Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Chyme Definition Chyme is a semi-fluid pulp formed in the stomach made of partly digested food and the secretions of the gastrointestinal tract. It is initially acidic in pH and also contains salivary enzymes and gastric enzymes. Chyme is created from the ingested bolus through muscular contractions of the stomach, which mix food with the […]

Chromosome Definition A chromosome is a string of DNA wrapped around associated proteins that give the connected nucleic acid bases a structure. During interphase of the cell cycle, the chromosome exists in a loose structure, so proteins can be translated from the DNA and the DNA can be replicated. During mitosis and meiosis, the chromosome becomes condensed, to be organized […]

Chromatography Definition Chromatography is a method of separating the constituents of a solution, based on one or more of its chemical properties. This could be charge, polarity, or a combination of these traits and pH balance. In essence, the solution is passed through a medium which will hinder the movement of some particles more than […]

Chromatid Definition When a cell is preparing to divide, it makes a new copy of all of its DNA, so that the cell now possesses two copies of each chromosome. The two copies of the cell’s original chromosome are called “sister chromatids.” During anaphase of cell division, the two chromatids will be pulled apart, and […]

Chorion Definition The chorion is one of the membranes that surround the fetus while it is still being formed. In mammals, the fetus lies in the amniotic sac, which is formed by the chorion and the amnion and separates the embryo from the mother’s endometrium. During development, the embryo grows inside, and beside, four extraembryonic […]

Chordate Definition A chordate is an animal that belongs to the phylum Chordata, which is part of the Deuterostomes kingdom. Organisms in the Deuterostomes kingdom have a distinct characteristic: their anus develops before their mouth in early embryonic stages. The phylum Chordata includes a wide range of organisms, as it is comprised of all vertebrates, which are organisms with […]

Cholinergic Definition Cholinergic is a term used to refer to the molecule acetylcholine. It is usually employed to define neurons, receptors or synapses that use acetylcholine. For instance, a cholinergic neuron is a neuron that releases acetylcholine, and a cholinergic receptor is a receptor to which acetylcholine binds. Acetylcholine is a signal molecule in the […]

Chloroplast Definition The chloroplast, found only in algal and plant cells, is a cell organelle that produces energy through photosynthesis. The word chloroplast comes from the Greek words khloros, meaning “green”, and plastes, meaning “formed”. It has a high concentration of chlorophyll, the molecule that captures light energy, and this gives many plants and algae a green […]

Chlorophyll Definition Chlorophyll is a molecule produced by plants, algae and cyanobacteria which aids in the conversion of light energy into chemical bonds. Chlorophyll is known as a pigment, or molecule that reflects some wavelengths of light, while absorbing others. Pigments produce a variety of colors in the plant and animal world. Chlorophyll is a […]

Chitin Definition Chitin is a large, structural polysaccharide made from chains of modified glucose. Chitin is found in the exoskeletons of insects, the cell walls of fungi, and certain hard structures in invertebrates and fish. In terms of abundance, chitin is second to only cellulose. In the biosphere, over 1 billion tons of chitin are […]