industrial melanism A natural selection process that
developed in the 19th century, when certain species
such as moths developed a coloration adaptation to
compete with industrial soot pollution (e.g., the black-
ening of tree bark). England’s peppered moth (Biston
betularia) is the often-used example.
inert STABLE and unreactive under specified condi-
tions.
See alsoLABILE.
infanticide The purposeful killing of an infant or
baby after birth or shortly after.
infectious The ability to transmit a disease; an infec-
tious disease caused by some microbe or agent that is
infectious.
inferior ovary (epigynous ovary) Having the calyx,
corolla, and androecium appear to rise from the very
top of the ovary.
inflammatory response The reaction the body takes
to invading microorganisms. The response includes: an
increase in the blood flow to the infected area to
increase the number of leukocytes that can fight the
invader; the complementary thinning of the local blood
capillary cell walls to allow the increased number of
leukocytes to enter along with the leukocytes releasing
cytokines, immune-signaling chemicals, to call more
leukocytes to the area; and increase in temperature at
the infected site.inflorescence Refers to the various positional and
structural arrangements of a flower cluster on a floral
axis. The two main categories are racemose (indefinite
and not terminating in a flower) and cymose (definite,inflorescence 175Types of racemose inflorescence.
Types of cyrose inflorescence.