Science terms starting with M

758 terms

  1. multiple drop array (Abbreviation: MDA). See: microdroplet array.
  2. multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1 (MEN1) A rare inherited disorder that affects the endocrine glands, which release hormones into the bloodstream.
  3. multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (Abbreviation: MOET). A technology by which a single female that usually produces only one or two offspring can produce a litter of offspring.
  4. Multiple use A combination of balanced and diverse resource uses that takes into account the long-term needs of future generations for renewable and nonrenewable…
  5. Multiple Use Classes Class C is for lands designated either as wilderness or for wilderness study areas. These lands are managed to protect their wilderness values.
  6. Multiple use management Coordinated management of the various surface and subsurface resources, without permanent impairment of the productivity of the land, that will best meet…
  7. Multiple Vortex Tornado A tornado in which two or more condensation funnels or debris clouds are present at the same time, often rotating about a common center or about each…
  8. Multiple-purpose reservoir (multipurpose reservoir) A reservoir planned to operate for more than one purpose.
  9. Multiple-Use MPAs Often employed over larger areas, multiple-use areas allow for integrated management of complete marine ecosystems, usually through a zoning process.
  10. multiplex 1. The simultaneous amplification of a number of amplicons in a single polymerase chain reaction, achieved by including more than one set of primers in…
  11. Multiplexing A laboratory approach that performs multiple sets of reactions in parallel (simultaneously); greatly increasing speed and throughput.
  12. Multipotent As applied to stem cells, the ability to differentiate into at least two, more differentiated descendant cells.
  13. Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPC) Cells isolated from bone marrow that can be differentiated into cells with characteristics of cartilage, fat, and bone.
  14. Multipotent stem cells Stem cells whose progeny are of multiple differentiated cell types, but all within a particular tissue, organ, or physiological system.
  15. Multipurpose dam A dam constructed for two or more purposes (e.g. storage, flood control, navigation, power generation, recreation, or fish and wildlife enhancement.)
  16. Multipurpose project A project designed for irrigation, power, flood control, municipal and industrial, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits, in any combinations of two…
  17. Multipurpose Reservoir A reservoir constructed and equipped to provide storage and release of water for two or more purposes such as flood control, power development…
  18. multivalent vaccine A vaccine designed to elicit an immune response either to more than one infectious agent or to several different antigenic determinants of a single agent.
  19. municipal solid waste Any organic matter, including sewage, industrial, and commercial wastes, from municipal waste collection systems.
  20. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Waste material from households and businesses in a community that is not regulated as hazardous.
  21. Municipal Use of Water The various uses of water in developed urban areas, including domestic use, industrial use, street sprinkling, fire protection, etc.
  22. Municipal utility (municipally-owned electric system) A utility that is owned and operated by a city. In most cases, municipal utility rates are set at the city level, either by the municipal administration…
  23. Municipal Waste As defined in the Energy Security Act (P.L. 96-294; 1980) as "any organic matter, including sewage, sewage sludge, and industrial or commercial waste, and…
  24. Municipal Waste to Energy Project (or Plant) A facility that produces fuel or energy from municipal solid waste.
  25. Municipalization The process by which a municipal entity assumes responsibility for supplying utility service to its constituents.
  26. Muon The second heaviest charged lepton (with electron and tau), with electric charge -1.
  27. Murine Organism in the genus Mus. A rat or mouse.
  28. Mushroom Slang for a thunderstorm with a well-defined anvil rollover, and thus having a visual appearance resembling a mushroom.
  29. mutable gene A gene which has an unusually high rate of mutation.
  30. Mutagen (MYOO-tuh-jen) Anything that causes a mutation (a change in the DNA of a cell).
  31. mutagenesis Induction of heritable change(s) in the genetic constitution of a cell through alterations to its DNA.
  32. Mutagenicity The capacity of a chemical or physical agent to cause permanent genetic alterations. See also: somatic cell genetic mutation
  33. mutant An organism or an allele bearing a mutation. Usually applied when a characteristic change in phenotype can be recognized.
  34. Mutation (myoo-TAY-shun) Any change in the DNA of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division, or they may be caused by exposure to…
  35. Mutation breeding Commonly used practices in plant breeding and other areas in which chemicals or radiation are applied to whole organisms, for example plants, or cells so…
  36. mutation pressure A constant mutation rate that adds mutant genes to a population; repeated occurrences of mutations in a population.
  37. Mutualism See Symbiosis.
  38. MVFR Marginal Visual Flight Rules - in an aviation product, refers to the general weather conditions pilots can expect at the surface.
  39. MVS Moves
  40. MWD On a buoy report, mean wave direction corresponding to energy of the dominant period (DOMPD).
  41. MWS Marine Weather Statement
  42. mycelium (pl.: mycelia) Threadlike filament making up the vegetative portion of thallus fungi.
  43. Mycoplasma A general category of microorganisms that shares some characteristics of bacteria.
  44. mycoprotein Fungal protein.
  45. mycorrhiza Fungi that form an association with, or have a symbiotic relationship with roots of more developed plants.
  46. Mycorrhizae Fungi that form symbiotic relationships with roots of more developed plants.
  47. mycotoxin Toxic substance of fungal origin, e.g. aflatoxin.
  48. Myelin (MY-eh-lin) The fatty substance that covers and protects nerves.
  49. Myelin basic protein (MPB) A structural protein within the myelin sheath surrounding neurons.
  50. Myelin sheath (my' uh lin) the tubular structure that surrounds the nerve fibers.
  51. Myeloid (MY-eh-loyd) Having to do with or resembling the bone marrow. May also refer to certain types of hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells found in the bone…
  52. Myeloid stem cells Precursors to the other lines of blood cells: erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and platelets.
  53. myeloma (MY-eh-LOH-muh) Cancer that arises in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.
  54. myo inositol See: inositol.
  55. Myocyte A muscular tissue cell.
  56. MyoD1 A group of four basic myogenic regulatory factors (helix-loop-helix transcription) and a newly discovered factor called muscle enhancer factor-2 which…
  57. Myosin A protein in muscle fibers.
  58. Myosin light chain There are four light chain subunits containing complex molecules that form contractile units in skeletal muscle.