properly......
cleft palate
cleft palate, congenital deformity in which the palatal shelves (in the roof of the mouth) fail to close during......
cleidocranial dysostosis
cleidocranial dysostosis, rare congenital, hereditary disorder characterized by collarbones that are absent or......
climatic adaptation
climatic adaptation, in physical anthropology, the genetic adaptation of human beings to different environmental......
Cloaca
Cloaca, (Latin: “sewer”), in vertebrates, common chamber and outlet into which the intestinal, urinary, and genital......
Clone
Clone, cell or organism that is genetically identical to the original cell or organism from which it is derived.......
clonorchiasis
clonorchiasis, chronic infection caused by the Chinese liver fluke (Clonorchis sinensis), a parasitic worm some......
clostridium
clostridium, (genus Clostridium), any of a genus of rod-shaped, usually gram-positive bacteria, members of which......
clubfoot
clubfoot, congenital twisting of the foot. In the most common type, called talipes equinovarus, the heel bends......
Clubroot
Clubroot, disease of plants of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) caused by the funguslike soil pathogen Plasmodiophora......
cluster headache
cluster headache, Vascular headache that recurs in clusters. Cluster headaches, which occur predominantly in men,......
cnidosporidian
cnidosporidian, any protozoan parasite of the subphylum Cnidospora. The approximately 1,100 known species are characterized......
coagulation
coagulation, in physiology, the process by which a blood clot is formed. The formation of a clot is often referred......
coccidiosis
coccidiosis, any of several gastrointestinal infections of humans and other animals produced by sporozoan parasites......
coccidium
coccidium, (class Conoidasida), any of a large group of protozoan parasites of the sporozoan type. Coccidia live......
Coccus
Coccus, in microbiology, a spherical-shaped bacterium. Many species of bacteria have characteristic arrangements......
coccygeus muscle
coccygeus muscle, muscle of the lower back that arises from the ischium (lower, rear portion of the hipbone) and......
coccyx
coccyx, curved, semiflexible lower end of the backbone (vertebral column) in apes and humans, representing a vestigial......
Codium
Codium, genus of about 140 species of marine green algae (family Codiaceae) usually found in deep pools along rocky......
coevolution
coevolution, the process of reciprocal evolutionary change that occurs between pairs of species or among groups......
coevolutionary alternation
coevolutionary alternation, in ecology, the process by which one species coevolves with several other species by......
Coffee rust
Coffee rust, devastating foliar disease of coffee plants caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix. Coffee rust has......
cohesion hypothesis
cohesion hypothesis, in botany, a generally accepted explanation of the rise of sap in vascular plants by means......
Cold-bloodedness
Cold-bloodedness, the state of having a variable body temperature that is usually only slightly higher than the......
colic
colic, in horses, any of a number of disease conditions that are associated with clinical signs of abdominal pain.......
coloboma
coloboma, failure of one or more structures in the eye to fuse during embryonic life, creating a congenital fissure......
colon
colon, the longest segment of the large intestine. The term colon is often used to refer to the entire large intestine.......
colony collapse disorder
colony collapse disorder (CCD), disorder affecting honeybee colonies that is characterized by sudden colony death,......
Colorado tick fever
Colorado tick fever, acute febrile viral infection usually transmitted to humans by the bite of the Rocky Mountain......
colorectal cancer
colorectal cancer, disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells within the large intestine (colon) or......
colour blindness
colour blindness, inability to distinguish one or more of the three colours red, green, and blue. Most people with......
coma
coma, state of unconsciousness, characterized by loss of reaction to external stimuli and absence of spontaneous......
common cold
common cold, acute viral infection that starts in the upper respiratory tract, sometimes spreads to the lower respiratory......
community ecology
community ecology, study of the organization and functioning of communities, which are assemblages of interacting......
- Introduction
- Keystone Species
- Succession, Species Interactions, Ecosystems
- Equilibrium, Diversity, Interactions
- Mutualism, Interactions, Symbiosis
- Interactions, Antagonism, Coexistence
- Grazing, Interactions, Ecosystems
- Interactions, Structure, Dynamics
- Commensalism, Interaction, Relationships
- Predator-Prey, Interactions, Dynamics
- Gene-for-Gene Coevolution
- Convergence, Interactions, Ecosystems
comorbidity
comorbidity, in medicine, a disease or condition that coexists with but often is independent of another disease......
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy, the comparative study of the body structures of different species of animals in order to understand......
complement
complement, in immunology, a complex system comprising a large number of proteins that act in concert to help eliminate......
complementation test
complementation test, in genetics, test for determining whether two mutations associated with a specific phenotype......
Computational biology
Computational biology, a branch of biology involving the application of computers and computer science to the understanding......
concussion
concussion, a temporary loss of brain function typically resulting from a relatively mild injury to the brain,......
congenital adrenal hyperplasia
congenital adrenal hyperplasia, any of a group of inherited disorders that are characterized by enlargement of......