Biology

Biology

A natural science concerned with the study of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, especially in relation to their origin, growth, reproduction, structure, behaviour and evolution.

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Biology > Immunology

immunoglobulin repertoire

Biology; Immunology

The immunoglobulin repertoire, also known as the antibody repertoire, is the total variety of immunoglobulin molecules in the body of an individual.

polymerase chain reaction

Biology; Immunology

The polymerase chain reaction or PCR uses high temperature and unique thermostable enzymes to replicate DNA. It has revolutionized molecular biology.

vaccinia

Biology; Immunology

The first effective vaccine was vaccinia, a cowpox virus that causes a limited infection in humans that leads to immunity to the human smallpox virus.

self tolerance

Biology; Immunology

Tolerance is the failure to respond to an antigen; when that antigen is borne by self tissues, tolerance is called self tolerance. See also tolerance.

monospecificity

Biology; Immunology

An individual lymphocyte carries antigen receptors of a single antigen specificity and thus has the property of monospecificity in response to antigen.

complement receptor 3 (CR3)

Biology; Immunology

CR3 (CD11b:CD18) is a β2 integrin that functions both as an adhesion molecule and as a complement receptor. It binds iC3b, and stimulates phagocytosis.

platelet activating factor

Biology; Immunology

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a lipid mediator that activates the blood clotting cascade and several other components of the innate immune system.