| sensitive | 1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul. 2. Having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected. "She was too sensitive to abuse and calumny." (Macaulay) 3. <chemistry> Readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or bromide, when in contact with certain organic substances, is extremely sensitive to actinic rays. 4. Serving to affect the sense; sensible. "A sensitive love of some sensitive objects." (Hammond) 5. Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. <botany> Sensitive fern A leguminous plant (Mimosa pudica, or M. Sensitiva, and other allied species), the leaves of which close at the slightest touch. Any plant showing motions after irritation, as the sensitive brier (Schrankia) of the Southern States, two common American species of Cassia (C. Nictitans, and C. Chamaecrista), a kind of sorrel (Oxalis sensitiva), etc. Sen"sitively, Sen"sitiveness. Origin: F. Sensitif. See Sense. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| sensitive species | <ecology, zoology> Species that can only survive within a narrow range of environmental conditions and whose disappearance from an area is an index of pollution or other environmental change. Those species which rely on specific habitat conditions that are limited in abundance, restricted in distribution, or are particularly sensitive to development. Plant or animal species which are endangered species, or candidate species, protected bird species under endangered species laws and regulations, plant protection laws and regulations, Fish and Game codes, or species of special concern listings and policies, or species recognised by national, state, or local environmental organisations. (18 Nov 1997) |
| stimulus sensitive myoclonus | Myoclonus induced by a variety of stimuli, e.g., talking, calculation, loud noises, tapping, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| suppressor-sensitive mutant | A conditionally lethal, host range, bacteriophage mutant that produces nonsense codons and can replicate only in a host bacterium able to translate the nonsense codon; the mutation's effects are lethal (i.e., prevent replication of the virus) in a bacterium without such a suppressor mechanism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatase | <enzyme> Negatively controls the cyclin degradation pathway in amphibian eggs Registry number: EC 3.1.3.- Synonym: oas-phosphatase (26 Jun 1999) |
| temperature-sensitive mutant | A viral mutant that is able to replicate at one portion of a temperature range but not at another, the parent (wild type) strain being able to replicate over the whole temperature range. Compare: cold-sensitive mutant, quick-stop mutant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| temperature sensitive mutation | <genetics, molecular biology> A type of conditional mutation in organism, somatic cell or virus that makes it possible to study genes whose total inactivation would be lethal. Such ts mutations can also make possible studies of the effect of reversible switching by temperature changes) in expression of the mutated gene. The usual mechanism of temperature sensitivity is that the mutated gene codes for a protein with a temperature dependent conformational instability, so that it possesses normal activity at one temperature (the permissive temperature), but is inactive at a second (nonpermissive) temperature. (18 Nov 1997) |
| threatened, endangered, and sensitive species | formal classifications of species. Sensitive Species for which population viability is a concern. Sensitive species are not federally designated under the Endangered Species act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after study, makes the following designations (05 Dec 1998) |
| abscess, skin | Medical term for a common boil. (12 Dec 1998) |
| allergy skin test | Test done on the skin to identify the allergy substance (allergen) triggering the allergic reaction. A small amount of the suspected allergy substance is placed on the skin. The skin is then gently scratched through the small drop with a special sterile needle. If the skin reddens and, more importantly, swells, then allergy to that substance is probable. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alligator skin | <dermatology> A group of cutaneous disorders characterised by increased or aberrant keratinisation, resulting in noninflammatory scaling of the skin. Many different metaphors have been used to describe the appearance and texture of the skin in the various types and stages of ichthyosis, for example alligator, collodion, crocodile, fish and porcupine skin. most ichthyoses are genetically determined, while some may be acquired and develop in association with various systemic diseases or be a prominent feature in certain genetic syndromes. The term is commonly used alone to refer to i. Vulgaris. (18 Nov 1997) |
| appendages of skin | The hairs, nails, and sweat, sebaceous, and mammary glands. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aspergillus antigen skin test | <investigation> An antigen, prepared from aspergillus, is injected into the skin. In 48 to 72 hours the site is read as positive or negative. A positive skin test (inflammation at the test site) indicates prior exposure to aspergillus and therefore a risk for developing aspergillosis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bronzed skin | The dark skin in Addison's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| calipers, skin | Calipers are instruments used to measure the diameter of an object. (The word calipers is a corruption of caliber ). The skin fold thickness in several parts of the body can be measured with calipers, a metal or plastic tool similar to a compass. This is done in medicine and physical anthropology. (12 Dec 1998) |