Life Cycle, Processes & Properties, BLA-CAR

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

bladder cancer
bladder cancer, disease characterized by the growth of malignant cells within the urinary bladder, the organ responsible......
blast injury
blast injury, any injury caused by a pressure wave, resulting primarily from exposure to an explosion. Blast injuries......
blastema
blastema, in zoology, a mass of undifferentiated cells that has the capability to develop into an organ or an appendage.......
blastocyst
blastocyst, a distinctive stage of a mammalian embryo. It is a form of blastula that develops from a berrylike......
blastomycosis
blastomycosis, infection of the lungs with fungal organisms of the genus Blastomyces. Blastomyces occur in the......
blastopore
blastopore, the opening by which the cavity of the gastrula, an embryonic stage in animal development, communicates......
blastula
blastula, hollow sphere of cells, or blastomeres, produced during the development of an embryo by repeated cleavage......
blepharitis
blepharitis, common inflammation of the eyelids that is marked by red, scaly, crusting eyelids and a burning, itching,......
blight
blight, any of various plant diseases whose symptoms include sudden and severe yellowing, browning, spotting, withering,......
blind spot
blind spot, small portion of the visual field of each eye that corresponds to the position of the optic disk (also......
blind staggers
blind staggers, symptom of several unrelated animal diseases, in which the affected animal walks with an unsteady,......
blind, history of the
history of the blind, the experience of persons affected by blindness and the development of blind education and......
blindness
blindness, transient or permanent inability to see any light at all (total blindness) or to retain any useful vision......
blister
blister, a rounded elevation of the skin containing clear fluid, caused by a separation either between layers of......
blister rust
blister rust, any of several diseases of pine trees caused by rust fungi of the genus Cronartium. Blister rust......
bloat
bloat, disorder of ruminant animals involving distention of the rumen, the first of the four divisions of the stomach,......
blood doping
blood doping, use of substances or techniques that increase the number of circulating red blood cells (erythrocytes)......
bloodborne disease
bloodborne disease, any of a group of diseases caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria that are carried......
body dysmorphic disorder
body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), preoccupation with one or more perceived or imagined flaws in one’s physical appearance,......
body heat
body heat, thermal energy that is a by-product of metabolism in higher animals, especially noticeable in birds......
boil
boil, a staphylococcus skin infection characterized by an inflamed nodular swelling filled with pus, located at......
bollworm
bollworm, any larvae of various moths (order Lepidoptera), including the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella,......
bolus
bolus, food that has been chewed and mixed in the mouth with saliva. Chewing helps to reduce food particles to......
bone cancer
bone cancer, disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells of the bone. Primary bone cancer—that is, cancer......
bone conduction
bone conduction, the conduction of sound through the bones of the skull. Two types of bone conduction are recognized.......
bone cyst
bone cyst, benign bone tumour that is usually saclike and filled with fluid. Unicameral bone cysts affect the long......
borderline personality disorder
borderline personality disorder (BPD), mental illness characterized by chronic instability in the affected individual’s......
Borna disease
Borna disease, a viral disease of warm-blooded animals, notably horses and sheep, characterized by inflammation......
botulinum toxin
botulinum toxin, poisonous protein made by Clostridium botulinum and several closely related species of bacteria......
botulism
botulism, paralytic syndrome caused by poisoning by botulinum toxin, a substance produced by Clostridium botulinum......
boutonneuse fever
boutonneuse fever, a mild typhuslike fever caused by the bacterium Rickettsia conorii conorii and transmitted by......
bovine spongiform encephalopathy
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cattle. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy......
brachiation
brachiation, in animal behaviour, specialized form of arboreal locomotion in which movement is accomplished by......
bradycardia
bradycardia, type of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) characterized by slowing of the heart rate to 60 beats......
brain cancer
brain cancer, the uncontrolled growth of cells in the brain. The term brain cancer refers to any of a variety of......
brain death
brain death, State of irreversible destruction of the brain. Before the invention of life-support systems, brain......
breast cancer
breast cancer, disease characterized by the growth of malignant cells in the mammary glands. Breast cancer can......
breathing
breathing, the action of moving air or water across the surface of a respiratory structure, such as a gill or lung,......
breech birth
breech birth, in childbirth, position of the fetus in which the buttocks or feet are presented first. About 3 to......
Bright disease
Bright disease, inflammation of the structures in the kidney that produce urine: the glomeruli and the nephrons.......
bronchiectasis
bronchiectasis, an abnormal expansion of the bronchial tubes in the lungs as a result of infection or obstruction.......
bronchitis
bronchitis, inflammation of all or part of the bronchial tree (the bronchi), through which air passes into the......
brucellosis
brucellosis, infectious disease of humans and domestic animals characterized by an insidious onset of fever, chills,......
brucellosis spondylitis
brucellosis spondylitis, arthritis of the spine caused by infection with the bacterium Brucella, which spreads......
bruise
bruise, a visible bluish or purplish mark or patch occurring beneath the surface of unbroken skin, resulting from......
bubonic plague
bubonic plague, one of three clinical forms of plague, an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.......
buck
buck, in zoology, the male of several animals, among them deer (except the sika and red deer, males of which are......
bud
bud, Small lateral or terminal protuberance on the stem of a vascular plant that may develop into a flower, leaf,......
budding
budding, in biology, a form of asexual reproduction in which a new individual develops from some generative anatomical......
Buerger’s disease
Buerger’s disease, inflammation of the peripheral arteries primarily, which occurs chiefly in men from adolescence......
bufotoxin
bufotoxin, a moderately potent poison secreted in the skin of many anuran amphibians, especially the typical toads......
bulb
bulb, in botany, a modified stem that is the resting stage of certain seed plants, particularly perennial monocotyledons.......
bulimia nervosa
bulimia nervosa, eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by inappropriate attempts to compensate......
bull
bull, in animal husbandry, the mature, uncastrated male of domesticated cattle. See also bull cult and...
bullous pemphigoid
bullous pemphigoid, a chronic, generalized skin disorder characterized by an eruption of serum-filled vesicles......
bunion
bunion, type of bursitis that appears as a bulge covered by thickened skin occurring at the base of the big toe,......
bunt
bunt, fungal disease of wheat, rye, and other grasses. Infection by Tilletia tritici (formerly T. caries) or T.......
Burkitt lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system that has an especially high incidence in equatorial Africa among......
burn
burn, damage caused to the body by contact with flames, hot substances, certain chemicals, radiation (sunlight,......
burrowing
burrowing, locomotion of a type found in both terrestrial and aquatic animal groups. Some fossorial animals dig......
bursitis
bursitis, inflammation of a synovial bursa, the lubricating sac located around joints or between tendons and muscles......
byssinosis
byssinosis, respiratory disorder caused by inhalation of an endotoxin produced by bacteria in the fibres of cotton.......
cabbage looper
cabbage looper, (Trichoplusia ni), distinctive green, white-lined larva, or caterpillar, in the owlet moth family......
cadmium poisoning
cadmium poisoning, toxic effects of cadmium or its compounds on body tissues and functions. Poisoning may result......
Caffey syndrome
Caffey syndrome, a hereditary disease of infants, characterized by swellings of the periosteum (the bone layer......
calcium deficiency
calcium deficiency, condition in which calcium is insufficient or is not utilized properly. Calcium is the mineral......
callus
callus, in dermatology, small area of thickened skin, the formation of which is caused by continued friction, pressure,......
callus
callus, in osteology, bony and cartilaginous material forming a connecting bridge across a bone fracture during......
campylobacteriosis
campylobacteriosis, a disease of cattle, sheep, and humans caused by bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. Vaccines......
cancer of unknown primary
cancer of unknown primary (CUP), rare condition in which the initial site of cancer development in a patient’s......
cancer registry
cancer registry, surveillance system that allows for the collection, storage, and analysis of information on cancer......
candidiasis
candidiasis, infectious disease produced by the yeastlike fungus Candida albicans and closely related species.......
canine distemper
canine distemper, an acute, highly contagious, disease affecting dogs, foxes, wolves, mink, raccoons, and ferrets.......
canine parvovirus disease
canine parvovirus disease, acute viral infection in dogs characterized by a severe enteritis that is associated......
canine tooth
canine tooth, in mammals, any of the single-cusped (pointed), usually single-rooted teeth adapted for tearing food,......
canine viral hepatitis
canine viral hepatitis, acute adenovirus infection common in young dogs, affecting the liver and inner lining of......
canker
canker, plant disease, caused by numerous species of fungi and bacteria, that occurs primarily on woody species.......
canker sore
canker sore, a small, painful ulcer of the oral cavity. Canker sores are round, shallow, white ulcers on the inner......
cannibalism
cannibalism, in zoology, the eating of any animal by another member of the same species. Cannibalism frequently......
canola oil
canola oil, vegetable oil made from the pressed seeds of rapeseed (Brassica napus variety napus), a relative of......
capsule
capsule, in botany, dry fruit that opens when ripe. It splits from apex to base into separate segments known as......
carbon monoxide poisoning
carbon monoxide poisoning, often fatal condition resulting from inhalation of carbon monoxide, frequently occurring......
carbuncle
carbuncle, in medicine, a type of inflammatory staphylococcal infection of the skin. A carbuncle typically consists......
carcinogen
carcinogen, any of a number of agents that can cause cancer in humans. They can be divided into three major categories:......
carcinoma
carcinoma, a cancerous growth of surface (epithelial) tissues of the skin, digestive tract, blood vessels, and......
cardiac arrest
cardiac arrest, sudden loss of heart function, in which the regular contraction of the heart muscle unexpectedly......
cardiomyopathy
cardiomyopathy, any cardiac disease process that results in heart failure due to a decrease in the pumping power......
caries
caries, cavity or decay of a tooth, a localized disease that begins at the surface of the tooth and may progress......
carnivore
carnivore, animal whose diet consists of other animals. Adaptations for a carnivorous diet include a variety of......
carotenemia
carotenemia, yellow skin discoloration caused by excess blood carotene; it may follow overeating of such carotenoid-rich......
carotenoid
carotenoid, any of a group of nonnitrogenous yellow, orange, or red pigments that are almost universally distributed......
carpal tunnel syndrome
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), condition of numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist caused by repetitive flexing......
Carrión disease
Carrión disease, rickettsial infection limited to South America, caused by the bacterium Bartonella bacilliformis......
caryopsis
caryopsis, specialized type of dry, one-seeded fruit (achene) characteristic of grasses, in which the ovary wall......

Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title