| GCAP | germ-cell alkaline phosphatase |
|---|---|
| GCT | general care and treatment; germ-cell tumor; giant cell thyroiditis; giant cell tumor |
| GF | gastric fistula; gastric fluid; germ-free; glass factor; glomerular filtration; gluten-free; grandfa... |
| GW | germ warfare; gigawatt; glycerin in water; gradual withdrawal; group work |
| HLT | heart-lung transplantation; human lipotropin; human lymphocyte transformation |
| germ-free life | Animals not contaminated by or associated with any foreign organisms. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| germ layer | <embryology> A layer of cells produced during the process of gastrulation during the early development of the animal embryo, which is distinct from other such layers of cells, as an early step of cell differentiation. The three types of germ layers are the endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm. Diploblastic organisms (e.g. Coelenterates) have two layers, ectoderm and endoderm, triploblastic organisms (all higher animal groups) have mesoderm between these two layers. Germ layers become distinguishable during late blastula/early gastrula stages of embryogenesis and each gives rise to a characteristic set of tissues, the ectoderm to external epithelia and to the nervous system for example: although some tissues contain elements derived from two layers. (18 Nov 1997) |
| germ layers | The three layers of cells comprising the early embryo. (12 Dec 1998) |
| germ layer theory | The developmental biology theory that during early development, the animal embryo divides itself into two or three germ layers, each of which then proceed to further differentiate into organs and tissues specific to that particular layer. (09 Oct 1997) |
| germ nucleus | <cell biology> The smaller nucleus in ciliate protozoans, fully active in inheritance and passed after meiosis to conjugating pairs. Gives rise to the macronucleus or macronuclei. Genes in the micronucleus are not actively transcribed. (18 Nov 1997) |
| germ plasm | The liquid portion of a gamete (egg or sperm) that contains genetic material. (09 Oct 1997) |
| germ theory | The theory, now a doctrine, that infectious diseases are due to the presence and functional activity of microorganisms within the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| germ tube | A young hypha growing out of a yeast cell or spore, the beginning of a mycelium; also used as a rapid test for differentiating Candida albicans from other Candida species. (05 Mar 2000) |
| germ tube test | A test for the identification of Candida albicans; after a 3-hr incubation in serum, an inoculum of Candida develops tubelike appendages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Weismann germ plasm theory | <genetics> The theory that organisms maintain genetic continuity from organism to offspring through the germ line cells (germ plasm) and that the other (somatic) cells play no part in the transmission of heritable factors. (18 Nov 1997) |
| wheat germ | <plant biology> The embryonic plant at the tip of the seed of wheat. Wheat germ has been used as the starting material for a cell free translation system and is also the source of wheat germ agglutinin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| wheat germ agglutinin | <plant biology> Lectin from wheat germ that binds to N acetylglucosaminyl and sialic acid residues. See: lectins. (18 Nov 1997) |
| wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate | <chemical> The lectin wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated to the enzyme horseradish peroxidase. It is widely used for tracing neural pathways. Pharmacological action: molecular probes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| wheat germ agglutinins | Lectins purified from the germinating seeds of common wheat (triticum vulgare); these bind to certain carbohydrate moieties on cell surface glycoproteins and are used to identify certain cell populations and inhibit or promote some immunological or physiological activities. There are at least two isoforms of this lectin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| wheat germ oil | An oil obtained by expression from the germ of the wheat seed, Triticum aestivum (family Gramineae); one of the richest sources of natural vitamin E; used as a nutritional supplement. (05 Mar 2000) |