| 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) |
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| temperature spot | One of a number of definitely arranged spot's on the skin sensitive to heat and cold, but not to ordinary pressure or pain stimuli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| transition temperature | <chemistry> The temperature at which there is a transition in the organisation of, for example: the phospholipids of a membrane where the transition temperature marks the shift from fluid to more crystalline. Usually determined by using an Arrhenius plot of activity against the reciprocal of absolute temperature, the transition temperature being that temperature at which there is an abrupt change in the slope of the plot. In membranes such phase transitions tend to be inhibited by the presence of cholesterol. (18 Nov 1997) |
| equivalent temperature | The temperature of a thermally uniform enclosure in which, under still air conditions, a "sizable" black body loses heat at the same rate as in the nonuniform environment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| eutectic temperature | The temperature at which a eutectic mixture becomes fluid (melts). (05 Mar 2000) |
| fusion temperature | The recorded temperature at which a 20-gauge metal wire will collapse under a 3-ounce load; the recorded temperature at which porcelain becomes glazed. (05 Mar 2000) |