Life Cycle, Processes & Properties, HOW-ITC

None of us are born looking exactly the way that we do today; this is because humans, like other species, undergo a series of changes as they mature and age, in accordance with their biological life cycle. This process can look very different across different species. In many simple organisms and in higher animals, the life cycle is completed within a single generation, while in most plants, the life cycle is multigenerational.
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Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title

How Long Does It Take Food to Digest?
The process of food digestion typically takes between 24 and 72 hours. The precise length of time is determined......
How Long Does It Take for Rigor Mortis to Set In?
Rigor mortis typically sets in about two to six hours after death, beginning with the smaller muscles of the body,......
How Many Eyes Does a Spider Have?
Spiders typically have eight eyes, although some species may have fewer. The number and arrangement of eyes can......
How Many Teeth Does a Shark Have?
The number of teeth a shark has can vary significantly depending on the species, but some species may go through......
How Other Species Learn
In the wild, animals don’t live and learn. They learn and live. Knowledge equals survival. Certain knowledge is......
How Rye Bread May Have Caused the Salem Witch Trials
In 1692 the small Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts, was plagued by a sudden and brief cloud of witchcraft......
How Strong Is a Shark’s Bite?
When it comes to mighty bites, sharks are exceptionally powerful. In fact, the great white shark has one of the......
How the First Surviving Quintuplets Became a Tourist Attraction
On May 28, 1934, a miracle happened. In a modest farmhouse in Corbeil, Ontario, Canada, parents Oliva and Elzire......
human aging
human aging, physiological changes that take place in the human body leading to senescence, the decline of biological......
human development
human development, the process of growth and change that takes place between birth and maturity. Human growth is......
human leukocyte antigen
human leukocyte antigen (HLA), any of the numerous antigens (substances capable of stimulating an immune response)......
Hunter’s syndrome
Hunter’s syndrome, rare sex-linked hereditary disorder that varies widely in its severity but is generally characterized......
Huntington disease
Huntington disease , a relatively rare, and invariably fatal, hereditary neurological disease that is characterized......
Hurler’s syndrome
Hurler’s syndrome, one of several rare genetic disorders involving a defect in the metabolism of mucopolysaccharides,......
Huxley, Sir Julian
Sir Julian Huxley was an English biologist, philosopher, educator, and author who greatly influenced the modern......
Hwang Woo-Suk
Hwang Woo-Suk is a South Korean scientist whose revolutionary claims of having cloned human embryos from which......
hydatidiform mole
hydatidiform mole, in human pregnancy, abnormal growth of the chorion, the outermost vascular membrane that in......
hydramnios
hydramnios, excess of amniotic fluid, the liquid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus. Chronic hydramnios, in......
hydrocele
hydrocele, excessive accumulation of fluids in the scrotal sac that surrounds the testes in the male reproductive......
hydrocephalus
hydrocephalus, accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain, causing......
hyperaldosteronism
hyperaldosteronism, increased secretion of the hormone aldosterone by the cells of the zona glomerulosa (the outer......
hyperammonemia
hyperammonemia, disorder due to excessive amounts of ammonia in the blood caused by a genetic defect present at......
hypercalcitoninemia
hypercalcitoninemia, abnormally high blood concentrations of calcitonin, a protein hormone secreted by parafollicular......
hyperglycemia
hyperglycemia, elevation of blood glucose concentrations above the normal range; it is the laboratory finding that......
hyperhidrosis
hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, either general or local. A person may sweat profusely in armpits and on palms,......
hyperkeratosis
hyperkeratosis, in cattle, a disease characterized by inflammation and thickening of the horny covering of the......
hyperopia
hyperopia, refractive error or abnormality in which the cornea and lens of the eye focus the image of the visual......
hyperparathyroidism
hyperparathyroidism, abnormal increase in the secretion of parathormone by one or more parathyroid glands. Hyperparathyroidism......
hypertension
hypertension, condition that arises when the blood pressure is abnormally high. Hypertension occurs when the body’s......
hyperthelia
hyperthelia, abnormal presence of accessory nipples, a condition of relatively frequent occurrence (1 percent of......
hyperthyroidism
hyperthyroidism, excess production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. Most patients with hyperthyroidism......
hypertrichosis
hypertrichosis, excessive abnormal hairiness that may be localized or cover the entire body. Hypertrichosis is......
hypoaldosteronism
hypoaldosteronism, abnormally low serum levels of aldosterone, a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal gland.......
hypoglycemia
hypoglycemia, reduction of the concentration of glucose in the blood below normal levels, commonly occurring as......
hypogonadism
hypogonadism, in men, decreased testicular function that results in testosterone deficiency and infertility. Hypogonadism......
hypoparathyroidism
hypoparathyroidism, inadequate secretion of parathormone. Hypoparathyroidism can be due to decreased secretion......
hypophosphatasia
hypophosphatasia, rare hereditary disorder characterized by very low levels of tissue and serum alkaline phosphatase......
hypophosphatemia
hypophosphatemia, reduction in the concentration of phosphate in the blood serum, thus disrupting the body’s energy......
hypopituitarism
hypopituitarism, deficiency of pituitary hormones caused by damage to the pituitary gland. Patients may have a......
hypoprothrombinemia
hypoprothrombinemia, disease characterized by a deficiency of the blood-clotting substance prothrombin, resulting......
hypotension
hypotension, condition in which the blood pressure is abnormally low, either because of reduced blood volume or......
hypothermia
hypothermia, abnormally low body temperature in a warm-blooded creature, associated with a general slowing of physiologic......
hypothyroidism
hypothyroidism, a deficiency in hormone production by the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism usually results from a......
hypoxia
hypoxia, in biology and medicine, condition of the body in which the tissues are starved of oxygen. In its extreme......
hystero-epilepsy
hystero-epilepsy, hysterical seizures that resemble epilepsy and, in diagnosis, must be distinguished from it.......
ich
ich, parasitic disease that affects a variety of freshwater fish species and that is caused by the ciliated protozoan......
ichthyosis
ichthyosis, a hereditary condition involving dryness and scaliness of the skin brought about by excessive growth......
ileitis
ileitis, chronic inflammation of one or more sections of the intestine. In its strict sense, the term refers to......
iliotibial band syndrome
iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), inflammation of the band of fibrous tissue known as the iliotibial band (or tract),......
illness anxiety disorder
illness anxiety disorder, mental disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with illness and a tendency......
iminoglycinuria
iminoglycinuria, inborn impairment of the transport system of the kidney tubules, which normally reabsorb the amino......
immersion foot
immersion foot, a painful disorder of the foot involving damage to the skin, nerves, and muscle that is caused......
immunization
immunization, process by which resistance to disease is acquired or induced in plants and animals. This discussion......
immunodeficiency
immunodeficiency, defect in immunity that impairs the body’s ability to resist infection. The immune system may......
impact injury
impact injury, the damage caused by the collision of a body with a moving or stationary object. Impact injuries......
impetigo
impetigo, inflammatory skin infection that begins as a superficial blister or pustule that then ruptures and gives......
implantation
implantation, in reproduction physiology, the adherence of a fertilized egg to a surface in the reproductive tract,......
imposter syndrome
imposter syndrome, a persistent unjustified feeling that one’s success is fraudulent. Imposter syndrome is characterized......
impotence
impotence, in general, the inability of a man to achieve or maintain penile erection and hence the inability to......
inborn error of metabolism
inborn error of metabolism, any of multiple rare disorders that are caused by an inherited genetic defect and that......
incidence
incidence, in epidemiology, occurrence of new cases of disease, injury, or other medical conditions over a specified......
incontinence
incontinence, inability to control the excretion of urine or feces. Starting and stopping urination relies on normal......
index case
index case, in public health, the first case of a disease or other condition that is noticed by health authorities.......
indigestion
indigestion, any or all of the symptoms—abdominal discomfort, belching, flatulence, aversion to eating, nausea,......
induction
induction, in embryology, process by which the presence of one tissue influences the development of others. Certain......
industrial melanism
industrial melanism, the darkness—of the skin, feathers, or fur—acquired by a population of animals living in an......
infancy
infancy, among humans, the period of life between birth and the acquisition of language approximately one to two......
infant and toddler development
infant and toddler development, the physical, emotional, behavioral, and mental growth of children from ages 0......
infantile hemangioma
infantile hemangioma, a congenital benign tumour made up of endothelial cells (the cells lining the inner surface......
infarction
infarction, death of tissue resulting from a failure of blood supply, commonly due to obstruction of a blood vessel......
infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis
infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva or the cornea of the eye in cattle as......
inferiority complex
inferiority complex, a psychological sense of inferiority that is wholly or partly unconscious. The term has been......
infertility
infertility, the inability of a couple to conceive and reproduce. Infertility is defined as the failure to conceive......
inflammation
inflammation, a response triggered by damage to living tissues. The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism......
inflammatory bowel disease
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic inflammation of the intestines that results in impaired absorption of......
influenza
influenza, an acute viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract that is marked by fever, chills, and......
Influenza Pandemic of 1918–19 Chart
This infographic explains what influenza and pandemics are and how the influenza pandemic of 1918–19 spread. That......
inner ear
inner ear, part of the ear that contains organs of the senses of hearing and equilibrium. The bony labyrinth, a......
insect bite and sting
insect bite and sting, break in the skin or puncture caused by an insect and complicated by introduction into the......
insomnia
insomnia, the inability to sleep adequately. Causes may include poor sleeping conditions, circulatory or brain......
intersex
intersex, in biology, an organism having physical characteristics intermediate between a true male and a true female......
intestinal gas
intestinal gas, material contained within the digestive tract that consists principally of swallowed air and partly......
intestinal obstruction
intestinal obstruction, functional or mechanical blockage of the alimentary canal. Functional blockage occurs when......
intestinal squeeze
intestinal squeeze, pain and possible injury to the small or large intestine caused by expansion of trapped gases......
intestine
intestine, tubular part of the alimentary canal that extends from the stomach to the anus. The intestine is the......
intussusception
intussusception, telescoping of a segment of the intestine into an adjacent segment, producing a mechanical obstruction......
iodine deficiency
iodine deficiency, condition in which iodine is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Iodine is an element......
ionizing radiation injury
ionizing radiation injury, tissue destruction or changes caused by deeply penetrating electromagnetic waves of......
iris
iris, in anatomy, the colored muscular part of the eye surrounding the pupil, the small black opening in the center.......
iron-deficiency anemia
iron-deficiency anemia, anemia that develops due to a lack of the mineral iron, the main function of which is in......
irritable bowel syndrome
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), relatively common disorder of the intestines characterized by abdominal pain, intestinal......
Is It Really Dangerous to Swim After Eating?
Common wisdom holds that it is unsafe to swim after eating unless one waits for some prescribed period of time—usually......
Is It Safe to Reopen Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
When it comes to reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting student and teacher health is of utmost......
Is It True That Squirrels Forget Where They Bury About Half of Their Food?
The verdict is out on whether squirrels forget about half of the nuts they bury: surely some squirrels do. Forgotten......
Is Spontaneous Human Combustion Real?
Late at night on Christmas Eve 1885, in the small farming town of Seneca, Illinois, a woman named Matilda Rooney......
Is There a Cure for HIV Infection?
No, there is no cure yet for infection with HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus. In fact, despite multiple reports......
itching
itching, a stimulation of free nerve endings, usually at the junction of the dermis and epidermis of the skin,......

Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title

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