| marginal adaptation | <dentistry> The degree of proximity and interlocking of filling material to the wall of the cavity of a tooth. The term has come to be used synonymously with adaptation at the cavosurface margin. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| reproductive adaptation | A peculiarity of the reproductive mechanism of a species that results in it being better fitted to its environment (for example, prolonged seed dormancy). (09 Oct 1997) |
| retinal adaptation | Adjustment to degree of illumination. (05 Mar 2000) |
| photopic adaptation | The visual adjustment occurring under increased illumination in which the retinal sensitivity to light is reduced. See: light-adapted eye. Synonym: photopic adaptation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physiological adaptation | A peculiarity of the basic physical and chemical activities that occur in cells and tissues of a species, which results in it being better fitted to its environment (for example, ability to absorb nutrients under low oxygen tensions). (09 Oct 1997) |
| morphological adaptation | <ecology> A structural feature that aids in fitting a species to its particular environment (for example, buttressed bases, adventitious roots and aerenchymous tissue). (09 Oct 1997) |
| scotopic adaptation | The adjustment of the eye occurring under reduced illumination in which the sensitivity to light is greatly increased or the light threshold is greatly reduced. Dark adaptation is slower than light adaptation. During dark adaptation rhodopsin is built up in the retinal rods. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social adaptation | Adjustment to living in accordance with interpersonal, social, and cultural norms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| space adaptation syndrome | <syndrome> Alterations in normal physiology that occur during prolonged exposure to weightlessness, unless preventive measures are taken. Characterised by muscle atrophy, loss of mineral from bones, cardiovascular changes, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dark adaptation | The adjustment of the eye occurring under reduced illumination in which the sensitivity to light is greatly increased or the light threshold is greatly reduced. Dark adaptation is slower than light adaptation. During dark adaptation rhodopsin is built up in the retinal rods. (12 Dec 1998) |
| light adaptation | The visual adjustment occurring under increased illumination in which the retinal sensitivity to light is reduced. See: light-adapted eye. Synonym: photopic adaptation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antibody technology | <molecular biology> Techniques for the synthesis of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for use in research, diagnostics and therapeutics. (09 Feb 1998) |
| assisted reproductive technology | Originally, a range of techniques for manipulating eggs and sperm in order to overcome infertility. Encompasses drug treatments to stimulate ovulation; surgical methods for removing eggs (e.g., laparoscopy and ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration) and for reimplanting embryos (e.g., zygot intrafallopian transfer (or ZIFT); in vitro and in vivo fertilization (e.g., artificial insemination and gamete intrafallopian transfer (or GIFT); ex utero and in utero foetal surgery; as well as laboratory regimes for freezing and screening sperm and embryos, and micromanipulating and cloning embryos. The field's first major success came in 1978 with the birth of "test-tube baby" Louise Brown, engineered by Steptoe, Edwards, et al., of England. As the technologies spread, they increasingly are being employed for purposes beyond infertility, i.e., to reduce the risk of, or avoid passing on, hereditary disease and to select for infant sex. Further uses that would aim at improving the "quality" of offspring have been widely discussed and raise profound legal and ethical questions. See: eugenics. (05 Mar 2000) |
| recombinant DNA technology | A series of procedures used to join together (recombine) DNA segments. A recombinant DNA molecule is constructed (recombined) from segments from 2 or more different DNA molecules. Under certain conditions, a recombinant DNA molecule can enter a cell and replicate there, autonomously (on its own) or after it has become integrated into a chromosome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national centre for health care technology | A centre in the public health service which coordinates and administers a program of research, demonstrations, and evaluations of medical technologies and assessments of health care technology. (12 Dec 1998) |