Life Cycle, Processes & Properties, KID-MAS
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.
Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Sir John Graham Kerr was an English embryologist and pioneer in naval camouflage who greatly advanced knowledge......
ketogenic diet, dietary regime that eliminates or severely limits carbohydrates in favour of proteins and fats......
ketosis, metabolic disorder marked by high levels of ketones in the tissues and body fluids, including blood and......
kidney failure, partial or complete loss of kidney function. Kidney failure is classified as acute (when the onset......
kidney stone, concretion of minerals and organic matter that forms in the kidneys. Such stones may become so large......
king’s evil, scrofula (q.v.), or struma, a tuberculous swelling of the lymph glands, once popularly supposed to......
kinocilium, filamentous structure occurring on auditory hair cells in the inner ear that functions in the development......
kleptomania, recurrent compulsion to steal without regard to the value or use of the objects stolen. Although widely......
Klinefelter syndrome, disorder of the human sex chromosomes that occurs in males. Klinefelter syndrome is one of......
knee injuries, the common afflictions of the knee, a relatively fragile joint, as it is exposed to stress in daily......
Korsakoff syndrome, neurological disorder characterized by severe amnesia (memory loss). Many cases result from......
Aleksandr Onufriyevich Kovalevsky was a Russian founder of comparative embryology and experimental histology, who......
Maggie Kuhn was an American social activist who was central in establishing the group that became known as the......
kuru, infectious fatal degenerative disorder of the central nervous system found primarily among the Fore people......
kwashiorkor, condition caused by severe protein deficiency. Kwashiorkor is most often encountered in developing......
Rudolf Albert von Kölliker was a Swiss embryologist and histologist, one of the first to interpret tissue structure......
labour, in human physiology, the physical activity experienced by the mother during parturition (q.v.), or...
labyrinthitis, inflammation, either acute or chronic, of the inner ear (the labyrinth). It is often a complication......
labyrinthodont, a type of tooth made up of infolded enamel that provides a grooved and strongly reinforced structure.......
laceration, tearing of the skin that results in an irregular wound. Lacerations may be caused by injury with a......
lactose intolerance, inability to digest lactose, the predominant sugar in dairy products. It affects people by......
lag phase, period of bacterial cell growth in which the population remains constant as it adjusts to the environmental......
Lamaze, method of childbirth that involves psychological and physical preparation by the mother for the purpose......
Sir Edwin Ray Lankester was a British authority on general zoology at the turn of the 19th century, who made important......
larva, stage in the development of many animals, occurring after birth or hatching and before the adult form is......
laryngeal cancer, malignant tumour of the larynx (voice box). There are two types of tumours found on the larynx......
laryngeal hemiplegia, in horses, partial or complete paralysis of muscles controlling the vocal fold and other......
laryngectomy, surgical procedure to remove all or a portion of the larynx (voice box). The procedure most often......
laryngitis, inflammation of the larynx or voice box, caused by chemical or mechanical irritation or bacterial infection.......
late blight, disease of potato and tomato plants that is caused by the water mold Phytophthora infestans. The disease......
lateral line system, a system of tactile sense organs, unique to aquatic vertebrates from cyclostome fishes (lampreys......
lead poisoning, deleterious effect of a gradual accumulation of lead in body tissues, as a result of repeated exposure......
leaf blister, worldwide disease of many woody plants and ferns caused by fungi of the genus Taphrina. Peach leaf......
leaf miner, any of a number of insect larvae that live and feed within a leaf. Leaf miners include caterpillars......
learning, the alteration of behaviour as a result of individual experience. When an organism can perceive and change......
lecanemab, human monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Lecanemab clears away and blocks......
Legionnaire disease, form of pneumonia caused by the bacillus Legionella pneumophila. The name of the disease (and......
legume, fruit of plants in the pea family (Fabaceae). Most legumes are dehiscent fruits that release their seeds......
leishmaniasis, human protozoal infection spread by the bite of a sand fly (subfamily Phlebotominae). Leishmaniasis......
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,......
leprosy, chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, the peripheral nerves (nerves outside the brain and......
leptospirosis, acute systemic illness of animals, occasionally communicable to humans, that is characterized by......
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, hereditary metabolic disorder affecting the central nervous system and characterized by incoordination,......
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......
life cycle, in biology, the series of changes that the members of a species undergo as they pass from the beginning......
life span, the period of time between the birth and death of an organism. It is a commonplace that all organisms......
Frank Rattray Lillie was an American zoologist and embryologist, known for his discoveries concerning the fertilization......
lipid storage disease, any of a group of relatively rare hereditary disorders of fat metabolism, characterized......
lips, soft pliable anatomical structures that form the mouth margin of most vertebrates, composed of a surface......
Throughout history, certain diseases have left an indelible mark on humanity—claiming millions of lives, straining......
Infectious diseases have played a powerful role in shaping human history and still affect lives today—from sweeping......
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......
locomotion, in ethology, any of a variety of movements among animals that results in progression from one place......
Konrad Lorenz was an Austrian zoologist and the founder of modern ethology, the study of animal behaviour by means......
louping ill, viral disease mainly of sheep and red grouse, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The......
John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury was a banker, influential Liberal-Unionist politician, and naturalist who successfully......
lucid dreaming, phenomenon of sleep in which one is aware that one is dreaming. During lucid dreaming, individuals......
lumbago, pain in the lower (lumbar) portion of the back. Lumbago is considered by health professionals to be an......
lung cancer, disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells in the lungs. Lung cancer was first described......
lung congestion, distention of blood vessels in the lungs and filling of the alveoli with blood as a result of......
lung infarction, death of one or more sections of lung tissue due to deprivation of an adequate blood supply. The......
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......
lycanthropy, (from Greek lykos, “wolf ”; anthropos, “man”), mental disorder in which the patient believes that......
Lyme disease, tick-borne bacterial disease that is named for the town in the U.S. state of Connecticut in which......
lymphangitis, bacterial infection of the lymphatic vessels. The condition is caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus......
lymphedema, an abnormal condition in which poor function of the lymphatic system allows fluid to build up in the......
lymphocytic choriomeningitis, inflammation of the meninges (membranes covering the central nervous system) and......
lymphogranuloma venereum, infection of lymph vessels and lymph nodes by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis.......
lymphoma, any of a group of malignant diseases of the lymphatic system, usually starting in the lymph nodes or......
lysogeny, type of life cycle that takes place when a bacteriophage infects certain types of bacteria. In this process,......
Machiavellianism, the political theory of the Italian statesman and writer Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), as......
macroglossia, enlargement of the tongue, due to overdevelopment of the muscle or the accumulation of material within......
macula lutea, in anatomy, the small yellowish area of the retina near the optic disk that provides central vision.......
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......
magnesium deficiency, condition in which magnesium is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Magnesium is a......
major depressive disorder, mental disorder characterized by persistent hopelessness, disinterest in and lack of......
Pollination is essential to the perpetuation of the vast majority of the world’s wild plants—and thus the perpetuation......
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......
mandibulofacial dysostosis, a rare, genetic disorder, inherited as an autosomal-dominant trait and characterized......
mange, skin disease of animals caused by mite infestations, characterized by inflammation, itching, thickening......
mania, in psychiatric terminology, any abnormal or unusual state of excitement, as in the manic phase of bipolar...
maple syrup urine disease, inherited metabolic disorder involving leucine, isoleucine, and valine (a group of branch......
marasmus, a form of protein-energy malnutrition occurring chiefly from inadequate intake of both protein and calories.......
marble bone disease, rare disorder in which the bones become extremely dense, hard, and brittle. The disease progresses......
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......
