| blue white colour selection | <molecular biology, procedure> Method for identifying bacterial clones containing plasmids with inserts. Many modern vectors have their polycloning site within a part of the LacZ gene encoding _ galactosidase, which provides _ complementation in an appropriate mutant E. Coli strain. This means that a re ligated (empty) vector will produce blue colonies when grown on plates containing IPTG and X gal, but colonies with a substantial insert in their plasmid's polycloning site are unable to produce functional _ galactosidase and so produce white colonies. (16 Dec 1997) |
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| blue-bonnet | 1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one waring such cap; a Scotchman. 2. <botany> A plant. Same as Bluebottle. 3. <zoology> The European blue titmouse (Parus coeruleus); the bluecap. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue-eye | <zoology> The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue-eyed grass | <botany> A grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue colour. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue-green algae | The former name for the blue-green bacteria, now classified as Cyanobacteria. A group of prokaryotes. Synonym: Cyanobacteria. (05 May 2002) |
| blue-green bacteria | <organism> Modern term for the blue green algae, prokaryotic cells that use chlorophyll on intracytoplasmic membranes for photosynthesis. The blue green colour is due to the presence of phycobiliproteins. Found as single cells, colonies or simple filaments. In Anabaena, in which the cells are arranged as a filament, heterocysts capable of nitrogen fixation occur at regular intervals. According to the endosymbiont theory Cyanobacteria are the progenitors of chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blue-green bacterium | <organism> Modern term for the blue green algae, prokaryotic cells that use chlorophyll on intracytoplasmic membranes for photosynthesis. The blue green colour is due to the presence of phycobiliproteins. Found as single cells, colonies or simple filaments. In Anabaena, in which the cells are arranged as a filament, heterocysts capable of nitrogen fixation occur at regular intervals. According to the endosymbiont theory Cyanobacteria are the progenitors of chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blueback | <zoology> A trout (Salmo oquassa) inhabiting some of the lakes of Maine. A salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) of the Columbia River and northward. An American river herring (Clupea aestivalis), closely allied to the alewife. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bluebag | An acute inflammation of the sheep udder, usually gangrenous. Synonym: bluebag. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bluebell | <botany> A plant of the genus Campanula, especially the Campanula rotundifolia, which bears blue bell-shaped flowers; the harebell. A plant of the genus Scilla (Scilla nutans). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blueberry | <botany> The berry of several species of Vaccinium, and ericaceous genus, differing from the American huckleberries in containing numerous minute seeds instead of ten nutlets. The commonest species are V. Pennsylvanicum and V. Vacillans. V. Corymbosum is the tall blueberry. Origin: Cf. Blaeberry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blueberry muffin baby | Jaundice and purpura, especially of the face in the newborn, which may result from intrauterine viral infection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blueberry muffin sign | <radiology> Raised, purple skin lesions, dermal metastases of neuroblastoma (stage IV-S) (12 Dec 1998) |
| bluebill | <zoology> A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (F. Marila and F. Affinis) are common. See Scaup duck. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bluebird | <zoology> A small song bird (Sialia sialis), very common in the United States, and, in the north, one of the earliest to arrive in spring. The male is blue, with the breast reddish. It is related to the European robin. <zoology> Pairy bluebird, a brilliant Indian or East Indian bird of the genus Irena, of several species. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |