Life Cycle, Processes & Properties, FRU-HEM

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

fruit spot
fruit spot, symptom of plant disease, usually caused by fungi and bacteria. A spot is a definite, localized area.......
Fröhlich’s syndrome
Fröhlich’s syndrome, rare childhood metabolic disorder characterized by obesity, growth retardation, and retarded......
fugue state
fugue state, loss of memory (amnesia), often temporary, in which affected individuals typically do not remember......
fusarium wilt
fusarium wilt, widespread plant disease caused by many forms of the soil-inhabiting fungus Fusarium oxysporum.......
galactorrhea
galactorrhea, excessive flow of milk from the breast, or lactation that is not associated with childbirth or nursing.......
galactosemia
galactosemia, a hereditary defect in the metabolism of the sugar galactose, which is a constituent of lactose,......
gall
gall, an abnormal, localized outgrowth or swelling of plant tissue caused by infection from bacteria, fungi, viruses,......
gallbladder
gallbladder, a muscular membranous sac that stores and concentrates bile, a fluid that is received from the liver......
gallbladder cancer
gallbladder cancer, disease characterized by the growth of malignant cells in the gallbladder. Gallbladder cancer......
gallstone
gallstone, concretion composed of crystalline substances (usually cholesterol, bile pigments, and calcium salts)......
gamete
gamete, sex, or reproductive, cell containing only one set of dissimilar chromosomes, or half the genetic material......
gametogenesis
gametogenesis, in embryology, the process by which gametes, or germ cells, are produced in an organism. The formation......
gametophyte
gametophyte, in plants and certain algae, the sexual phase (or an individual representing the phase) in the alternation......
ganglion cyst
ganglion cyst, saclike structure containing thick gelatinous fluid that appears on the top or underside of the......
gangrene
gangrene, localized death of animal soft tissue, caused by prolonged interruption of the blood supply that may......
gastritis
gastritis, acute or chronic inflammation of the mucosal layers of the stomach. Acute gastritis may be caused by......
gastroenteritis
gastroenteritis, acute infectious syndrome of the stomach lining and the intestine. It is characterized by diarrhea,......
gastroesophageal reflux disease
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), relatively common digestive disorder characterized by frequent passage......
gastrointestinal tract
gastrointestinal tract, pathway by which food enters the body and solid wastes are expelled. The gastrointestinal......
gastrula
gastrula, early multicellular embryo, composed of two or more germinal layers of cells from which the various organs......
Gaucher disease
Gaucher disease, rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by anemia, mental and neurologic impairment, yellowish......
gender dysphoria
gender dysphoria (GD), formal diagnosis given by mental health professionals to people who experience distress......
gene doping
gene doping, use of substances or techniques to manipulate cells or genes in order to improve athletic performance.......
genetic epidemiology
genetic epidemiology, the study of how genes and environmental factors influence human traits and human health......
germ layer
germ layer, any of three primary cell layers, formed in the earliest stages of embryonic development, consisting......
germ theory
germ theory, in medicine, the theory that certain diseases are caused by the invasion of the body by microorganisms,......
germfree life
germfree life, biological condition characterized by the complete absence of living microorganisms. Gnotobiology......
germination
germination, the sprouting of a seed, spore, or other reproductive body, usually after a period of dormancy. The......
gestation
gestation, in mammals, the time between conception and birth, during which the embryo or fetus is developing in......
gestational age
gestational age, length of time that a fetus grows inside the mother’s uterus. Gestational age is related to the......
gestational diabetes mellitus
gestational diabetes mellitus, temporary condition in which blood sugar (glucose) levels increase during pregnancy......
gestational trophoblastic disease
gestational trophoblastic disease, any of a group of rare conditions in which tumours develop in the uterus from......
gigantism
gigantism, excessive growth in stature, well beyond the average for the individual’s heredity and environmental......
gingivitis
gingivitis, inflammation of the gums (gingivae). Symptoms include tender, sometimes swollen, gums that bleed easily.......
glanders
glanders, infectious disease of primarily horses, but also mules and donkeys, that is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia......
glaucoma
glaucoma, disease caused by an increase in pressure within the eye as a result of blockage of the flow of aqueous......
glioblastoma
glioblastoma, rare form of aggressive brain tumour. Glioblastomas originate from neuroglia, or glial cells, a diverse......
glioma
glioma, a cancerous growth or tumour composed of cells derived from neuroglial tissue, the material that supports......
glossitis
glossitis, inflammation of the tongue characterized by loss of the surface papillae, a condition that gives the......
gluconeogenesis
gluconeogenesis, formation in living cells of glucose and other carbohydrates from other classes of compounds.......
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, hereditary metabolic defect characterized by an increased tendency......
glycogen storage disease
glycogen storage disease, any of a group of enzymatic deficiencies resulting in altered glycogen metabolism. They......
glycogenesis
glycogenesis, the formation of glycogen, the primary carbohydrate stored in the liver and muscle cells of animals,......
glycogenolysis
glycogenolysis, process by which glycogen, the primary carbohydrate stored in the liver and muscle cells of animals,......
glycolysis
glycolysis, sequence of 10 chemical reactions taking place in most cells that breaks down glucose, releasing energy......
gnotobiosis
gnotobiosis, (from the Greek meaning “known life”), condition of life in which only known kinds of organisms are......
goitre
goitre, enlargement of the thyroid gland, resulting in a prominent swelling in the front of the neck. The normal......
gonad
gonad, in zoology, primary reproductive gland that produces reproductive cells (gametes). In males the gonads are......
gonorrhea
gonorrhea, sexually transmitted disease characterized principally by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the......
gout
gout, metabolic disorder characterized by recurrent acute attacks of severe inflammation in one or more of the......
graft-versus-host disease
graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), condition that occurs following a bone marrow transplant, in which cells in the......
Grandin, Temple
Temple Grandin is an American scientist and industrial designer whose own experience with autism funded her professional......
granuloma inguinale
granuloma inguinale, contagious sexually transmitted disease occurring predominantly in tropical areas and characterized......
granulomatosis and polyangiitis
granulomatosis and polyangiitis (GPA), uncommon disorder characterized by inflammation and degeneration of small......
granulomatous thyroiditis
granulomatous thyroiditis, inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland, of unknown but presumably viral origin. It......
Graves disease
Graves disease, endocrine disorder that is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (excess secretion of thyroid......
gray mold rot
gray mold rot, disease of plants growing in humid areas that is caused by fungi in the genus Botrytis, usually......
Griffin, Donald Redfield
Donald Redfield Griffin was an American biophysicist and animal behaviourist known for his research in animal navigation,......
growth
growth, the increases in cell size and number that take place during the life history of an organism. Growth is......
growth hormone
growth hormone (GH), peptide hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It stimulates the growth......
growth ring
growth ring, in a cross section of the stem of a woody plant, the increment of wood added during a single growth......
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome, rare autoimmune condition of the peripheral nervous system. Guillain-Barré syndrome can......
guinea worm disease
guinea worm disease, infection in humans caused by a parasite known as the guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis).......
Gulf War syndrome
Gulf War syndrome, cluster of illnesses in veterans of the Persian Gulf War (1990–91). Gulf War syndrome is characterized......
gum
gum, in anatomy, connective tissue covered with mucous membrane, attached to and surrounding the necks of the teeth......
gumma
gumma, soft, granulomatous, tumourlike mass, sometimes appearing during the late stages of syphilis, that occurs......
gynecomastia
gynecomastia, enlargement of the breasts in the male, usually because of hormone imbalance. The growth and development......
Haeckel, Ernst
Ernst Haeckel was a German zoologist and evolutionist who was a strong proponent of Darwinism and who proposed......
hairball
hairball, gastrointestinal obstruction occurring in cats and resulting from accumulation of swallowed hair; the......
Haller, Albrecht von
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss biologist, the father of experimental physiology, who made prolific contributions......
hallucination
hallucination, the experience of perceiving objects or events that do not have an external source, such as hearing......
hamartoma
hamartoma, benign tumourlike growth made up of normal mature cells in abnormal number or distribution. While malignant......
hammertoe
hammertoe, deformity of the second, third, or fourth toe in which the toe is bent downward at the middle joint......
hapten
hapten, small molecule that stimulates the production of antibody molecules only when conjugated to a larger molecule,......
Hartnup disease
Hartnup disease, inborn metabolic disorder involving the amino acid tryptophan. Normally, one of the metabolic......
Hashimoto disease
Hashimoto disease, a noninfectious form of inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis). Hashimoto disease is......
Havana syndrome
Havana syndrome, largely discredited medical condition reported among U.S. diplomats and other government employees......
hay fever
hay fever, seasonally recurrent bouts of sneezing, nasal congestion, and tearing and itching of the eyes caused......
head and neck cancer
head and neck cancer, any of a group of malignant diseases that originate variously in the oral cavity (including......
headache
headache, pain in various parts of the head. Headaches affect nearly everyone at some time in their life, recurrent......
hearing
hearing, in biology, physiological process of perceiving sound. See ear; mechanoreception; perception; sound...
heart attack
heart attack, death of a section of the myocardium, the muscle of the heart, caused by an interruption of blood......
heart block
heart block, lack of synchronization in the contractions of the upper and the lower chambers of the heart—the atria......
heart disease
heart disease, any disorder of the heart. Examples include coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, and......
heart failure
heart failure, general condition in which the heart muscle does not contract and relax effectively, thereby reducing......
heart murmur
heart murmur, condition characterized by prolonged noises made by blood circulating through the heart. A heart......
heart rot
heart rot, any of several diseases of trees, root crops, and celery. Most trees are susceptible to heart-rotting......
heartworm disease
heartworm disease, parasitic disease, predominantly of dogs but also occurring in cats, that is caused by the nematode......
heatstroke
heatstroke, condition caused by continuous exposure to high temperature and humidity for several hours. The term......
heaves
heaves, chronic disorder of the lungs of horses and cows, characterized by difficult breathing and wheezy cough.......
heifer
heifer, any young, female, domestic bovine that has not produced offspring. At birth, a female calf is often termed......
hematoma
hematoma, pooling of blood in tissues or spaces outside the blood vessels that results when a vessel is cut or......
hematuria
hematuria, presence of blood in the urine, an indication of injury or disease of the kidney or some other structure......
hemiplegia
hemiplegia, paralysis of the muscles of the lower face, arm, and leg on one side of the body. The most common cause......
hemochromatosis
hemochromatosis, inborn metabolic defect characterized by an increased absorption of iron, which accumulates in......
hemoglobinopathy
hemoglobinopathy, any of a group of disorders caused by the presence of variant hemoglobin in the red blood cells.......
hemophilia
hemophilia, hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of a substance necessary for blood clotting (coagulation).......
hemorrhage
hemorrhage, Escape of blood from blood vessels into surrounding tissue. When a vessel is injured, hemorrhage continues......
hemorrhoid
hemorrhoid, mass formed by distension of the network of veins under the mucous membrane that lines the anal channel......

Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title