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Blobel, Günter

(Encyclopedia)Blobel, Günter günˈtər blōˈbəl [key], 1936–2018, German cell and molecular biologist, M.D. Univ. of Tübingen, 1960, Ph.D. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1967. Blobel was on the faculty at the ...

nutrition

(Encyclopedia)nutrition, study of the materials that nourish an organism and of the manner in which the separate components are used for maintenance, repair, growth, and reproduction. Nutrition is achieved in vario...

Genet, Edmond Charles Édouard

(Encyclopedia)Genet, Edmond Charles Édouard ĕdmôNˈ shärl ādwärˈ zhənāˈ [key], 1763–1834, French diplomat, known as Citizen Genet. He had served as a French representative in Berlin, Vienna, and St. Pet...

Archaebacteria

(Encyclopedia)Archaebacteria ärˌkēbăktĭrˈēə [key], diverse group of bacteria (prokaryotes), sometimes called the archaea and considered a major group unto themselves. Archaebacteria are contrasted with the ...

soap

(Encyclopedia)soap, a cleansing agent. It cleanses by lowering the surface tension of water, by emulsifying grease, and by absorbing dirt into the foam. Ancient peoples are believed to have employed wood ashes and ...

digestive system

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Digestive system digestive system, in the animal kingdom, a group of organs functioning in digestion and assimilation of food and elimination of wastes. Virtually all animals have a digestive ...

lipase

(Encyclopedia)lipase līˈpās [key], any enzyme capable of degrading lipid molecules. The bulk of dietary lipids are a class called triacylglycerols and are attacked by lipases to yield simple fatty acids and glyc...

methanol

(Encyclopedia)methanol, methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol, CH3OH, a colorless, flammable liquid that is miscible with water in all proportions. Methanol is a monohydric alcohol. It melts at −97.8℃ and boils at 6...

corticosterone

(Encyclopedia)corticosterone kôrˌtəkōstĕrˈōn [key], steroid hormone secreted by the outer layer, or cortex, of the adrenal gland. Classed as a glucocorticoid, corticosterone helps regulate the conversion of ...

chymotrypsin

(Encyclopedia)chymotrypsin kīˌmōtrĭpˈsĭn [key], proteolytic, or protein-digesting, enzyme active in the mammalian intestinal tract. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of proteins, degrading them into smaller molecul...