Biology, LAM-MET
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
Lamarckism, a theory of evolution based on the principle that physical changes in organisms during their lifetime—such......
Lamaze, method of childbirth that involves psychological and physical preparation by the mother for the purpose......
islets of Langerhans, irregularly shaped patches of endocrine tissue located within the pancreas of most vertebrates.......
large intestine, posterior section of the intestine, consisting typically of four regions: the cecum, colon, rectum,......
larva, stage in the development of many animals, occurring after birth or hatching and before the adult form is......
laryngeal hemiplegia, in horses, partial or complete paralysis of muscles controlling the vocal fold and other......
larynx, a hollow, tubular structure connected to the top of the windpipe (trachea); air passes through the larynx......
last universal common ancestor (LUCA), microorganism proposed to be the genetic ancestor of all domains of life—namely,......
late blight, disease of potato and tomato plants that is caused by the water mold Phytophthora infestans. The disease......
latissimus dorsi, widest and most powerful muscle of the back. It is a large, flat, triangular muscle covering......
laver, (genus Porphyra), genus of 60–70 species of marine red algae (family Bangiaceae). Laver grows near the high-water......
leaf blister, worldwide disease of many woody plants and ferns caused by fungi of the genus Taphrina. Peach leaf......
leishmaniasis, human protozoal infection spread by the bite of a sandfly. Leishmaniasis occurs worldwide but is......
lek, in animal behaviour, communal area in which two or more males of a species perform courtship displays. Lek......
lens, in anatomy, a nearly transparent biconvex structure suspended behind the iris of the eye, the sole function......
lens dislocation, abnormal position of the crystalline lens of the eye. The dislocation, which may be congenital,......
leptin receptor, molecule that receives and transmits signals from leptin, a hormone released from fat cells that......
leptospirosis, acute systemic illness of animals, occasionally communicable to humans, that is characterized by......
lesion, in physiology, a structural or biochemical change in an organ or tissue produced by disease processes or......
leukemia, a cancer of the blood-forming tissues characterized by a large increase in the numbers of white blood......
leukocytosis, abnormally high number of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood circulation, defined as more......
leukopenia, abnormally low number of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood circulation, defined as less than......
leukoplakia, precancerous tumour of the mucous membranes, usually seen in the mouth or on the tongue or cheeks,......
leukorrhea, flow of a whitish, yellowish, or greenish discharge from the vagina of the female that may be normal......
levator muscle, any of the muscles that raise a body part. In humans these include the levator anguli oris, which......
Lewis blood group system, classification of human blood based on the expression of glycoproteins called Lewis (Le)......
lichen, any of about 15,000 species of plantlike organisms that consist of a symbiotic association of algae (usually......
life cycle, in biology, the series of changes that the members of a species undergo as they pass from the beginning......
ligament, tough fibrous band of connective tissue that serves to support the internal organs and hold bones together......
limbic system, group of structures in the brain that governs emotions, motivation, olfaction (sense of smell),......
lipid storage disease, any of a group of relatively rare hereditary disorders of fat metabolism, characterized......
The fungus kingdom contains more than 99,000 known species distributed throughout the world. Fungi are extremely......
This is a list of prominent geneticists, organized alphabetically by country of birth or residence. Geneticists......
Tick-borne diseases are illnesses transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected tick. Ticks......
Vaccines are among the most effective tools available in modern medicine, offering protection against a wide range......
listeriosis, disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The bacterium has been isolated from humans......
liver, the largest gland in the body, a spongy mass of wedge-shaped lobes that has many metabolic and secretory......
liver cancer, any of several forms of disease characterized by tumours in the liver; benign liver tumours remain......
lophophore hypothesis, viewpoint that conodonts, small toothlike structures found as fossils in marine rocks over......
louping ill, viral disease mainly of sheep and red grouse, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The......
lung, in air-breathing vertebrates, either of the two large organs of respiration located in the chest cavity and......
lung plague, an acute bacterial disease producing pneumonia and inflammation of lung membranes in cattle, buffalo,......
lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation in various parts of the body. Three......
Lutheran blood group system, classification of human blood based on the presence of substances called Lutheran......
Lyme disease, tick-borne bacterial disease that is named for the town in the U.S. state of Connecticut in which......
lymph, pale fluid that bathes the tissues of an organism, maintaining fluid balance, and removes bacteria from......
lymphangitis, bacterial infection of the lymphatic vessels. The condition is caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus......
lymphatic system, a subsystem of the circulatory system in the vertebrate body that consists of a complex network......
lymphedema, an abnormal condition in which poor function of the lymphatic system allows fluid to build up in the......
lymphoblast, immature white blood cell that gives rise to a type of immune cell known as a lymphocyte. The nucleus......
lymphocyte, type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is of fundamental importance in the immune system because......
lymphocytic choriomeningitis, inflammation of the meninges (membranes covering the central nervous system) and......
lymphoid tissue, cells and organs that make up the lymphatic system, such as white blood cells (leukocytes), bone......
lymphoma, any of a group of malignant diseases of the lymphatic system, usually starting in the lymph nodes or......
lysosome, subcellular organelle that is found in nearly all types of eukaryotic cells (cells with a clearly defined......
macronucleus, relatively large nucleus believed to influence many cell activities. It occurs in suctorian and ciliate......
macrophage, type of white blood cell that helps eliminate foreign substances by engulfing foreign materials and......
macular degeneration, group of blinding disorders that cause the gradual deterioration of the retina in the eye.......
maggot, soft-bodied grub that is the larva of many dipterous flies. About half of fly species produce larvae that......
major histocompatibility complex (MHC), group of genes that code for proteins found on the surfaces of cells that......
malaria, serious relapsing infection in humans, characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever, anemia,......
malformation, in biology, irregular or abnormal structural development. Malformations occur in both plants and......
malnutrition, physical condition resulting either from a faulty or inadequate diet (i.e., a diet that does not......
malpighian tubule, in insects, any of the excretory organs that lie in the abdominal body cavity and empty into......
mammalogy, scientific study of mammals. Interest in nonhuman mammals dates far back in prehistory, and the modern......
mammary gland, milk-producing gland characteristic of all female mammals and present in a rudimentary and generally......
mange, skin disease of animals caused by mite infestations, characterized by inflammation, itching, thickening......
mantle, in biology, soft covering, formed from the body wall, of brachiopods and mollusks; also, the fleshy outer......
marble bone disease, rare disorder in which the bones become extremely dense, hard, and brittle. The disease progresses......
Marburgvirus, genus of viruses in family Filoviridae, known for causing severe disease in humans and other primates.......
Marek’s disease, highly contagious, often fatal malignancy of chickens that affects the nerves and visceral organs......
Marfan syndrome, rare hereditary connective tissue disorder that affects most notably the skeleton, heart, and......
marine biology, the science that deals with animals and plants that live in the sea. It also deals with airborne......
marine bioluminescence, heatless light generated chemically by marine organisms. Bioluminescence is exhibited by......
mass extinction event, any circumstance that results in the loss of a significant portion of Earth’s living species......
masseter, (from Greek masasthai, “to chew”), prominent muscle of the jaw. The masseter arises from the zygomatic......
mast cell, tissue cell of the immune system of vertebrate animals. Mast cells mediate inflammatory responses such......
maternal imagination, idea that maternal thoughts during pregnancy are transmitted directly to the developing fetus,......
matsutake mushroom, (Tricholoma matsutake), prized edible and medicinal wood-dwelling fungus of the family Tricholomataceae......
measles, contagious viral disease marked by fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic rash. Measles is......
mechanism, in philosophy, the predominant form of Materialism, which holds that natural phenomena can and should......
mechanoreception, ability of an animal to detect and respond to certain kinds of stimuli—notably touch, sound,......
Mediterranean diet, popular diet based on the eating patterns of people living in the Mediterranean region. It......
medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brain and the lowest portion of the brainstem. The medulla oblongata......
meiosis, division of a germ cell involving two fissions of the nucleus and giving rise to four gametes, or sex......
melanocyte, specialized skin cell that produces the protective skin-darkening pigment melanin. Birds and mammals......
melanoma, a spreading and frequently recurring cancer of melanocytes, specialized skin cells that produce the protective......
melioidosis, a bacterial infection in humans and animals caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (Pseudomonas pseudomallei).......
melorheostosis, rare disorder of unknown cause in which cortical bone overgrowth occurs along the main axis of......
membrane, in biology, the thin layer that forms the outer boundary of a living cell or of an internal cell compartment.......
memory disorder, any of various conditions, including certain diseases, that affect the ability to remember. Disorders......
Mendelian inheritance, the principles of heredity formulated by Austrian-born botanist, teacher, and Augustinian......
meninges, three membranous envelopes—pia mater, arachnoid, and dura mater—that surround the brain and spinal cord.......
menopause, permanent cessation of menstruation that results from the loss of ovarian function and therefore represents......
mental disorder, any illness with significant psychological or behavioral manifestations that is associated with......
- Introduction
- Anxiety, Depression, PTSD
- Genetics, Environment, Stress
- Personality Development, Trauma, Genetics
- Behavioral Etiology
- Schizophrenia, Symptoms, Treatment
- Mood Disorders, Symptoms, Treatment
- Anxiety, Panic, Phobias
- Dissociation, Amnesia, Identity
- Borderline, Symptoms, Treatment
- Eating Disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia
- Therapy, Medication, Support
- Psychotherapy, Treatment, Causes
- Deinstitutionalization, Treatment, Causes
- Antipsychotics, Treatment, Medication
- Psychotherapy, Treatment, Recovery
- Behavioral Psychotherapy
- Group Psychotherapy
MERS, acute viral respiratory illness that is characterized primarily by cough, fever, and shortness of breath......
mesentery, a continuous folded band of membranous tissue (peritoneum) that is attached to the wall of the abdomen......
mesonephros, permanent kidney of amphibians and most fish, developing posterior to and replacing the pronephros......
messenger RNA (mRNA), molecule in cells that carries codes from the DNA in the nucleus to the sites of protein......
metabolic bone disease, any of several diseases that cause various abnormalities or deformities of bone. Examples......
