| zea | <botany> A genus of large grasses of which the Indian corn (Zea Mays) is the only species known. Its origin is not yet ascertained. See Maize. Origin: L, a kind of grain, fr. Gr,; cf. Skr. Yava barley. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| zealotry | The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause. "Enthusiasm, visionariness, seems the tendency of the German; zeal, zealotry, of the English; fanaticism, of the French." (Coleridge) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zearalenone | <chemical> (s-(e))-3,4,5,6,8,10-hexahydro-14,16-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1h-2-benzoxacyclotetradecin-1,7(8h)-dione. One of a group of compounds known under the general designation of resorcylic acid lactones. Cis, trans, dextro and levo forms have been isolated from the fungus gibberella zeae (formerly fusarium graminearum). They have oestrogenic activity, cause toxicity in livestock as feed contaminant, and have been used as anabolic or oestrogen substitutes. Pharmacological action: oestrogens, non-steroidal. Chemical name: 1H-2-Benzoxacyclotetradecin-1,7(8H)-dione, 3,4,5,6,9,10-hexahydro-14,16-dihydroxy-3-methyl-, (S-(E))- (12 Dec 1998) |
| zeatin | <molecular biology, plant biology> A naturally occurring cytokinin, originally isolated from maize seeds. Its riboside is also a cytokinin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| zeaxanthin | B,beta-carotene-3,3'-diol;a carotene found in corn, fruits, seeds, and egg yolk; isomeric with xanthophyll. Synonym: zeaxanthol. Origin: Mod. L. Zea, Indian corn, fr. L. Zea, grain + G. Xanthos, yellow, + -in (05 Mar 2000) |
| zeaxanthin epoxidase | <enzyme> An o2-dependent NADPH-dependent epoxidase; catalyses the epoxidation of zeaxanthin to violaxanthin via antheraxanthin; active at the stromal side of the thylakoids of green plants Registry number: EC 1.- Synonym: zea-epoxidase (26 Jun 1999) |
| zeaxanthin glucosyltransferase | <enzyme> Forms zeaxanthin monoglucoside and diglucoside; isolated from erwinia herbicola Registry number: EC 2.4.1.- Synonym: crtx gene product, 3-hydroxy-beta-carotene glycosylase (26 Jun 1999) |
| zeaxanthol | B,beta-carotene-3,3'-diol;a carotene found in corn, fruits, seeds, and egg yolk; isomeric with xanthophyll. Synonym: zeaxanthol. Origin: Mod. L. Zea, Indian corn, fr. L. Zea, grain + G. Xanthos, yellow, + -in (05 Mar 2000) |
| zebra | <zoology> Either one of two species of South African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands. The true or mountain zebra (Equus, or Asinus, zebra) is nearly white, and the bands which cover the body and legs are glossy black. Its tail has a tuft of black hair at the tip. It inhabits the mountains of Central and Southern Africa, and is noted for its wariness and wildness, as well as for its swiftness. The second species (Equus, or Asinus, Burchellii), known as Burchell's zebra, and dauw, inhabits the grassy plains of South Africa, and differs from the preceding in not having dark bands on the legs, while those on the body are more irregular. It has a long tail, covered with long white flowing hair. Zebra caterpillar, the larva of an American noctuid moth (Mamestra picta). It is light yellow, with a broad black stripe on the back and one on each side; the lateral stripes are crossed with withe lines. It feeds on cabbages, beets, clover, and other cultivated plants. Zebra opossum, the zebra wolf. See Wolf. Zebra parrakeet, an Australian grass parrakeet, often kept as a cage bird. Its upper parts are mostly pale greenish yellow, transversely barred with brownish black crescents; the under parts, rump, and upper tail coverts, are bright green; two central tail feathers and the cheek patches are blue. Called also canary parrot, scallop parrot, shell parrot, and undulated parrot. <botany> Zebra poison, a poisonous tree (Euphorbia arborea) of the Spurge family, found in South Africa. Its milky juice is so poisonous that zebras have been killed by drinking water in which its branches had been placed, and it is also used as an arrow poison. Zebra shark. Same as Tiger shark, under Tiger. Zebra spider, a hunting spider. Zebra swallowtail, a very large North American swallow-tailed butterfly (Iphiclides ajax), in which the wings are yellow, barred with black; called also ajax. Zebra wolf. See Wolf. Origin: Pg. Zebra; cf. Sp. Cebra; probably from a native African name. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zebra body | Metachromatically staining membrane-bound granules, measuring 0.5-1 um in diameter and containing lamellae with a 5.8 nm spacing, reported in Schwann cells and macrophages of patients suffering from metachromatic leukodystrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zebrafish | <cell biology, genetics> Brachydanio rerio, species of small fresshwater aquarium fish with a transparent embryo making it possible to follow progeny of single cells until quite late stages of development. This, together with the availability of mutant lines make it an important preparation for the study of vertebrate cell lineage and developmental biology. (12 Nov 1997) |
| zebrawood | A kind of cabinet wood having beautiful black, brown, and whitish stripes, the timber of a tropical American tree (Connarus Guianensis). The wood of a small West Indian myrtaceous tree (Eugenia fragrans). The wood of an East Indian tree of the genus Guettarda. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zebrine | <zoology> Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zebu | <zoology> A bovine mammal (Ros Indicus) extensively domesticated in India, China, the East Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous ears, slender legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over the shoulders; but these characters vary in different domestic breeds, which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large mastiff. Some of the varieties are used as beasts of burden, and some fore for riding, while others are raised for their milk and flesh. The Brahmin bull, regarded as sacred by the Hindoos, also belongs to this species. The male is called also Indian bull, Indian ox, Madras ox, and sacred bull. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zebub | <zoology> A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is destructive to cattle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |