Glossary of terms used on this site

area in the lung that lacks proper ventilation or perfusion

area in the lung that lacks proper ventilation or perfusion

area within an ecosystem in lakes and near the mouths of rivers where large areas of ecosystems are depleted of their normal flora and fauna; these zones can be caused by eutrophication, oil spills, dumping of toxic chemicals, and other human activities

number of deaths within a population at a specific point in time

organism that carries out the decomposition of dead organisms

form of logical thinking that uses a general inclusive statement to forecast specific results

(of the genetic code) describes that a given amino acid can be encoded by more than one nucleotide triplet; the code is degenerate, but not ambiguous

reaction that links monomer molecules together, releasing a molecule of water for each bond formed.

modern model of population dynamics incorporating many features of the r- and K-selection theory

statistical study of changes in populations over time

loss of shape in a protein as a result of changes in temperature, pH, or exposure to chemicals.

process that changes a subtance's natural properties

structure that extends away from the cell body to receive messages from other neurons

immune cell that processes antigen material and presents it on the surface of other cells to induce an immune response

transformation of nitrate from soil to gaseous nitrogen compounds such as N2O, NO, and N2