biomed final

terms

Forensic Science

application of scientific knowledge to resolve questions of civil and criminal law

Trace evidence

tiny fragments of physical evidence (hairs, carpeting or clothing fibers, and pieces of glass)

Antigen

anything that stimulates an immune response and determines your blood type

Control group

the group in an experiment that does not receive the variable being tested

Allele

Any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at the same place on a chromosome, for example, the genes responsible for blood type that are found on chromosome 9.

Restriction Length Polymorphism

lab technique that analyzes DNA sequence variations to identify genes and genetic markers

Vital signs

measurements—specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure—that indicate the state of a patient’s essential body functions.

Gene

sequence of nucleotides that codes for a protein, results in specific phenotype

Heart rate

a measure of cardiac activity, expressed in number of beats per minute

Plasma

pale yellow liquid part of blood that has water and dissolved substances (sugars, lipids, metabolic waste products, amino acids, hormones, vitamins)

Positive control

positive results and experimental setup, capable of producing results

Hemoglobin

protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen

Respiratory rate

number of breaths an organism takes per minute

Erythrocytes

full of hemoglobin and carry oxygen throughout body; makes vertebrae blood look red; doesn’t have a nucleus

Negative control

conditions that produce negative outcomes; helps to identify outside influences that weren’t thought of when procedure was created

Restriction endonucleases (enzyme)

enzyme that can break down that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts DNA at restriction sites and produce fragments

Independent variable

the variable that the researcher intentionally changes to determine its influence on the dependent variable

Leukocytes

has no hemoglobin but has a nucleus and is active in immune response. Lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are leukocytes

Antibodies

protein made by B cells in blood. works to get rid of pathogens. also known as immunoglobulin

Gel electrophoresis

separation of nucleic acids or proteins based on their size and electrical charge

Dependent variable

variable that is measured and that’s influenced by another variable

Thrombocytes

a colorless tiny disk-like body in the blood of mammals that lacks a nucleus and helps in blood clotting by sticking to other platelets

Agglutination

clumping of particles

Arteries

a type of vessel that carries blood from the heart through the body; part of the circulatory system.

Veins

a vessel that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.

Experimental Design

a process used to carefully plan experiments in order to investigate scientific questions or problems.

Hypothesis

if/then statement predicting the anticipated results of an experiment.

Latent Prints

a print that can't be seen by the naked eye. made by a hand that had deposits of blood, oil, grease, syrup or any other sticky substance on it prior to touching surface

Organelles

tiny structures that perform a function in a cell. functions include providing energy, packing proteins, and housing DNA

Chromosomes

DNA strands organize into tightly coiled packs of DNA

Eukaryotic Cells

eukaryotes; make up animals, plants, fungi, and protists. have organelles

Nucleotides

four building blocks DNA is made of. consists of a phosphate group, a sugar, and one of the nitrogenous bases

Prokaryotic Cells

prokaryotes; don’t have any organelles with membranes, only includes bacteria

Genome

all DNA inside of an organism, contains entire set of instructions for building an organism

Histones

small proteins; DNA strands wind around these; POSITIVE, DNA is negative, winds into chromosomes

Organs

A collection of tissues in an organism that performs a specific function, such as the heart, brain, skin, and liver

Tissues

An integrated group of cells with a common function and/or structure

Memory B Cells

immune cell responsible for speeding up responded to second infection

Insulin

A protein hormone secreted by the pancreas; essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates and the regulation of glucose levels in the the blood

Metabolism

The chemical reaction processes of breaking down molecules for energy and of using simple building blocks to build up more complex molecules needed for growth and repair.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal physiological conditions (like body temperature or the pH of blood), which enables the optimal functioning of an organism.

Hyperglycemia

An abnormal increase (excess) of sugar in the blood.

Feedback Loop

a process in which the output or result of a system is fed back into the system as input

Pancreas

a gland located behind the stomach that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels

Glucose

A monosaccharide, or simple sugar, with the chemical formula C6H12O6; made primarily by plants.

Hormone

A signaling molecule produced by glands. A hormone induces a specific effect on the activity of cells

Insulin Resistance

a condition in which the body's cells don’t respond properly to insulin

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by pancreatic endocrine cells that raises blood glucose levels; an antagonistic hormone to insulin.

Medical History

A record of information about a patient's past and current health. Includes information about the patients habits, lifestyle, and the health of their family

Chief Complaint

The patients description of what they feel is their main health problem

Social History

Addresses aspects of the patient’s life, such as living situations, occupation, school, travel, and other activities that could have a direct or indirect impact on health

Tact

discretion and sensitivity in dealing with orders

Diagnosis

The process of determining which disease or condition explains a person's symptoms and signs

Current History -A record of information about a person's health

Demeanor

Outward behavior or bearing

Symptoms

Any subjective evidence of disease a patient perceives, such as aches, nausea, or fatigue

Family History

Includes medical information about the patient’s close relatives

Previous History

Includes information about any past health issues, procedures, medications, vaccinations, and prior hospital stays

Physical Signs

Pieces of evidence that indicate an illness that can be observed externally, such as a rush, coughing, or elevated temperature

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person

Vital Signs

Measurements that indicate the state of a patient’s essential body functions

Respiratory Rate

the number of breasts and organism takes per minute

Blood Pressure

the pressure that blood exerts upon the walls of blood vessels, especially arteries, usually measured with a sphygmomanometer and expressed in millimeters of mercury

Triage

the sorting and prioritization of patients based on the urgency of their need for care