MEILSRMinimum Essential ILS Requirements (NSA term).
MeiosisA special form of cell division in which each daughter cell receives half the amount of DNA as the parent cell.
meiotic analysisThe use of patterns of chromosome pairing at meiotic prophase and metaphase to detect relationships between chromosomes, from which can be deduced the…
meiotic driveAny mechanism that causes a particular allele or chromosome to be over-represented in a population of gametes.
MEK inhibitor AZD6244(... in-HIH-bih-ter...) A substance being studied in the treatment of several types of cancer.
MEL(1) Maintenance Expenditure Limit. (2) Mobile Erector Launcher.
Melan-A proteinA substance found on the surface of melanoma cells. It is being used to develop cancer vaccines that may help the immune system kill cancer cells.
melanin(MEH-luh-nin) A pigment that gives color to skin and eyes and helps protect it from damage by ultraviolet light.
melanocortin 1 receptor(meh-LA-nuh-KOR-tin 1 reh-SEP-ter) A protein found in skin and eye cells that make melanin (a pigment that gives color to the skin and helps protect it…
Melanocyte(mel-AN-o-site) A cell in the skin and eyes that produces and contains the pigment called melanin.
melanoma(MEH-luh-NOH-muh) A form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin).
melanoma in situ(MEH-luh-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal melanocytes (cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color) are found in the epidermis (outer layer…
melanoma vaccineA cancer vaccine prepared from human melanoma cancer cells. It can be used alone or with other therapy in treating melanoma.
melanotropin receptor(meh-LA-nuh-TROH-pin reh-SEP-ter) A protein found in skin and eye cells that make melanin (a pigment that gives color to the skin and helps protect it…
melatonin(MEH-luh-TOH-nun) A hormone made by the pineal gland (tiny organ near the center of the brain).
melphalanA drug that is used to treat multiple myeloma and ovarian epithelial cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
melting layerThe layer below the 0°C isotherm where snowflakes melt and turn into raindrops.
Melting LevelThe altitude which ice crystals and snowflakes melt as they descend through the atmosphere.
Melting PointThe temperature at which a solid substance undergoes fusion, changing from a solid to a liquid state. Contrast with freezing point.
melting temperature(Abbreviation: Tm). The temperature at which a double-stranded DNA molecule denatures into separate single strands.
Member Survey ResultsA survey conducted by the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) which asks health plan members to rate the care their…
membraneA very thin layer of tissue that covers a surface.
Membrane (diaphragm)A membrane or sheet or thin zone or facing, made of a flexible impervious material such as asphaltic concrete, plastic concrete, steel, wood, copper…
membrane bioreactorA vessel in which cells are cultured on or behind a permeable membrane, which allows the diffusion of nutrients to the cells, but retains the cells…
MemeIn The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins defines a meme as "a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation.
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)(1) In contract administration, an agreement between a program manager and a Contract Administration Office, establishing the scope of responsibility of…
Memorandum of lawA legal brief in support of the position taken by a party in an action.
Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement (MOU/A)A document established between two or more parties to define their respective responsibilities in accomplishing a particular goal or mission.
memoryData storage in the form of chips, or the actual chips used to hold data; storage is used to describe memory that exists on tapes or discs.
memory cellLong-lived B cells and T cells that mediate rapid secondary immune responses to a previously encountered antigen.
Memory cellsA subset of antigen-specific T or B cells that "recall" prior exposure to an antigen and respond quickly without the need to be activated again by CD4…
memory leakA situation in which memory that is no longer being used has not been returned to the pool of free memory.
memory scavengingThe collection of residual information from data storage. [INFOSEC-99]
MEN syndrome(... SIN-drome) An inherited condition that may result in the development of cancers of the endocrine system.
MEN-10755An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics.
MEN1 syndrome(... SIN-drome) A rare, inherited disorder that affects the endocrine glands and can cause tumors in the parathyroid and pituitary glands and the pancreas.
Mendel's LawsTwo laws summarizing Gregor Mendel's theory of inheritance. The Law of Segregation states that each hereditary characteristic is controlled by two…
Mendel, Johann (Gregor)Austrian biologist, born in 1822 and died in 1884, who laid the foundations for the science of genetics.
Mendelian inheritanceManner in which genes and traits are passed from parents to children. Examples of Mendelian inheritance include autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive…
Mendelian populationA natural, interbreeding unit of sexually reproducing plants or animals sharing a common gene pool.
meningeal(meh-NIN-jee-ul) Having to do with the meninges (three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord).
meningeal metastasis(meh-NIN-jee-ul meh-TAS-tuh-sis) Cancer that has spread from where it first formed in the body to the meninges (three thin layers of tissue that cover and…
meninges(meh-NIN-jees) The three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
meningioma(meh-NIN-jee-OH-muh) A type of slow-growing tumor that forms in the meninges (thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord).
meningitis(meh-nin-JY-tis) Inflammation of the meninges (three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord).
MeniscusThe curved top of a column of liquid in a small tube caused by surface tension.
Menopausal(men'o-pawz"ul) describes the time of life when the ovaries stop making estrogen.
menopausal hormone therapy(MEH-nuh-PAW-zul HOR-mone THAYR-uh-pee) Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, or both) given to women after menopause to replace the hormones no longer…
Menopause(MEH-nuh-PAWZ) The time of life when a woman's menstrual periods stop. A woman is in menopause when she hasn't had a period for 12 months in a row.
Mens reaThe "guilty mind" necessary to establish criminal responsibility.
Menses(men'sees) the monthly flow of blood from the genital tract of women. Also called menstruating or the period.
menstrual cycle(MEN-stroo-al) The monthly cycle of hormonal changes from the beginning of one menstrual period to the beginning of the next.
menstrual period(MEN-stroo-al PEER-ee-od) The periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus.
menstruation(MEN-stroo-AY-shun) Periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus. From puberty until menopause, menstruation occurs about every 28 days when a…
mental healthA person's overall psychological and emotional condition. Good mental health is a state of well-being in which a person is able to cope with everyday…
mental health counselorA specialist who can talk with patients and their families about emotional and personal matters, and can help them make decisions.
menuA list of options, each of which performs a desired action such as choosing a command or applying a particular format to a part of a document.
mercaptopurineA drug used to treat acute lymphatic leukemia. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites. Also called Purinethol.
MERCASTAcronym for merchant-ship broadcast system.
merchant bankingMerchant banking is a form of fee-based banking where the bank arranges credit financing, but does not hold the loans in its investment portfolio to…
Merchant generatorA generating plant built with no energy sales contracts in place.
merchant-ship broadcast system (MERCAST)A maritime shore-to-ship broadcast system in which the ocean areas are divided into primary broadcast areas each covered by a high-powered shore radio…
MerchantableLogs from which at least of the volume can be converted into sound grades of lumber ("standard and better" framing lumber).
mercuryA silver-white, poisonous metal that is a liquid at ordinary temperatures. It is commonly used in thermometers and amalgams, and has been used as an…
Mercury BarometerAn instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure. The instrument contains an evacuated and graduated glass tube in which mercury rises or falls as the…
Mercury Vapor LampA high-intensity discharge lamp that uses mercury as the primary light-producing element. Includes clear, phosphor coated, and self-ballasted lamps.
mercy killingAn easy or painless death, or the intentional ending of the life of a person suffering from an incurable or painful disease at his or her request.
mere descriptivenessstatutory basis (Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(e)(1), TMEP 1209 et seq) for refusing registration of trademarks and service marks…
MergeThe process of merging various email files into one file for de-duplication purposes.
Merged Credit ReportA credit report issued by a credit reporting company that combines information from the three major credit repositories.
MergerWhen two or more companies consolidate by exchanging common stock, and the resulting single company replaces the old companies, the consolidation is…
mericlinalRefers to a chimera with tissue of one genotype partly surrounded by that of another genotype.
mericloningA propagation method using shoot tips in culture to proliferate multiple buds, which can then be separated, rooted and planted out.
meridian(meh-RID-ee-un) In traditional Chinese medicine, one of 20 channels that form a network through which qi (the body's vital energy) flows and that connect…