| EGD | <abbreviation> Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| egersis | Extremely alert wakefulness. Origin: G. A waking (05 Mar 2000) |
| egest | <physiology> To cast or throw out; to void, as excrement; to excrete, as the indigestible matter of the food; in an extended sense, to excrete by the lungs, skin, or kidneys. Origin: L. Egestus, p. P. Of egerere to carry out, to discharge; e out + gerere to carry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| egesta | <physiology> That which is egested or thrown off from the body by the various excretory channels; excrements; opposed to ingesta. Origin: NL, neut. Pl. From p. P. Of L. Egere. See Egest. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| EGF | <growth factor> A mitogenic polypeptide initially isolated from male mouse submaxillary gland. The name refers to the early bioassay, but epidermal growth factor is active on a variety of cell types, especially but not exclusively epithelial. Human equivalent originally named urogastrone owing to its hormone activity. Acronym: EGF (18 Nov 1997) |
| EGF like domain | Region of 30-40 amino acids containing 6 cysteines found originally in EGF and also in a range of proteins involved in cell signalling. Examples: TGF _, amphiregulin, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, complement C6 C9, fibronectin, laminin (each subunit at least 13 times), nidogen, selectins. It is also found in the Drosophila gene products: Notch (36 times) Delta, Slit, Crumbs, Serrate. (18 Nov 1997) |
| egg | A structure which the females of certain animal species lay as a means of reproduction, it contains a fertilized zygote and nutrition in the form of yolk for the developing offspring, sometimes contains other substances (e.g., the white of a hen's egg), sometimes surrounded by a protective outer shell. (09 Oct 1997) |
| egg albumin | <protein> A major protein constituent of egg white. A phosphoprotein of 386 amino acids (44 kD) with one N linked oligosaccharide chain. Synthesis is stimulated by oestrogen. The gene, of which there is only one in the chicken genome, has eight exons and is of 7.8 kbase, it was one of the first genes to be studied in this sort of detail. (18 Nov 1997) |
| egg cell | The unfertilised ovum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| egg cluster | One of the clumps of cells resulting from the breaking up of the gonadal cords in the ovarian cortex; these clumps later develop into primary ovarian follicles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| egg coat | A layer of glycoproteins and other stuff which surrounds an egg (ovum), just outside of the egg's cell membrane. The coat protects the egg, and for organisms which practice external fertilization (fertilization outside of the parents' bodies) it can help prevent the sperm of other species from entering the egg. For the eggs of mammals, the egg coat is called the zona pellucida and for sea urchins (a popular study organism for developmental biologists) it is called the vitelline layer. (09 Oct 1997) |
| egg donation | Donation of an ovum by one woman to another who attempts to become pregnant by in vitro fertilization. (09 Oct 1997) |
| egg drop syndrome | <syndrome> A disease of chickens caused by an adenovirus and characterised by production of soft-shelled and shell-less eggs in apparently healthy birds. (05 Mar 2000) |
| egg membrane | The investing envelope of the ovum; a primary egg membrane is produced from ovarian cytoplasm (e.g., a vitelline membrane); a secondary egg membrane is the product of the ovarian follicle (e.g., the zona pellucida); a tertiary egg membrane is secreted by the lining of the oviduct (e.g., a shell). (05 Mar 2000) |
| egg polarity gene | A gene whose product distribution in the egg determines the anterior posterior axis of subsequent development. Best characterised in Drosophila: See: bicoid, maternal effect gene. (18 Nov 1997) |