Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
without worrying about replicating a mechanism or theoretical
principle.
Cultured cells
: See
Cell culture
.
Cytokines
: Proteins with various functions secreted by the cells of
the immune system.
Dendrite
: See
Neuron
.
Differentiated cell
: See
Cell differentiation
.
Diffusion
: See
Thermal agitation
.
Diploid
: Diploid organisms have two sets of homologous chromo-
somes, each arising from one of the two parents.
Epigenetic modifications
: See
Protein synthesis
.
Essentialism
: Philosophy which gives pre-eminence to essences.
Generally, these essences are Aristotelian forms. There is said to be
immanent order and finality in the world because every thing is
determined by its underlying essence which it seeks to manifest.
Essentialism and the reality of the species go hand in glove since a
species is a set of things having the same essence.
Eukaryote
: Organism in which the cell or cells contain numerous
organelles delimited by membranes, particularly the nucleus which
contains the DNA associated with the proteins in the chromatin
(See
Chromatin
).
Evolutionary synthesis
(or synthetic theory of evolution):
Predominant theory of contemporary biology resulting from the
synthesis that occurred towards the middle of the 20th century
between original Darwinism and the contributions made by other
