| deganglionate | To deprive of ganglia. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| degeneracy | <molecular biology> The coding of a single amino acid by more than one base triplet (codon). Of the 64 possible codons, three are used for stop signals, leaving 61 for only 20 amino acids. Since all codons can be assigned to amino acids, it is clear that many amino acids must be coded by several different codons, in some cases as many as six. (18 Nov 1997) |
| degenerate | Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low. "Faint-hearted and degenerate king." (Shak) "A degenerate and degraded state." (Milton) "Degenerate from their ancient blood." (Swift) "These degenerate days." (Pope) "I had planted thee a noble vine . ., how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" (Jer. Ii. 21) Origin: L. Degeneratus, p. P. Of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. Degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship. 1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate. "When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety." (Tillotson) 2. <biology> To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type. Origin: Degenerated; Degenerating. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| degenerate code | <molecular biology> The fact that in most cases in the genetic code used by all life on Earth, one particular amino acid is specified by more than one three-base combination of the four nitrogenous bases (called a codon). There are enough different codons to specify 64 different amino acids, but there are in actuality only 20 amino acids (and three stop codons) used in the making of proteins. (09 Oct 1997) |
| degenerate configuration | <radiobiology> Magnetic field configuration in which the magnetic lines of force close exactly on themselves after passing around the configuration a finite number of times. (09 Oct 1997) |
| degeneratio | Synonym: degeneration. Origin: L. Degenero, pp. -atus, fr. De, from, + genus, race (05 Mar 2000) |
| degeneration | An effect whereby the productivity of a microbial strain used in a commercial process diminishes after repeated transfer from one culture media to another, often caused by genetic mutation. (14 Nov 1997) |
| degenerationist | <biology> A believer in the theory of degeneration, or hereditary degradation of type; as, the degenerationists hold that savagery is the result of degeneration from a superior state. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| degenerative | <pathology> Undergoing degeneration: tending to degenerate, having the character of or involving degeneration, causing or tending to cause degeneration. (18 Nov 1997) |
| degenerative arthritis | <pathology> A form of arthritis that results in the destruction of the articular cartilage that line the joints. Seen predominately in the larger weight bearing joints of the hips, knees and spine, but may also be evident in the small joints of the hands. (27 Sep 1997) |
| degenerative chorea | A progressive disorder usually beginning in young to middle age, consisting of a triad of choreoathetosis, dementia, and autosomal dominant inheritance with complete penetrance. Bilateral marked wasting of the putamen and the head of the caudate nucleus is characteristic. Synonym: chronic progressive chorea, degenerative chorea, hereditary chorea, Huntington's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| degenerative disc disease | <radiology> Plain film: narrowing of disc space; osteophytes; bone sclerosis, disc calcification, vacuum disc phenomenon (nitrogen at sites of negative pressure) MRI: endplate changes (Modic and deRoos), Type I (4%): decreased signal on T1; increased signal on T2; vascularised fibrous tissue, Type II (16%): increased T1; isointense T2; local fatty replacement of marrow, Type III: decreased T1; decreased T2; advanced sclerosis sequelae: disc bulging, disc herniation, disc sequestration, spinal stenosis (12 Dec 1998) |
| degenerative index | The percentage of granulocytes that contain toxic granules in the cytoplasm, as compared with the total percentage of granulocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| degenerative inflammation | A local reaction to injury, occasionally observed in the walls of blood vessels and in parenchymal cells of various organs in reacting to certain chemicals, viruses, and other intracellular agents; the response is characterised by degenerative changes in the cytoplasm and nucleus, frequently resulting in necrosis, but exudation (if any) is ordinarily observed only in the wall of the affected vessel, or in the interstices immediately adjacent to the affected vessel or parenchymal cells. Synonym: degenerative inflammation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| degenerative joint disease | <orthopaedics, rheumatology> A form of arthritis that results in the destruction of the articular cartilage that line the joints. Seen predominately in the larger weight bearing joints of the hips, knees and spine, but may also be evident in the small joints of the hands. (27 Sep 1997) |