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| cell polarity | 1. <cell biology> In epithelial cells the differentiation of apical and basal specialisations. In many epithelia the apical and baso lateral regions of plasma membrane differ in lipid and protein composition and are isolated from one another by tight junctions. The apical membrane may, for example: be the only region where secretory vesicles fuse or have a particular ionic pumping system. 2. A motile cell must have some internal polarity in order to move in one direction at a time: a region in which protrusion will occur (the front) must be defined. Locomotory polarity may be associated with the pericentriolar microtubule organising centre and can be perturbed by drugs that interfere with microtubule dynamics. (26 Mar 1998) |
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| cell potential | <cell biology, physiology> The voltage of an electrochemical cell, the larger the cell potential, the greater the extent of reaction when equilibrium is reached. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell proliferation | <cell biology> Increase in cell number by division. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell recognition | <cell biology> Interaction between cells that is possibly dependent upon specific adhesion. Since the mechanism is not entirely clear in most cases, the term should be used with caution. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell renewal | <cell biology> Replacement of cells, for example those in the skin, by the proliferative activity of basal stem cells. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell respiration | The exergonic metabolic processes in living cells, animal or plant, by which molecular oxygen is taken in, organic substances are oxidised, free energy is released, and carbon dioxide, water, and other oxidised products are given off by the cell. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cell sap | <cell biology> Effectively equivalent to the term cytosol. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell signalling | <cell biology> Release by one cell of substances that transmit information to other cells. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell size | The physical dimensions of a cell. It refers mainly to changes in dimensions correlated with physiological or pathological changes in cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cell sorter | <apparatus> A device used to separate different kinds of cells from a mixed, or heterogeneous, population. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell sorting | <technique> The process or processes whereby mixed populations of cells, for example in a reaggregate, separate out into two or more populations that usually occupying different parts of the same aggregate or separate into different aggregates. Cell sorting probably takes place in the development of certain organs. See: differential adhesion, flow cytometry. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell strain | <cell culture> Cells adapted to culture, but with finite division potential. See: cell line. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell surface marker | <cell biology> Any molecule characteristic of the plasma membrane of a cell or in some cases of a specific cell type. 5' nucleotidase and Na/K ATPase are often used as plasma membrane markers. (26 Mar 1998) |
| cell survival | The span of viability of a cell characterised by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cell synchronisation | <technique> A process of obtaining (either by selection or imposition of a reversible blockade) a population of growing cells that are to a greater or lesser extent in phase with each other in the cycle of growth and division. (26 Mar 1998) |