Dehydration reaction
A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to one another with the
removal of a water molecule.
Deletion
A deficiency in a chromosome resulting from the loss of a fragment through breakage
Demography
The study of statistics relating to births and deaths in populations.
Denaturation
For proteins, a process in which a protein unravels and loses its native conformation,
thereby becoming biologically inactive. For DNA, the separation of the two strands of the
double helix. Denaturation occurs under extreme conditions of pH, salt concentration, and
temperature.
Dendrite
One of usually numerous, short, highly branched processes of a neuron that conveys nerve
impulses toward the cell body.
Denitrification
The process by which certain bacteria living in poorly aerated soils break down nitrates,
using the oxygen for their own respiration and releasing nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
Density
The number of individuals per unit area or volume.
Density-dependent factor
Any factor influencing population regulation that has a greater impact as population density
increases.
Density-dependent inhibition
The phenomenon observed in normal animal cells that causes them to stop dividing when
they come into contact with one another.
Density-independent factors
Any factor influencing population regulation that acts to reduce population by the same
percentage, regardless of size.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the
inherited structure of a cell's proteins.
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