Biology, DO -ERY
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 juryâs still out on what our appendixes are for). Biologyâs diverse fields include botany, ecology, evolution, genetics, medicine, physiology, and zoology.
Biology Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Do bees die after stinging?
The answer: it depends on the bee. There are more than 20,000 species of bees, with quite a bit of diversity when......
Do emperor penguins mate for life?
Emperor penguins do not mate for life. However, a male and a female often pair up for one breeding season. Emperor......
Do fish drink water?
Many marine fish, i.e., those that live in seawater, drink large quantities of water, while freshwater fish typically......
Do GM Foods Affect the Body Differently?
Genetically modified (GM) foods affect the body in the same way as non-GM foods. In fact, multiple studies comparing......
Do lobsters mate for life?
The cheerful and quirky Phoebe Buffayâplayed by Lisa Kudrow in the American sitcom Friendsâwould have us believe......
Do platypuses glow under UV light?
They do, and they are not the only mammals that show this trait. Biofluorescenceâin which an animal absorbs light......
Do Sharks Sleep?
It is a common misconception that sharks as a species never sleep because they must keep moving to stay alive.......
Do snakes sleep?
Snakes do sleep, but their sleep patterns are significantly different from those of mammals and birds. Snakes,......
Do We Really Swallow Spiders in Our Sleep?
The belief that we swallow an average of eight spiders in our sleep every year has become so ingrained in popular......
Do We Really Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain?
Itâs one of Hollywoodâs favorite bits of pseudoscience: human beings use only 10 percent of their brain, and awakening......
Do whales sleep?
Whales do sleep, but their sleep is quite different from what we typically understand as sleep in humans. Whales,......
Does Eating Turkey Make You Sleepy?
Contrary to popular belief, eating turkey itself does not cause drowsiness. The sleepiness that is often felt after......
Dolloâs law
Dolloâs law, biological principle, formulated about 1890 by Louis Dollo, a French-born Belgian paleontologist,......
Dolly
Dolly, female Finn Dorset sheep that lived from 1996 to 2003, the first clone of an adult mammal, produced by British......
Dombrock blood group system
Dombrock blood group system, classification of human blood based on the presence of certain glycoproteins, originally......
dominance
dominance, in genetics, greater influence by one of a pair of genes (alleles) that affect the same inherited character.......
Dormancy
Dormancy, state of reduced metabolic activity adopted by many organisms under conditions of environmental stress......
double vision
double vision, perceiving of two images of a single object. Normal binocular vision results from the brainâs fusion......
dourine
dourine, venereal disease of horses, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma equiperdum. The disease, which involves......
Downy mildew
Downy mildew, disease of plants, especially in cool humid regions, caused by several funguslike organisms of the......
drowning
drowning, suffocation by immersion in a liquid, usually water. Water closing over the victimâs mouth and nose cuts......
drug allergy
drug allergy, hypersensitivity reaction to therapeutic agents that occasionally occurs on subsequent exposure to......
drug overdose
drug overdose, ingestion or administration of a drug or drugs in an amount that exceeds recommended levels or quantities......
drug resistance
drug resistance, Property of a disease-causing organism that allows it to withstand drug therapy. In any population......
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), rare X-linked form of muscular dystrophy that affects about 1 in 3,500 to 5,000......
ductus deferens
ductus deferens, thick-walled tube in the male reproductive system that transports sperm cells from the epididymis,......
Duffy blood group system
Duffy blood group system, classification of human blood based on the presence of glycoproteins known as Fy antigens......
Dulse
Dulse, (Palmaria palmata), edible red alga (Rhodophyta) found along the rocky northern coasts of the Atlantic and......
duodenum
duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, which receives partially digested food from the stomach and begins......
Dupuytrenâs contracture
Dupuytrenâs contracture, flexion deformity of the hands caused by thickening of the fascia, or fibrous connective......
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease, widespread fungoid killer of elms (Ulmus species) and certain other trees, first described in......
dwarfism
dwarfism, condition of growth retardation resulting in abnormally short adult stature and caused by a variety of......
dysarthria
dysarthria, motor speech disorder in which neurological damage impairs the ability of nerves to send messages to......
dysentery
dysentery, infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the intestine, abdominal pain, and diarrhea with......
dysplasia
dysplasia, malformation of a bodily structure or tissue; the term most commonly denotes a malformation of bone.......
dystonia
dystonia, movement disorder characterized by the involuntary and repetitive contraction of muscle groups, resulting......
ear bone
ear bone, any of the three tiny bones in the middle ear of all mammals. These are the malleus, or hammer, the incus,......
ear disease
ear disease, any of the diseases or disorders that affect the human ear and hearing. Impaired hearing is, with......
ear, human
human ear, organ of hearing and equilibrium that detects and analyzes sound by transduction (or the conversion......
- Introduction
- Anatomy, Hearing, Balance
- Eardrum, Ossicles, Hearing
- Cochlea, Vestibule, Semicircular Canals
- Cochlea, Hearing, Balance
- Hearing, Cochlea, Organ of Corti
- Endolymph, Perilymph, Hearing
- Hearing, Anatomy, Physiology
- Sound Waves, Outer & Middle Ear
- Bone Conduction, Hearing, Vibration
- Cochlea, Hair Cells, Auditory Nerve
- Cochlear Nerve, Auditory Pathways
- Auditory Nervous System, Hearing, Sound
- Hearing Tests, Anatomy, Acoustics
- Balance, Vestibular, Physiology
eating disorders
eating disorders, atypical eating patterns, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, compulsive overeating, and pica......
Ebola
Ebola, contagious disease caused by a virus of the family Filoviridae that is responsible for a severe and often......
ebolavirus
ebolavirus, genus of viruses in the family Filoviridae, certain members of which are particularly fatal in humans......
Ecdysis
Ecdysis, the shedding of the outer body layer in some animals for growth or change in shape and body form. The......
echinococcosis
echinococcosis, formation of cysts, or hydatids, at the site of infestation by the larval form of Echinococcus......
ecology
ecology, study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. Some of the most pressing problems......
ectopic pregnancy
ectopic pregnancy, condition in which the fertilized ovum (egg) has become imbedded outside the uterine cavity.......
ectropion
ectropion, outward turning of the border (or margin) of the eyelid (usually the lower eyelids). The condition most......
edema
edema, in medicine, an abnormal accumulation of watery fluid in the intercellular spaces of connective tissue.......
Edwards v. Aguillard
Edwards v. Aguillard, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on June 19, 1987, ruled (7â2) that a Louisiana statute......
effective population size
effective population size, in genetics, the size of a breeding population, a factor that is determined by the number......
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), rare heritable disorder characterized primarily by great elasticity of the skin,......
ehrlichiosis
ehrlichiosis, any of a group of illnesses stemming from a tick-borne bacterial infection that affects humans and......
ejaculatory duct
ejaculatory duct, either of two hollow tubes, each formed by union of the ampulla of a ductus deferens (q.v.) and......
elastic fibre
elastic fibre, any of the yellowish branching fibres composed primarily of the protein elastin, frequently arranged......
elbow
elbow, in human anatomy, hinge joint formed by the meeting of the humerus (bone of the upper arm) and the radius......
electrical shock
electrical shock, the perceptible and physical effect of an electrical current that enters the body. The shock......
Electroreception
Electroreception, the ability to detect weak naturally occurring electrostatic fields in the environment. Electroreception......
embolism
embolism, obstruction of the flow of blood by an embolus, a particle or aggregate of substance that is abnormally......
embryo
embryo, the early developmental stage of an animal while it is in the egg or within the uterus of the mother. In......
embryology
embryology, the study of the formation and development of an embryo and fetus. Before widespread use of the microscope......
emergence
emergence, in evolutionary theory, the rise of a system that cannot be predicted or explained from antecedent conditions.......
emotional development
emotional development, emergence of the experience, expression, understanding, and regulation of emotions from......
empyema
empyema, accumulation of pus in a cavity of the body, usually in the pleura, which are the serous membranes covering......
encephalitis
encephalitis, from Greek enkephalos (âbrainâ) and itis (âinflammationâ), inflammation of the brain. Inflammation......
ENCODE
ENCODE, collaborative data-collection project begun in 2003 that aimed to inventory all the functional elements......
end-Triassic extinction
end-Triassic extinction, global extinction event occurring at the end of the Triassic Period (about 252 million......
endemic species
endemic species, in ecology, any species or other taxon whose geographic range or distribution is confined to a......
endocrine disruptor
endocrine disruptor, any chemical that mimics or interferes with the normal actions of hormones in the body. Endocrine......
Endocrine system
Endocrine system, any of the systems found in animals for the production of hormones, substances that regulate......
endocrine system, human
human endocrine system, group of ductless glands that regulate body processes by secreting chemical substances......
endocrinology
endocrinology, medical discipline dealing with the role of hormones and other biochemical mediators in regulating......
endometriosis
endometriosis, disorder of the female reproductive system characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue (uterine......
endoplasmic reticulum
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in biology, a continuous membrane system that forms a series of flattened sacs within......
endosperm
endosperm, tissue that surrounds and nourishes the embryo in the seeds of angiosperms (flowering plants). In some......
Enterobacter
Enterobacter, (genus Enterobacter), any of a group of rod-shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Enterobacter......
entomology
entomology, branch of zoology dealing with the scientific study of insects. The Greek word entomon, meaning ânotched,â......
entropion
entropion, inward turning of the border (or margin) of the eyelid (usually the lower eyelids), occurring most often......
ependymal cell
ependymal cell, type of neuronal support cell (neuroglia) that forms the epithelial lining of the ventricles (cavities)......
ephemeral
ephemeral, in botany, any short-lived plant, usually one that has one or more generations per year, growing only......
epicanthic fold
epicanthic fold, fold of skin across the inner corner of the eye (canthus). The epicanthic fold produces the eye......
epidemic
epidemic, an outbreak of disease that is temporarily of high prevalence, occurring in individuals within a specific......
epidemiology
epidemiology, branch of medical science that studies the distribution of disease in human populations and the factors......
epidermis
epidermis, in zoology, protective outermost portion of the skin. There are two layers of epidermis, the living......
epididymitis
epididymitis, inflammation of the epididymis, the cordlike structure that runs along the posterior of the testis......
epigenetics
epigenetics, the study of the chemical modification of specific genes or gene-associated proteins of an organism.......
epigenomics
epigenomics, the study of chemical changes that regulate the expression, or use, of the entire collection of DNA......
epilepsy
epilepsy, chronic neurological disorder characterized by sudden and recurrent seizures which are caused by an absence......
epithelium
epithelium, in anatomy, layer of cells closely bound to one another to form continuous sheets covering surfaces......
Epperson v. State of Arkansas
Epperson v. State of Arkansas, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on November 12, 1968, ruled (9â0) that an Arkansas......
Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), virus of the Herpesviridae family that is the major cause of acute infectious mononucleosis,......
equine encephalitis
equine encephalitis, severe viral disease of horses and mules, transmitted by mosquitoes. It sometimes affects......
equine infectious anemia
equine infectious anemia (EIA), disease of horses that is caused by a non-oncogenic (non-cancer-causing) retrovirus.......
equine respiratory disease
equine respiratory disease, a complex of infections of viral origin, including equine viral rhinopneumonitis (viral......
erector spinae
erector spinae, a deep muscle of the back; it arises from a tendon attached to the crest along the centre of the......
Ergot
Ergot, fungal disease of cereal grasses, especially rye, caused by species of the ascomycete fungus Claviceps.......
erysipelas
erysipelas, contagious infection of the skin and underlying tissue, caused by group A B-hemolytic streptococcus......
erysipelothrix infection
erysipelothrix infection, any of several infectious diseases caused by the widespread bacterium Erysipelothrix......
erythema
erythema, any abnormal redness of the skin. Erythema is caused by dilation and irritation of the superficial capillaries;......
erythrasma
erythrasma, a superficial skin infection marked by reddish brown scaly patches and attributed to the bacterium......
erythroblast
erythroblast, nucleated cell occurring in red marrow as a stage or stages in the development of the red blood cell,......