Science terms starting with C

1,236 terms

  1. Carbon Equivalent A metric measure used to compare the emissions of different greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP).
  2. Carbon Intensity The amount of carbon by weight emitted per unit of energy consumed. A common measure of carbon intensity is weight of carbon per British thermal unit…
  3. carbon monoxide (KAR-bun muh-NOK-side) A poisonous gas that has no color or odor. It is given off by burning fuel (as in exhaust from cars or household heaters) and…
  4. Carbon Monoxide (CO) A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide is poisonous if inhaled.
  5. Carbon pool The reservoir containing carbon as a principal element in the geochemical cycle.
  6. Carbon Sequestration The absorption and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Naturally-occurring in plants.
  7. Carbon sink A reservoir that absorbs or takes up released carbon from another part of the carbon cycle.
  8. Carbon sinks Carbon reservoirs and conditions that take-in and store more carbon (i.e., carbon sequestration) than they release.
  9. Carbon tetrachloride A compound consisting of one carbon atom and four chlorine atoms. It is an ozone depleting substance.
  10. Carbon Zinc Cell Battery A cell produces electric energy by the galvanic oxidation of carbon; commonly used in household appliances.
  11. Carbonate rock Rocks (such as limestone or dolostone) that are composed primarily of minerals (such as calcite and dolomite) containing the carbonate ion (CO32-).
  12. Carbonate-rock aquifer See Aquifer-carbonate rock
  13. carboxypeptidase A class of enzymes which catalyse the cleavage of peptide bonds, requiring a free carboxyl group in the substrate.
  14. carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin) Any substance that causes cancer.
  15. carcinoma (KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
  16. Cardiomyoctes Heart muscle cells.
  17. Carnivore Any flesh-eating or predatory organism.
  18. Carnot Cycle An ideal heat engine (conceived by Sadi Carnot) in which the sequence of operations forming the working cycle consists of isothermal expansion, adiabatic…
  19. carotene A reddish-orange plastid pigment involved in photosynthesis. A carotenoid and precursor of vitamin A.
  20. carotenoid A substance found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables and in dark green, leafy vegetables. Carotenoids may reduce the risk of developing cancer.
  21. carpel Female reproductive organ of flowering plants, consisting of stigma, style and ovary.
  22. carrier A heterozygous individual bearing a recessive mutant allele for a defective condition that is "masked" by the presence of the dominant normal allele; the…
  23. carrier DNA DNA of undefined sequence which is added to the transforming (plasmid ) DNA used in physical DNA -transfer procedures.
  24. carrier molecule 1. A molecule that plays a role in moving electrons through the electron transport chain.
  25. Carrington Longitude A system of fixed longitudes rotating with the sun
  26. Carry over The quantity of water which continues past an inlet.
  27. Carrying capacity The theoretical maximum weight of fish that can be maintained in a pond without depleting the food supply.
  28. Cartagena protocol See: biosafety protocol.
  29. Cartilage (KAR-tih-lij) A tough, flexible tissue that lines joints and gives structure to the nose, ears, larynx, and other parts of the body.
  30. Cartography Art and science of graphically representing the features of the Earth's surface; synonymous with map making.
  31. Cascade aeration Aeration of an effluent stream through the action of falling water.
  32. casein A group of milk protein s.
  33. casein hydrolysate The mixture of amino acids and peptides produced by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis of casein.
  34. Casing A pipe lining for a drilled hole. The material that is installed in wells to prevent the collapse of the walls of the bore hole, to prevent pollutants…
  35. cassette See: construct.
  36. CAT box See: CAAT box.
  37. catabolic pathway A pathway by which an organic molecule is degraded in order to release energy for growth and other cellular processes.
  38. catabolism The breakdown of large molecules in living organisms, with the accompanying release of energy.
  39. catabolite activator protein (Abbreviation: CAP). A protein which combines with cyclic AMP. The cAMP-CAP complex binds to the promoter regions of E.
  40. catabolite repression Glucose-mediated reduction in the rates of transcription of genes that encode enzymes involved in catabolic pathways (e.g. the lac operon).
  41. catalase A metalloenzyme, present in both plants and animals, that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.
  42. Catalina Eddy A Catalina Eddy (coastal eddy) forms when upper level large-scale flow off Point Conception interacts with the complex topography of the Southern…
  43. catalysis The process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by the addition of a substance that is not itself changed by the reaction (the catalyst ).
  44. catalyst A substance that promotes a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of a chemical reaction, but which itself remains unaltered at the end of…
  45. catalytic antibody An antibody selected for its ability to catalyse a chemical reaction by binding to and stabilizing the transition-state intermediate. Synonym: abzyme.
  46. Catalytic antibody (abzyme) An antibody selected for its ability to catalyze a chemical reaction by binding to and stabilizing the transition state intermediate.
  47. Catalytic Converter An air pollution control device that removes organic contaminants by oxidizing them into carbon dioxide and water through a chemical reaction using a…
  48. catalytic RNA See: ribozyme.
  49. Catalytic RNA (ribozyme) A natural or synthetic RNA molecule that cuts an RNA substrate.
  50. catalytic site The part of the surface of an enzyme molecule (usually only a small portion of the total) necessary for the catalytic process.
  51. Catastrophe A sudden and great disaster causing misfortune, destruction, or irreplaceable loss extensive enough to cripple activities in an area.
  52. Catch At a recreational fishery, refers to the number of fish captured, whether they are kept or released.
  53. Catch Basin A conventional structure for the capture of stormwater utilized in streets and parking areas.
  54. Catchment Area An area having a common outlet for its surface runoff (also see Drainage Area or Basin, Watershed).
  55. Catchment basin A topographic region in which all water drains to a common outlet; a watershed.
  56. Categorical A National Weather Service precipitation descriptor for a 80, 90, or 100 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch).
  57. Cathedral Ceiling/Roof A type of ceiling and roof assembly that has no attic.
  58. Cathode The negative pole or electrode of an electrolytic cell, vacuum tube, etc., where electrons enter (current leaves) the system; the opposite of an anode.
  59. Cathode Disconnect Ballast An electromagnetic ballast that disconnects a lamp's electrode heating circuit once is has started; often called "low frequency electronic" ballasts.
  60. Cathodic Protection A method of preventing oxidation of the exposed metal in structures by imposing between the structure and the ground a small electrical voltage.
  61. Cation A positively charged ion.
  62. cauliflower mosaic virus (Abbreviation CaMV). A DNA virus affecting cauliflower and many other dicot species.
  63. cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (Abbreviation CaMV 35S). A promoter sequence isolated from the ribosomal gene of the cauliflower mosaic virus
  64. Caulk The material used to seal joints.
  65. Caulking A material used to seal areas of potential air leakage into or out of a building envelope.
  66. caulogenesis Stem organogenesis; induction of shoot development from callus.
  67. Caution Stage Same as alert stage.
  68. Cavitation A process that occurs during the formation of the blastocyst and establishes the polarity of embryonic cells.
  69. Cavitation damage Damage caused when partial vacuums formed in a liquid by a swiftly moving solid body (e.g. a propeller) pit and wear away solid surfaces (e.g.
  70. cavity (KA-vih-tee) A hollow area or hole. It may describe a body cavity (such as the space within the abdomen) or a hole in a tooth caused by decay.
  71. CAVU Clear or Scattered Clouds (visibility greater than 10 mi.)
  72. CB Cumulonimbus cloud, characterized by strong vertical development in the form of mountains or huge towers topped at least partially by a smooth, flat…
  73. CBD Abbreviation for Convention on Biological Diversity.
  74. CBMAM Cumulonimbus Mamma
  75. CC Cloud-to-Cloud Lightning
  76. ccc DNA Abbreviation for covalently-closed circle DNA . See: circularization.
  77. CCITT Consultative Committee for International Telephone & Telegraphy. Sets standards for phones, faxes, modems etc.
  78. CCL Convective Condensation Level- The level in the atmosphere to which an air parcel, if heated from below, will rise dry adiabatically, without becoming…
  79. CD a type of form designation such as Form CD435, meaning a Commerce Department form
  80. CD molecules Abbreviation for: cluster of differentiation molecules . Any group of surface antigens associated with a specific sub-population of T cells.
  81. CDB Computing Development Branch (NCEP)
  82. CDC Climate Diagnostic Center, the mission of the Climate Diagnostics Center (CDC) is to advance national capabilities to interpret the causes of observed…
  83. CDD Cooling Degree Days- A form of degree day used to estimate energy requirements for air conditioning or refrigeration.
  84. CDFNT Cold Front
  85. cDNA DNA synthesized from an RNA template using reverse transcriptase.
  86. cDNA clone A double-stranded cDNA molecule propagated in a vector, and used as a probe in RFLP analyses, as template for the production of EST sequences, and for…
  87. cDNA cloning A method of cloning the coding sequence of a gene, starting with its mRNA transcript.
  88. cDNA library A library composed of complementary copies of cellular mRNAs. (See Library.)
  89. CDR Abbreviation for complementarity-determining regions.
  90. CDT Central Daylight Time
  91. Ceiling If there is an upper limit, or cap, on the interest rate you can be charged on an adjustable-rate loan, it's known as a ceiling.
  92. Ceiling Fan A mechanical device used for air circulation and to provide cooling.
  93. Ceilometer A device using a laser or other light source to determine the height of a cloud base.
  94. Cell The fundamental level of structural organization in complex organisms. Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus (with chromosome s) and cytoplasm with the…
  95. Cell (solar) See Photovoltaic (PV) cell
  96. Cell culture (SEL KUL-chur) The growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast, or human, plant, or animal cells in the laboratory.
  97. cell cycle (SEL SY-kul) The process a cell goes through each time it divides. The cell cycle consists of a series of steps during which the chromosomes and other…
  98. cell differentiation The process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function.
  99. Cell division Formation of two or more daughter cells from a single parent cell. The nucleus divides first, followed by the formation of a cell membrane between the…
  100. cell fusion Formation in vitro of a single hybrid cell from the coalescence of two cells of different species origin.