Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Alternative Splicing Definition Alternative splicing is a method cells use to create many proteins from the same strand of DNA. It is also called alternative RNA splicing. In regular DNA translation, specialized proteins create messenger RNA (mRNA) from the DNA template. This mRNA then finds its way to a ribosome, where the RNA code is translated into the structure of a new…

What is Alternation of Generations Alternation of generations is a type of life cycle found in terrestrial plants and some algae in which subsequent generations of individuals alternate between haploid and diploid organisms. This can be contrasted to sexual reproduction in animals, in which both haploid and diploid cells are found in every generation. Alternation of generations has several…

Allopatric Speciation Definition Allopatric speciation is speciation that happens when two populations of the same species become isolated from each other due to geographic changes. Speciation is a gradual process by which populations evolve into different species. A species is itself defined as a population that can interbreed, so during speciation, members of a population…

Allele Frequency Definition The allele frequency is the number of individual alleles of a certain type, divided by the total number of alleles of all types in a population. In simple terms, the allele frequency describes how common an allele is within a population. Allele Frequency Overview The allele frequency is different from the phenotypic ratio in…

Allele Definition An allele is specific variation of a gene. Bacteria, because they have a single ring of DNA, have one allele per gene per organism. In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent gives an allele for each gene, giving the offspring two alleles per gene. Because alleles are just variants of specific genes, different alleles…

Allantois Definition The allantois is one of the four main membranes that surround an embryo. It is found near the posterior of the embryo, since that’s where its development begins. The allantois is characteristic of reptiles, birds, and mammals, and lies between two other extraembryonic membranes: the amnion, the innermost layer, which covers and protects the…

Alimentary Canal Definition The alimentary canal is a continuous passage starting from the mouth and ending at the anus, which carries food through different parts of the digestive system and allows waste to exit the body. The alimentary canal varies widely in organism, but is only seen in organism which are bilaterally symmetrical. Various sections of…

Algae Definition Algae is a term used to describe a large, diverse group of eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms. Algae can be unicellular, live in colonies, or even be multicellular. The wide variety algae makes them hard to classify. Algae span both terrestrial and marine environments, growing almost anywhere there is water and sunlight. Algae, like plants, are photosynthetic organisms.…

Definition Aldosterone (C21H28O5) is a mineralocorticoid hormone compound secreted by the adrenal gland cortex. It is part of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system or RAAS and is an integral part of the complex mechanisms that control water and electrolyte balance within the body. Its action affects sodium, potassium and water levels via the excretory and…

Agonist Definition An agonist is a molecule that can bind and activate a receptor to induce a biological reaction. The activity mediated by agonists are opposed by antagonists, which inhibit the biological response induced by an agonist. The level of agonist required to induce a desired biological response is referred to as potency. Agonist potency…