| Cain complex | Extreme envy or jealousy of a brother, leading to hatred. Synonym: brother complex. Origin: Cain, biblical personage (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Cairns mechanism | <molecular biology> A mechanism for the replication of a double stranded circular DNA molecule. Replication is initiated at a fixed point and proceeds either uni or bi directionally. (18 Nov 1997) |
| caisson disease | See: decompression sickness Origin: Fr. Caisson (fr. Caisse, a chest) a water-tight box or cylinder containing air under high pressure used in sinking structural pilings underwater (05 Mar 2000) |
| caisson sickness | Disease caused by rapid decompression. So named since it appeared in workers building tunnels or supports for bridges working in enclosed units under high atmospheric pressure to keep out surrounding water, called caissons. See: decompression sickness. (05 Mar 2000) |