| gratuitous | 1. Given without an equivalent or recompense; conferred without valuable consideration; granted without pay, or without claim or merit; not required by justice. "We mistake the gratuitous blessings of Heaven for the fruits of our own industry." (L'Estrange) 2. Not called for by the circumstances; without reason, cause, or proof; adopted or asserted without any good ground; as, a gratuitous assumption. "Acts of gratuitous self-humiliation." (De Quincye) Gratu"itously, Gratu"itousness. Origin: L. Gratuitus, from gratus pleasing. See Grate, Gratis. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| gratuitous inducer | <molecular biology> A gratuitous inducer is a molecule which is structurally similar to another molecule that induces transcription for a specific product, and which can also initiate transcription for that product when the official inducer is absent. (09 Oct 1997) |
| genetic induction | The triggering of a specific gene by an inducer molecule (which acts directly or indirectly by affecting an RNA polymerase molecule). (09 Oct 1997) |
| remission induction | The initial course of treatment given to patients on admission to hospital to remove all clinically detectable cancer. (13 Nov 1997) |
| remission induction chemotherapy | The initial chemotherapy a patient receives to bring about a remission. (12 Dec 1998) |
| homeogenetic induction | The induction of an undifferentiated (general, all-purpose) cell to differentiate (become specialised) by a nearby cell which has already differentiated. This is most often observed in plant cells. (09 Oct 1997) |
| spinal induction | The manner in which one sensory stimulus lowers the threshold for another. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neural induction | In vertebrates the formation of the nervous system from the ectoderm of the early embryo as a result of a signal from the underlying mesoderm of the archenteron roof, also called primary neural induction. The mechanism of neural induction is not yet clear. (18 Nov 1997) |
| induction | The act or process of inducing or causing to occur, especially the production of a specific morphogenetic effect in the developing embryo through the influence of evocators or organisers or the production of anaesthesia or unconsciousness by use of appropriate agents. Origin: L. Inductio (18 Nov 1997) |
| induction chemotherapy | Use of chemotherapy as initial treatment before surgery or radiotherapy of a malignancy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| induction generator | A variable speed multi-pole electric generator. (05 Dec 1998) |
| induction period | The period required for a specific agent to produce a disease; the interval from the causal action of a factor to initiation of disease, e.g., the interval between exposure to radiation and the onset of leukaemia; the interval between an initial injection of antigen and the appearance of demonstrable antibodies in the blood. (05 Mar 2000) |
| induction therapy | Initial intensive course of chemotherapy that is designed to wipe out abnormal cells and allow regrowth of normal cells. (16 Dec 1997) |
| ovulation induction | Techniques for the artifical induction of ovulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| electromagnetic induction | Electromagnetic waves propagated by induction in an electromagnetic field. (05 Mar 2000) |