Stem Cell terms starting with M

42 terms

  1. macrophage A type of white blood cell that surrounds and kills microorganisms, removes dead cells, and stimulates the action of other immune system cells.
  2. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) A group of genes that code for cell-surface histocompatibility antigens. These antigens are the primary reason why organ and tissue transplants from…
  3. marker A diagnostic indication that disease may develop.
  4. Mast cell A type of white blood cell.
  5. Maternal gene product A product in the male organism of a gene from the X chromosome.
  6. Meiosis A special form of cell division in which each daughter cell receives half the amount of DNA as the parent cell.
  7. Melanocyte (mel-AN-o-site) A cell in the skin and eyes that produces and contains the pigment called melanin.
  8. memory Data 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.
  9. Memory cells A 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…
  10. Mesemchymal stem cell Also known as bone marrow stromal cells, mesenchymal stem cells are rare cells, mainly found in the bone marrow, that can give rise to a large number of…
  11. Mesenchymal stem cells Cells from the immature embryonic connective tissue. A number of cell types come from mesenchymal stem cells, including chondrocytes, which produce…
  12. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) Cells from the immature embryonic connective tissue. A number of cell types come from mesenchymal stem cells, including chondrocytes, which produce…
  13. Mesoderm The middle germ layer that forms in the early animal embryo and gives rise to parts such as bone and connective tissue.
  14. Metachromatic leukodystrophy A heritable metabolic disorder, usually of infancy, characterized by myelin loss and other abnormalities of the white matter of the nervous system…
  15. Metaphase Stage of mitosis or meiosis (following prophase and preceding anaphase ) during which the chromosome s, or at least the kinetochores, lie in the central…
  16. Microenvironment The molecules and compounds such as nutrients and growth factors in the fluid surrounding a cell in an organism or in the laboratory, which play an…
  17. Microtubule Self-assembling components of the cytoskeleton. Microtubules are cylindrical protein polymers, interconnected by cross-bridging proteins, which…
  18. Mitochondria (MY-toh-KON-dree-uh) Small structures in a cell that are found in the cytoplasm (fluid that surrounds the cell nucleus).
  19. Mitochondrial DNA (Abbreviation: mtDNA). A circular DNA found in mitochondria. In mammals, mtDNA makes up less than 1% of the total DNA, but in plants the amount is…
  20. Mitochondrial proteins Proteins that are part of the mitochondria.
  21. Mitosis (my-TOH-sis) The process by which a single parent cell divides to make two new daughter cells.
  22. Monoclonal From a single cell.
  23. Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) An exceptionally pure and specific antibody derived from hybridoma cells. Because each of the clones is derived from a single B cell, all of the antibody…
  24. Monocyte A type of white blood cell.
  25. Mononucleocyte A cell containing a single nucleus. Generally refers to a white blood cell.
  26. Morphology (mor-FAH-loh-jee) The science of the form and structure of organisms (plants, animals, and other forms of life).
  27. Morula A solid mass of cells that resembles a mulberry and result from the cleavage of an ovum.
  28. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) Mouse embryonic fibroblast cells are used as feeder cells when culturing pluripotent stem cells.
  29. Multipotent As applied to stem cells, the ability to differentiate into at least two, more differentiated descendant cells.
  30. Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPC) Cells isolated from bone marrow that can be differentiated into cells with characteristics of cartilage, fat, and bone.
  31. Multipotent stem cells Stem cells whose progeny are of multiple differentiated cell types, but all within a particular tissue, organ, or physiological system.
  32. Mutagenicity The capacity of a chemical or physical agent to cause permanent genetic alterations. See also: somatic cell genetic mutation
  33. Mycoplasma A general category of microorganisms that shares some characteristics of bacteria.
  34. Myelin (MY-eh-lin) The fatty substance that covers and protects nerves.
  35. Myelin basic protein (MPB) A structural protein within the myelin sheath surrounding neurons.
  36. Myelin sheath (my' uh lin) the tubular structure that surrounds the nerve fibers.
  37. 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…
  38. Myeloid stem cells Precursors to the other lines of blood cells: erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and platelets.
  39. Myocyte A muscular tissue cell.
  40. MyoD1 A group of four basic myogenic regulatory factors (helix-loop-helix transcription) and a newly discovered factor called muscle enhancer factor-2 which…
  41. Myosin A protein in muscle fibers.
  42. Myosin light chain There are four light chain subunits containing complex molecules that form contractile units in skeletal muscle.