| inverse | 1. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed; inverted; reciprocal; opposed to direct. 2. <botany> Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual. 3. <mathematics> Opposite in nature and effect; said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin -1 x means the arc whose sine is x. <geometry> Inverse figures, two points lying on a line drawn from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so related that the product of their distances from the center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of the radius. <mathematics> Inverse, or Reciprocal, ratio, the ratio of the reciprocals of two quantities. Inverse, or Reciprocal, proportion, an equality between a direct ratio and a reciprocal ratio; thus, 4: 2:: 1/3: 1/6, or 4: 2:: 3: 6, inversely. Origin: L. Inversus, p. P. Of invertere: cf. F. Inverse. See Invert. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| inverse anaphylaxis | Anaphylactic shock in an animal (e.g., guinea pig) whose tissues contain Forssman antigen, resulting from an intravenous injection of serum that contains Forssman's antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inverse density dependence | <epidemiology> See density dependence. (05 Dec 1998) |
| inverse ocular bobbing | Slow downward eye movement followed by delayed quick upward return. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inverse square law | As applied to point sources, the intensity of radiation diminishes in proportion to the square of the distance from the source. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inverse symmetry | Correspondence of the right or left side of an asymmetrical individual to the left or right side of another. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inverse syntropy | A situation in which the presence of one disease tends to decrease the possibility of another. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amino acid substitution | The naturally occurring or experimentally induced replacement of one or more amino acids in a protein with another. If a functionally equivalent amino acid is substituted, the protein may retain wild-type activity. Substitution may also diminish or eliminate protein function. Experimentally induced substitution is often used to study enzyme activities and binding site properties. (12 Dec 1998) |
| base substitution | <molecular biology> One nucleotide base is replaced by another in a DNA molecule. This is also called a point mutation. (09 Oct 1997) |
| conservative substitution | In a gene product, a substitution of one amino acid with another with generally similar properties (size, hydrophobicity, etc), such that the overall functioning is likely not to be seriously affected. (18 Nov 1997) |
| stimulus substitution | <psychology> Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| substitution | 1. The act of putting one thing in the place of another, especially the chemical replacement of one element or radical by some other. 2. A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, in which an unattainable or unacceptable goal, emotion or object is replaced by one that is attainable or acceptable. Origin: L. Substitutio, from statuere = to place (18 Nov 1997) |
| substitution mutation | A mutation caused by a nucleotide base being replaced by a different one. (09 Oct 1997) |
| substitution product | A product obtained by replacing one atom or group in a molecule with another atom or group. (05 Mar 2000) |
| substitution therapy | Replacement therapy, particularly when replacement is not physiological but entails administration of a substitute. (05 Mar 2000) |