5,169 Matching Annotations
  1. Dec 2017
    1. ectodysplasin A

      A protein involved in cell signaling between two layers of skin (ectoderm and mesoderm). It is especially important in embryo formation and promotes the formation of hair follicles, sweat glands, and teeth.

    2. histological

      Related to the study of tissues.

    3. co-option

      The process by which a structure or pathway that evolved for one function gains additional functions.

    4. common ancestry

      The idea that two species share an ancestor somewhere in their lineage. Common ancestry is visualized in a phylogenetic tree.

    1. real-road driving

      These tests involved cars driving on actual roads, instead of test (or "simulated") roads used for experiments.

    2. Autonomous vehicles

      Autonomous vehicles can navigate an environment without input from humans. One example of an autonomous vehicle is a self-driving car.

    1. nonsynonymous substitutions

      Nonsynonymous substitutions are a nucleotide mutations that alters the amino acid sequence of a protein. These differ from silent mutations, because they alter the amino acid sequences. - Jake Barbee

    2. splicing

      Splicing refers to RNA gene splicing which is, the editing of new messenger RNA transcript into a mature messenger RNA. Splicing removes introns, joining together only the exons to create a mature mRNA. - Jake Barbee

    1. escape latency

      time elapsed between start and completion of the morris water maze

    2. Aβ precursor protein (APP)

      Amyloid beta precursor protein (APP); The protein is found in many tissues and concentrated at the synapses of neurons.The protein itself is not dangerous, it is found in many tissues and concentrated at the synapses of neurons. Truncated forms of APP can form plaques that cause AB toxicity.

    3.  N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)–type glutamatergic receptors

      Receptor and ion channel protein found in neurons, which controls the ability of synapses to weaken or strengthen due to brain activity level and memory function.

    4. p38γ

      A kinase that helps transfer a phosphate group to a specific site on the tau protein. Each isoform of the p38 kinase phosphorylates tau at a different site. A kinase is a protein that catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group to a specific site on a specific protein.

    5. Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

      Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that worsens with age and has no known cure. The disease affects different aspects of cognition and memory, and can eventually lead to shutdown of the body. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT7UovfLl8c

    6. Amyloid-β (Aβ) toxicity

      Amyloid beta is a short chain amino acid and is a main component of amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s. Amyloid beta plaques are located outside of neurons. Amyloid beta plaques are composed of amyloid precursor protein (APP) that is truncated into a shorter form. Amyloid beta toxicity occurs when the build of of amyloid beta plaques becomes toxic to neural cells.

    7. T205A

      A mutant variant of T205 with the mutation in the phosphorylation site

    8. T205E

      A mutant variant of T205 that changes the site to act like a constitutively active phosphorylation site

    9. Morris water maze (MWM) test:

      Mice are placed in a circular pool of water. In one of the quadrants, a hidden platform is present. The platform allows the mice to stand instead of swim.The mice are shown where the platform is and how to get to it multiple times. After showing the mice, the researchers put the mice somewhere in the four quadrants and track their movement as the mice attempt to find the platform. Time to escape can also be quantified. (https://www.jove.com/video/2920/morris-water-maze-test-for-learning-memory-deficits-alzheimers)

    10. tau

      Tau is a protein that stabilizes microtubular cytoplasmic components in neurons.

    11. Immunoprecipitation (IP) analysis

      A technique to find protein-protein complexes by precipitating an antigen protein from a solution using an antibody that binds to a particular antigen from a sample.

    12. spike frequency

      response of a neuron to a stimulus

    13. spike train

      electrical signals recorded from individual neurons

    14. downstream

      after the initial step

    15. interictal

      the time between seizures

    16. modulation

      change or variation

    17. phosphorylation

      to add an inorganic phosphate group to a substance, usually to affect the activity of the substance

    18. systemic 

      completely; throughout

    19. Mortality

      death

    20. oscillations

      to move up and down on a scale

    21. Fyn

      A protein that phosphorylates Tau and is involved in neuronal growth.

    22. epileptiform

      A wave on an EEG that is a sharp wave or spike that is a marker for patients with epilepsy or a focus of seizure studies.

    23. Electroencephalography

      Electroencephalography (EEG), measures electrical activity of the brain Epileptiform: A wave on an EEG that is a sharp wave or spike that is a marker for patients with epilepsy or a focus of seizure studies.

    24. exacerbated

      to aggravate, make a situation worse

    25. augmented

      to amplify, make greater in size or value

    26. PTZ

      Pentylenetetrazole, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used to assess the excitability of the CNS. The drug is administered and 30 minutes after, seizure profiles are examined.

    27. excitotoxicity

      The death or damage of nerve cells by over stimulation by neurotransmitters.

    28. aberrations

      A deviation from the normal type behavior

    1. Human Genome Project

      The Human Genome Project was an effort to map and understand all of the genes that make up the human genome. Although it was announced complete in 2003, we still have much to learn about the genome.

    2. GeCKO

      Genome-scale CRISPR knockout.

    1. refractive index

      Unitless measure of how much light bends when passing through a substance.

    2. ventrally

      On the "bottom" surface, or siphon side of the squid.

    3. Transcriptome

      All of the mRNA transcripts in a cell.

    4. bioluminescent

      Biologically produced light.

  2. Nov 2017
    1. ng bootstrap ap

      "Bootstrapping" is a process that allows scientists to ensure that their statistical data sets are correct by doing hundreds of random samplings.

      RW

    2. mean TDD ± s.e.

      Vertical lines in these graphs represent error bars, which represent the level of uncertainty in results. The larger the variation in data, the longer the error bars will be. These graphs have been created with 95% certainty.

      RW

    3. , p < 0.00

      This p value is considered "significant", meaning that the results did not happen by chance.

      RW

    4. C yr-1,

      P values greater than .001 are generally considered insignificant in statistics

      RW

    1. consanguineous

      marriage between close relatives

    2. luciferase

      enzyme that produces fluorescent colors when activated and is often used to study gene expression

    3. (CRISPR)–Cas9

      bacterial DNA sequences that contain snippets of viral DNA, allowing scientists to modify genes within an organism (by removing or adding DNA)

    4. cytopathicity

      the change that occurs in a cell due to disease or infection

    5. neonatal

      newborn children, specifically up to 4 weeks old

    6. flavivirus

      single stranded RNA viruses that are transmitted by insects, such as mosquitos

    7. knockouts (KOs)

      a genetic technique that genetically modifies genome sequences to have a specific missing or inactivate gene that is “knocked-out” of the organism

    8. premature chromosome condensation (PCC)

      when mitotic cells fuse with interphase cells, causing premature mitosis

    9. wild-type (WT)

      a gene or characteristic that prevails among individuals in natural conditions

    10. cytomegalovirus

      a virus belonging to the herpesvirus family causing a variety of symptoms in those with a weakened immune system or pregnant

    11. recapitulated

      summarize or state the main point again

    12. cyclin-dependent kinase

      family of kinases that regulate the cell cycle through the transfer of phosphate groups

    13. neuroblastoma

      tumors that arise from early forms of nerve cells in an embryo/fetus

    14. glioblastoma

      tumors that arise from cells that make up supportive tissue in the brain

    15. neural progenitors

      a stem cell that has limited cellular divisions and can differentiate into a neuron or glial cell

    16. pleiotropic

      two or more phenotypic traits are influenced by one gene

    17. in vivo

      in a living organism

    18. in vitro

      happens outside of the normal environment, such as in a test tube or petri dish

    19. transfected

      inserting RNA or DNA into a cell through a plasmid

    20. intracranial calcifications

      abnormal calcium deposits in certain parts of the brain

    21. cortical malformations

      abnormal development of the outer layer of the cerebrum of the brain

    22. microcephaly

      underdevelopment of the brain causing a child’s head to be smaller than normal

    1. phenotypes

      The observable characteristics/traits of organisms

    2. plausible

      An idea that is credible and reasonable

    3. tesaglitazar

      Is a drug that targets peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor are nuclear receptors, which also act as transcription factors.

    4. antidiabetic

      drugs used by diabetic patients to regulate blood glucose levels.

    5. normoxic

      Normal oxygen levels.

    6. heritable

      Able to be passed on to the next generation

    7. tabulated

      Data was arranged on a table or chart

    8. autosomal genes

      Are genes that are not on sex chromosomes

    9. localization signals

      Localization signals are amino acid sequences that aid in nuclear transport by tagging proteins destined into the nucleus.

    10. 200-kb regions

      A measurement unit: 200 kilobytes

    11. intracellular calcium

      Calcium found on the inside of the cell, typically found in the mitochondria.

    12. CAMK2D,

      CAMK2D gene encodes for calcium dependent protein kinase type 2 delta, which is a serine/threonine protein kinase family.

    13. HMOX2

      Heme oxygenase 2 (HMOX2) is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of heme.

    14. cytochrome P450 genes

      Family of genes that regulate lipid synthesis and drug metabolism.

    15. CYP2E1

      Is one of the member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily, and regulates metabolism of xenobiotics in the body. Xenobiotics are chemical compounds found in the body, but are not synthesized within the body.

    16. CYP17A1

      Cytochrome P450 17A1 is a gene encoding for enzymes of the cytochrome P450 superfamily, which regulate the synthesis of various lipids and drug metabolism.

    17. lipid metabolism pathway

      The breakdown or storage of fats that occurs within cells, primary in the liver.

    18. peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)

      Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors are receptors found on the nuclear membrane that can act as transcription factors that induce certain genes.

    19. subsequent

      Following a certain phenomenon

    20. nonoverlapping

      Structures that do not extend over one another

    21. consecutive

      A continuous uninterrupted sequence

    22. natural selection

      The evolutionary process in which organisms acquire adaptations to allow survival in an environment.

    23. linkage disequilibrium

      The phenomenon is which two or more alleles are associated more frequently than expected.

    24. partial selective sweeps

      Beneficial mutations that increase an organism's survival and reproductive rate are favored by natural selection. That is, alleles that increase an individual’s fitness are increased in frequency. Eventually most beneficial mutations become fixed : their frequency will reach 1. However, mutations increase in frequency but don’t get fixed. Beneficial mutations that are nearly fixed result in partial selective sweep.

    25. point of fixation

      A change in the gene pool where one allele becomes the dominant allele.

    26. frequency

      The ratio of one allele to other alleles in a particular population.

    27. haplotype

      A set of genes inherited by a single parent.

    28. single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)

      A DNA sequence variation that occurs in a single nucleotide base.

    29. alleles

      One or two alternate forms of a gene that have arisen via mutation, that are found at the same location on the same chromosome.

    30. resting ventilation

      resting breathing rate

    31. homeostasis

      The tendency of a body toward balanced physiological conditions in reaction to specific stimulus. For example, maintaining a body temp of 98.6 F regardless of the environmental temperature.

    32. transcriptional regulator

      A protein or molecule that regulates the transcription of DNA to RNA.

    33. positive selection

      When a specific trait is made more prevalent overtime in a population (the Tibetan highlands people in this case), because this trait increases the survival and reproduction of the person who expresses it.

    34. ventilation

      The exchange of air between the lungs and atmospheric air.

    35. vasodilation

      The widening of blood vessels, which decreased blood pressure.

    36. NO

      Nitric oxide

    37. oxygen-transport system

      The oxygen transport system consists of the lungs and blood vessels. Oxygen is transported from the lungs through blood vessels.

    38. aerobic metabolism

      Cellular process where energy generated by the cell (in the form of ATP) is made through oxidative phosphorylation (the electron transport chain) where oxygen is the final electron acceptor.

    39. hypoxic

      low oxygen concentration

    40. compensate

      To make up for

    41. hemoglobin

      A molecule found on red blood cells that is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body of vertebrates.

    42. physiologic traits

      A characteristic associated with the normal function of the body.

    43. late Pleistocene

      A time period between 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago.

    1. p38 kinases

      Kinases are proteins that help move phosphate groups from one protein to another. p38 kinase phosphorylates tau and each form phosphorylates at a different site.

    1. accession Nos

      An accession number in BLAST is the specific identification number of a sequence. AT

    2. homology

      Homology in protein sequences means that the sequences are similar enough that we can assume they developed from the same ancestral gene. AT

    3. marine biotoxin okadaic acid

      This marine biotoxin is incredibly common in aquatic environments because of pollution and other factors. Thus it was important to investigate how it affects the DNA/chromatin of mussels. Researchers mapped out the specific effects of the biotoxin and compiled it in a database.

    4. models

      A model organism is a species with a fast regeneration time and a relatively simple genome. We try to find similarities between model organisms and complex ones in order to make a clinical use of the research. AT

    5. sessile

      fixed in one place; immobile. EM

    6. alternative splicing

      A regulated process during gene expression that results in a single gene coding for multiple proteins. EM

    7. nonallelic

      Alleles are different possible expressions of a single gene. When one is expressed the other is silenced. For nonallelic genes, both can be expressed at the same time. AT

    8. canonical

      A core protein as opposed to a variant. AT

    9. upregulation

      Upregulation stimulates transcription and makes it go faster. Downregulation would make transcription go slower. AT

    10. gonadal

      pertaining to the sex or reproductive glands of an organism that produces gametes (sex cells) and sex hormones.

    11. promoter

      The promoter is a region in DNA that tells the RNA polymerase protein where to begin transcription. AT

    12. sequence divergence

      The H2A.Z.1 and H2A.Z.2 came from a common ancestor and developed mutations in their amino acid sequences that eventually gave them their own separate functions. AT

    13. chromatin

      A complex of nucleic acids and proteins, which condense to form chromosomes during cell division, is highly consisted of DNA, RNA and proteins.

    14. H2A.Z.2

      Similar to H2A.Z.1 in structure. Mediates cell proliferation, which is defined by the balance between cell divisions and cell loss through cell death or differentiation. EM

    15. H2A.Z.1

      H2A.Z.1 differs from H2A.Z.2 by three amino acids. Functions range from transcriptional regulation, chromosome transmission and DNA damage repair. EM

    16. H2A.Z

      H2A.Z is another variant in the H2A family. It replaces the core H2A protein and is involved in gene silencing. It wraps the DNA tighter than a normal H2A protein would. It is also involved in sensing heat which can damage the DNA or proteins. AT

    17. H2A.B

      H2A.B histone is present in actively transcribing DNA and helps during the elongation stage of transcription. AT

    18. macroH2A

      macroH2A is a variant that represses transcription (the transfer of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA). It also works to inactivate the expression of alleles on one of the X chromosomes. AT

    19. variants

      A variant histone is a substitute protein that acts in place of a real histone protein. They have mutations that result in a functional group. A functional group is an additional group on a protein that carries out a particular job (ie. signal, attachment point, etc). AT

    20. Histones

      A protein structure that DNA winds around to compact the DNA into tight structures instead of being loose in the nucleus. The protein amino acid sequence has two tail ends, the N-terminal at the beginning and C-terminal at the end. For histones these ends act as receptors to a signal that tells them to either open up to allow transcription or close to inhibit transcription. AT

    21. chromosomes

      A threadlike structure of nucleic acids tightly wounded by histone proteins that carry complex genetic information in the form of genes.

      KM

    22. H2A

      There are five main families of histone proteins in eukaryotic cells. The family consists of several closely related histones. AT

    1. imidacloprid

      Currently the most widely used pesticide in the world. It is used to control pests in agricultural crops and forests. It is also sold for home use, such as for gardening, killing household pests, and treating fleas in pets.

    2. ecosystem services

      Resources and benefits that humans receive from properly functioning environments (e.g., clean water, pollination, flood protection, waste decomposition, and recreational enjoyment).

    3. bioactive range

      The concentration of a chemical at which effects on the body can be observed.

    4. limits of quantification (LOQ)

      Different terms are used to standardize the question, "How much of chemical X does this sample contain?" The smallest concentration at which a chemical can be feasibly measured is known as the limit of detection, or LOD. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is the LOD plus any adjustment for known measurement bias or imprecision. LOQ can be thought of as the lowest LOD that can be made confidently.

      Because of different instruments and protocols, LOQs vary across studies, which may make comparison difficult. (See definition for "quantification thresholds" above.)

    5. Maximum residue levels (MRLs)

      A term used in food safety by the European Commission, a legal body of the European Union: "The traces pesticides leave in treated products are called 'residues.' A maximum residue level (MRL) is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly."

    6. quantification thresholds

      Sensitivity in detecting a chemical of interest. Varying quantification thresholds make comparisons across studies difficult, because there is no standardized baseline measurement. For example, if Lab A uses an instrument that is much more sensitive than Lab B's, then Lab A may report measurements that were too low for Lab B to detect. As a result, Lab B will appear to report higher results than Lab A. (See definition for "limit of quantification (LOQ)" below.)

    1. distribution

      A set of numbers arranged based on frequency.

    2. descriptive statistics

      Describe the features of a set of numbers, for example the average, median, mode.

    3. inverse correlate

      An increase of one value is associated with a decrease in another value.

    4. monosaccharide

      A one-ring sugar, cannot be metabolized to a simpler sugar form, unlike disaccharides (two-ring sugars), which can be metabolized to monosaccharides.

    5. oogenesis

      Production of egg cells.

    6. vertical transmission

      Passage of a disease-causing agent from parent to offspring.

    7. Metazoan

      A subdivision of the animal kingdom that includes all multicellular animal organisms having cells that are differentiated and form tissues and organs.

    8. endosymbiont

      Any organism that lives within the body or cells of another, offering some benefit and receiving some benefit in return.

    1. claspers

      These are two symmetrical extremities underneath the middle of a male ray or shark - Alejandro

    2. ArcGIS software.

      It is a software that is engineered to accurately create maps that match with physical geographical sites on the planet - Alejandro

    3. Carcharhinid sharks

      There are 50 species of carcharhinid sharks that can be grouped into 12 different genera. If the shark follows a migration path, stays in generally warm waters, and contains the stereotypical shark look, it can be considered a carcharhinid shark. - Alejandro

    4. acoustic monitoring

      Radiation in the form of sound waves. -Mohammad

    5. log distance

      Log distance predicts the path loss a signal encounters inside a building or densely populated areas over distance. -Sindy

    6. spurious detections

      Detection's that appeared valid but in fact were not. -Sindy

    7. V16 transmitters

      The previously mentioned transmitters all starting with the letter V are versions of acoustic telemetry monitors. -Sindy

    8. endemic

      An endemic species is a species that tends to stick in one area or habitat for its whole life. Examples of an endemic species include the vasayan spotted deer, and the lemurs in madagascar.

    9. spatial abundance pattern

      Spatial and temporal abundance patterns relate to the study. Temporal abundance pattern has to do with quantity over a period of time and spatial abundance patterns have to do with quantity over a particular area of space. -Sindy

    10. focal species

      Focal species are species that are extremely sensitive to the changes in an environment. -Sindy

    11. temporal monitoring studies

      Temporal monitoring is monitoring that is conducted over time. -Sindy

    12. Marine reserves

      A marine reserve is an area of the ocean that is protected and allows for the recovery of marine life and the expansion of it as well. -Sindy

    13. site-fidelity

      Side-fidelity, also known as philanthropy, is the likelihood of a particular organism to stay in a set habitat, or to return to it. There are many reasons to this, such as breeding and food abundance. -Sindy

    1. ecotypes

      The word ecotypes refers to different species of a plant or animal living in a specific habitat.

      • Carolina Jimenez-Pinilla
    2. Parapatric

      This term is used to describe speciation that happens when populations are separated by an acute difference in habitat opposed to a separation by a physical barrier.

      • Carolina Jimenez-Pinilla
    3. hemipterans

      Hemipterans are an order of insects that share the common characteristic of a sucking mouthpart. Beatles are different because they have chewing mouthparts.

      • Carolina Jimenez-Pinilla
    4. chromatography

      a process of separation where components are distributed; in this case the chemical components of the gas

      • Carolina Jimenez-Pinilla
    5. parapatric distribution

      Parapatric distribution refers to a distributional pattern where pairs of taxa are partially overlapping or have separate but adjacent distributions, typically along common boundaries.

      -Angela Mujica

    6. Protium subserratum Engl.

      The Protium subserratum Engl. is the name of a species that has distinct defense mechanisms and is in the genus Protium, which are flowering plants in the family Burseraceae.

      -Angela Mujica

    1. BEM

      Stands for "boundary element model", which is used to model electric field structure based on the electric organ and to deduce electric field source poles from an electric field.

    2. electroreception

      " the ability to detect weak naturally occurring electrostatic fields in the environment. Electroreception is found in a number of vertebrate species, including the members of... of teleosts (a group of ray-finned fishes) and...Electroreception facilitates the detection of prey or other food sources and objects and is used by some species as a means of social communication." (Hopkins,2017)

      -This excerpt provides a brief synopsis of what electroreception is and explains its relevance to the experiment discussed in this article.

      https://www.britannica.com/science/electroreception

    3. teleost fish

      An extremely large and diverse group of fish that are mainly identified by the presence of a homocercal tail;in which the upper and lower parts of the tail are equal in size. An example of a teleost fish would be a tuna or hailbut.

      -Kierra Hobdy

      https://www.britannica.com/animal/teleost

    4. ampullary electroreceptive predator

      A predator that is able to use to receptors in their electric organs to sense the environment around them . The electrorecptors in the organism are located in a dilated part of a canal or duct . -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    5. EO propagation

      The spread of the signals that are emitted by the electric organs within the organism -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    6. ventral

      The anatomical position that relates to the underside or the abdominal part of an organism -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    7. biphasic

      A cycle, object or process that has two phases -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    8. rostral

      The anatomical term that refers to the area of the body that located near the oral and nasal region . -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    9. phylogenetic relationships.

      Relationships between the evolutionary history of a group of organisms . "poly" - many "genetic"- origin -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    10. ampullary

      Resembling an ampulla , An ampulla is a dilated piece of a canal or duct. -Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    11. noninnervated anterior face

      This phrase means that the front-facing side of the organism does not have a supply of nerve. "non" - not , "innervated"- to supply with nerves

      Michelle Oriana Gomez-Guevara

    1. diapause

      The pause that occurs in an insect during development. - Nicole Jones

    2. metamorphosis

      Transformation from juvenile to adult where the adult will have similar hormone levels before and after metamorphosis. - Nicole Jones

    3. versatile

      able to adapt or be adapted to different functions. In this case, the juvenile hormone is a molecule that adjust to different environments. - Nicole Jones

    4. fluorescent

      means to show radiation from somewhere else by allowing the wavelength to become shorter with a x-rays or ultraviolet ways. - Nicole Jones

    5. derivatization

      this a technique used in chemistry. It is important because it allows for a chemical compound to become a similar product of a desired chemical structure. - NAJ

    1. ong-term potentiation deficits

      memory formation deficits or ability to retain memories deficit

    1. inland waters

      These are permanent bodies of waters found interior to the coastal waters. These bodies include rivers, lakes and resevoirs.

    2. pretreatment year

      Temperature, volumetric flow and discharge were observed and recorded for a year prior to the experiment.

    3. human-disturbed landscapes

      Environments and ecosystems perturbed due to human interference.

    4. biological processing of C

      The biological system includes bacteria, fungi and invertebrates. Fungi colonizes the leaves once they fall in the stream and break down the carbon.

    5. dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN)

      Dissolved inorganic nitrogen is the combination of nitrogen forms nitrate, nitrite and ammonium. This is the most available form of nitrogen used by algae.

    6. soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP)

      SRP is a measure of the filterable portion of phosphate known as orthophosphate.

    7. terrestrial organic C

      This is a carbon source found on land commonly in biotic organisms.

    8. particulate organic C (POC)

      Particulate organic carbon is a source of carbon to the ocean obtained from living organisms and detritus ; it is larger compared to dissolved organic carbon.

    1. homoplasy

      A characteristic that is shared within species but not present within their ancestors.

      RA

    2. hermaphroditic flowers

      A flower that contains sex organs of both the male and female. These organs are known as the carpellate (produces ovules) for females and staminate (produces pollen) for males.

      RA