My name is Ismail Malak, and I have been studying in the Natural Science program for 2 years. This glossary is designed for students in Natural Science or anyone who wants a better understanding of the vocabulary used in this field.
The topic of this glossary is key terms related to Natural Science, such as biology, chemistry, medicine, and other related subjects. Scientific texts often use complex vocabulary which makes them difficult to understand. This glossary of 15 words helps solve that problem by providing simple and clear definitions.
The terms were selected based on what I learned in my classes, as well as research I conducted on my program and assignments. The definitions were found using reliable online sources, such as the Oxford Dictionaries.
Readers are encouraged to use this glossary as a reference when studying or reading scientific materials in order to better understand the concepts presented.
anaerobic
adjective
Relating to, involving, or requiring an absence of free oxygen.
Example: The ANAEROBIC bacteria eventually became an oxygen consumer as the oxygen in the atmosphere built up.
fr: anaérobie
anthropogenic
adjective
(chiefly of pollution or environmental change) originating in human activity.
Example: Another way of looking at faunal extinctions when related to humans is the ANTHROPOGENIC 'overkill' model (Martin 1984, p357).
fr: anthropique
aquifer
noun
A body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.
Example: Surface water passes through unsaturated zone topsoil to the AQUIFER - groundwater.
fr: aquifère
chirality
noun
Chirality is a geometric property where an object or molecule is not superimposable on its mirror image, meaning they cannot be aligned perfectly, like left and right hands.
Example: Crisona et al 1999 proposed that this CHIRALITY reflects a right handed DNA crossing within or between recombination sites in the synaptic complex that favours formation of right handed Holliday junction intermediates.
fr: chiralité
endosymbiosis
noun
Symbiosis in which one of the symbiotic organisms lives inside the other.
Example: One such theory, that of ENDOSYMBIOSIS, has been proposed consistently with differentiating aspects throughout the 20 th century.
fr: endosymbiose
eutrophication
noun
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Example: This is to protect surface waters, groundwaters and water likely to suffer from EUTROPHICATION, from the exposure of too much nitrate.
fr: eutrophisation
exacerbate
verb
Make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Example: For such an individual for whom antiepileptic medication has had some benefit in the past, then surely it is in his best interests to continue this and treat him as an epileptic than prolong and EXACERBATE both his chronic anxiety and depression.
fr: exacerber
fetid
adjective
Smelling extremely unpleasant.
Example: The FETID swamp water, low in dissolved oxygen, fostered the growth of anaerobic microbes.
fr: fétide
interstellar
adjective
Occurring or situated between stars.
Example: The arrival of a new INTERSTELLAR object has also fueled speculation online, including suggestions that 3I/ATLAS could be artificial in origin.
fr: interstellaire
mundane
adjective
Lacking interest or excitement; dull.
Example: The alleviation of human misery through medical science has an abstract element that transcends the MUNDANE, thus does not lend itself easily to practical analysis particularly in conjunction with legal regulation.
fr: banal
oxen
noun
Plural form of ox (a castrated bull used as a draft animal).
Example: Supplies had quickly run out and OXEN had had to be killed for food.
fr: bœufs
paramount
adjective
More important than anything else; supreme.
Example: I find this to be the most plausible interpretation of Aristotle's account of eudaimonia as the eudaimon life will include various enjoyments whilst still holding contemplation as PARAMOUNT.
fr: primordial
prophylaxis
noun
Action taken to prevent disease, especially by specified means or against a specified disease.
Example: Regular observations should be continued and altered as appropriate for a 24-hour period following anaesthesia. 2 x doses iv antibiotics e.g. cefuroxime 250mg - PROPHYLAXIS against post-operative infection.
fr: prophylaxie
speciation
noun
The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
Example: Parapatric SPECIATION results when a geographically continuous population occupies different habitats.
fr: spéciation
symbiotic
adjective
Involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
Example: Some eukaryotes that are anaerobic and hence contain hydrogenosomes also contain SYMBIOTIC, hydrogen consuming, prokaryotic cells, such as methanogens, in their cytoplasm.
