Organisms


Organisms

See also animals; bacteria; biology; plants; zoology.
anabolismBiology, Physiology. the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances from simpler ones. Cf. catabolism. — anabolic, adj.antibiosisa relationship or association between two or more organisms that is harmful to one of them. Cf. symbiosis.biosynthesisthe formation of chemical compounds by living organisms, either by synthesis or degradation. — biosynthetic, adj.biotypologythe science or study of biotypes, or organisms sharing the same hereditary characteristics. — biotypologic, biotypological, adj.catabolism, katabolismBiology, Physiology. the destructive processes of chemical ehange in living organisms, characterized by the breaking down of complex substances into simpler ones, with a release of energy. Cf. anabolism. — catabolic, adj.histology1. the branch of biology that studies tissues of organisms.
2. the structure, especially the microscopic structure, of organic tissues. Also histiology.histologist, n.histologie, histological, adj.
microorganismany one of a large variety of microscopic or ultramicroscopic organisms, as bacteria, viruses, etc.monogenesisthe theory that all organisms are descended from one original organism. — monogenetic, adj.organismany living thing or anything that resembles a living thing in complexity of structure or function.phenology, phaenologythe study of the effects of climate on animal and plant life. — phenologist, phaenologist, n. — phenologic, phaenologic, phenological, phaenological, adj.symbiosisa relationship or association between two or more organisms that is harmful to none of them. — symbiotic, adj.xenogenesis1. abiogenesis; spontaneous generation.
2. metagenesis, or alternation of generations.
3. production of an offspring entirely different from either of the parents. Also xenogeny.xenogenic, — xenogenetic, adj.
xenogenyxenogenesis.zygomorphismthe state or quality of being bilaterally symmetrical, as certain organisms. — zygomorphic, zygomorphous, adj.