Life Cycle, Processes & Properties, LUN-MOR

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

lung infarction
lung infarction, death of one or more sections of lung tissue due to deprivation of an adequate blood supply. The......
lung plague
lung plague, an acute bacterial disease producing pneumonia and inflammation of lung membranes in cattle, buffalo,......
lupus erythematosus
lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation in various parts of the body. Three......
lycanthropy
lycanthropy, (from Greek lykos, “wolf ”; anthropos, “man”), mental disorder in which the patient believes that......
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, tick-borne bacterial disease that was first conclusively identified in 1975 and is named for the......
lymphangitis
lymphangitis, bacterial infection of the lymphatic vessels. The condition is caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus......
lymphedema
lymphedema, an abnormal condition in which poor function of the lymphatic system allows fluid to build up in the......
lymphocytic choriomeningitis
lymphocytic choriomeningitis, inflammation of the meninges (membranes covering the central nervous system) and......
lymphogranuloma venereum
lymphogranuloma venereum, infection of lymph vessels and lymph nodes by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis.......
lymphoma
lymphoma, any of a group of malignant diseases of the lymphatic system, usually starting in the lymph nodes or......
lysogeny
lysogeny, type of life cycle that takes place when a bacteriophage infects certain types of bacteria. In this process,......
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism, the political theory of the Italian statesman and writer Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), as......
macroglossia
macroglossia, enlargement of the tongue, due to overdevelopment of the muscle or the accumulation of material within......
macula lutea
macula lutea, in anatomy, the small yellowish area of the retina near the optic disk that provides central vision.......
macular degeneration
macular degeneration, group of blinding disorders that cause the gradual deterioration of the retina in the eye.......
maggot
maggot, soft-bodied grub that is the larva of many dipterous flies. About half of fly species produce larvae that......
magnesium deficiency
magnesium deficiency, condition in which magnesium is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Magnesium is a......
major depressive disorder
major depressive disorder, mental disorder characterized by persistent hopelessness, disinterest in and lack of......
major types of pollinators
Pollination is essential to the perpetuation of the vast majority of the world’s wild plants—and thus the perpetuation......
malaria
malaria, serious relapsing infection in humans, characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever, anemia,......
malformation
malformation, in biology, irregular or abnormal structural development. Malformations occur in both plants and......
malnutrition
malnutrition, physical condition resulting either from a faulty or inadequate diet (i.e., a diet that does not......
mandibulofacial dysostosis
mandibulofacial dysostosis, a rare, genetic disorder, inherited as an autosomal-dominant trait and characterized......
mange
mange, skin disease of animals caused by mite infestations, characterized by inflammation, itching, thickening......
mania
mania, in psychiatric terminology, any abnormal or unusual state of excitement, as in the manic phase of bipolar...
maple syrup urine disease
maple syrup urine disease, inherited metabolic disorder involving leucine, isoleucine, and valine (a group of branch......
marasmus
marasmus, a form of protein-energy malnutrition occurring chiefly from inadequate intake of both protein and calories.......
marble bone disease
marble bone disease, rare disorder in which the bones become extremely dense, hard, and brittle. The disease progresses......
Marek’s disease
Marek’s disease, highly contagious, often fatal malignancy of chickens that affects the nerves and visceral organs......
Marfan syndrome
Marfan syndrome, rare hereditary connective tissue disorder that affects most notably the skeleton, heart, and......
marine bioluminescence
marine bioluminescence, heatless light generated chemically by marine organisms. Bioluminescence is exhibited by......
Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome
Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, uncommon hereditary metabolic disease characterized by dwarfism, hearing loss, and progressive......
masochism
masochism, psychosexual disorder in which erotic release is achieved through having pain inflicted on oneself.......
mast seeding
mast seeding, the production of many seeds by a plant every two or more years in regional synchrony with other......
mastitis
mastitis, inflammation of the breast in women or of the udder in sheep, swine, and cattle. Acute mastitis in women......
mastoiditis
mastoiditis, inflammation of the mastoid process, a projection of the temporal bone just behind the ear. Mastoiditis,......
maternal imagination
maternal imagination, idea that maternal thoughts during pregnancy are transmitted directly to the developing fetus,......
McArdle disease
McArdle disease, rare hereditary deficiency of the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase in muscle cells. In the absence......
McLaren, Dame Anne
Dame Anne McLaren was an English geneticist who pioneered fundamental advances in mammalian genetics and embryology......
measles
measles, contagious viral disease marked by fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic rash. Measles is......
measuring worm
measuring worm, (family Geometridae), the larva of any of a large group of moths in the order Lepidoptera. Because......
mechanoreception
mechanoreception, ability of an animal to detect and respond to certain kinds of stimuli—notably touch, sound,......
mediastinal emphysema
mediastinal emphysema, pocket of air surrounding the heart and central blood vessels contained within the mediastinum......
mediastinitis
mediastinitis, inflammation of the tissue around the heart, aortic artery, and entrance (hilum) to the lungs, located......
medicinal poisoning
medicinal poisoning, harmful effects on health of certain therapeutic drugs, resulting either from overdose or......
medullary thyroid carcinoma
medullary thyroid carcinoma, tumour of the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid gland. It occurs both......
megacolon
megacolon, massive enlargement and dilation of the large intestine (colon). The two main types of the syndrome......
meiosis
meiosis, division of a germ cell involving two fissions of the nucleus and giving rise to four gametes, or sex......
melancholia
melancholia, formerly the psychological condition known as depression. The term now refers to extreme features......
melanin
melanin, a dark biological pigment (biochrome) occurring in the skin, hair, feathers, scales, eyes, and some internal......
melanoma
melanoma, a spreading and frequently recurring cancer of specialized skin cells (melanocytes) that produce the......
melioidosis
melioidosis, a bacterial infection in humans and animals caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (Pseudomonas pseudomallei).......
melorheostosis
melorheostosis, rare disorder of unknown cause in which cortical bone overgrowth occurs along the main axis of......
meningitis
meningitis, inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused......
menopause
menopause, permanent cessation of menstruation that results from the loss of ovarian function and therefore represents......
mercury poisoning
mercury poisoning, harmful effects of various mercury compounds on body tissues and functions. Certain modern industrial......
MERS
MERS, acute viral respiratory illness that is characterized primarily by cough, fever, and shortness of breath......
mesoderm
mesoderm, the middle of the three germ layers, or masses of cells (lying between the ectoderm and endoderm), which......
mesothelioma
mesothelioma, tumour that arises from the sheet of cells known as the mesothelium, which lines body cavities and......
Messiaen, Olivier
Olivier Messiaen was an influential French composer, organist, and teacher noted for his use of mystical and religious......
metabolic bone disease
metabolic bone disease, any of several diseases that cause various abnormalities or deformities of bone. Examples......
metabolic syndrome
metabolic syndrome, syndrome characterized by a cluster of metabolic abnormalities associated with an increased......
metachromatic leukodystrophy
metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), rare inherited metabolic disease in which the lack of a key enzyme causes loss......
metamorphosis
metamorphosis, in biology, striking change of form or structure in an individual after hatching or birth. Hormones......
metaphase
metaphase, in mitosis and meiosis, the stage of cell division characterized by the alignment of the chromosomes......
metaplasia
metaplasia, in zoology, the conversion of one type of living cell or group of cells into another as a means of......
metastasis
metastasis, migration and spread of cancerous cells from a tumour to distant sites in the body, resulting in the......
metatarsalgia
metatarsalgia, persistent pain in the metatarsal region, or ball, of the foot. The condition arises when the weight......
methemoglobinemia
methemoglobinemia, decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) due to the presence......
methylation
methylation, the transfer of a methyl group (―CH3) to an organic compound. Methyl groups may be transferred through......
microcephaly
microcephaly, congenital condition in which an infant’s head is smaller than the typical size for its age and sex.......
middle age
middle age, period of human adulthood that immediately precedes the onset of old age. Though the age period that......
midget
midget, in human anatomy, a person of very small stature whose bodily proportions, intelligence, and sexual development......
migraine
migraine, condition characterized by painful recurring headaches, sometimes with nausea and vomiting. Migraine......
miliaria
miliaria, an inflammatory disorder of human skin, characterized by multiple small lesions at the site of sweat......
milk leg
milk leg, inflammation of the femoral vein, the principal vein of the thigh, with formation of a clot that blocks......
Minamata disease
Minamata disease, Disease first identified in 1956 in Minamata, Japan. A fishing port, Minamata was also the home......
miscarriage
miscarriage, spontaneous expulsion of the embryo or fetus from the uterus before the 20th week of pregnancy, prior......
misophonia
misophonia, disorder marked by low tolerance of and unusually strong negative physiological, emotional, and behavioral......
mitochondrial disease
mitochondrial disease, any of several hundred hereditary conditions that result from a functional failure of the......
mitosis
mitosis, a process of cell duplication, or reproduction, during which one cell gives rise to two genetically identical......
mitral insufficiency
mitral insufficiency, inability of the mitral valve to prevent the flow of blood back from the left ventricle,......
mitral stenosis
mitral stenosis, narrowing of the mitral valve, the function of which is to permit blood to flow from the atrium,......
mole
mole, in dermatology, pigmented, flat or fleshy skin lesion, composed for the most part of an aggregation of melanocytes,......
molt
molt, biological process of molting (moulting)—i.e., the shedding or casting off of an outer layer or covering......
monoclonal antibody
monoclonal antibody, antibody produced artificially through genetic engineering and related techniques. Production......
mononucleosis
mononucleosis, infection in humans, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), whose most common symptoms are fever,......
monster
monster, in biology, an embryo, a newborn animal, or young plant that is grossly deformed. The defects may be genetic......
Moon Shin Yong
Moon Shin Yong is a South Korean obstetrician who was involved in human-cloning research that was later discovered......
moral panic
moral panic, phrase used in sociology to describe an artificially created panic or scare. Researchers, often influenced......
Morgan, C Lloyd
C. Lloyd Morgan was a British zoologist and psychologist, sometimes called the founder of comparative, or animal,......
Morgan, Thomas Hunt
Thomas Hunt Morgan was an American zoologist and geneticist, famous for his experimental research with the fruit......
morphallaxis
morphallaxis, a process of tissue reorganization observed in many lower animals following severe injury, such as......
morphogenesis
morphogenesis, the shaping of an organism by embryological processes of differentiation of cells, tissues, and......
Morquio syndrome
Morquio syndrome, rare hereditary disorder of intracartilaginous bone development that results in severe malformation......

Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title