Biological processes

thumb|upright=1.5|Schematic of photosynthesis in plants. The carbohydrates produced are stored in or used by the plant. upright=1.5|thumb|right|Composite image showing the global distribution of photosynthesis, including both oceanic phytoplankton and terrestrial [[vegetation. Dark red and blue-green indicate regions of high photosynthetic activity in the ocean and on land, respectively.]]

Sex is the biological trait of a reproducing organism in producing gametes of one of two different sizes or shapes—male or female gametes. Thus, the typical classification for such organisms, their sex, is also known as either male or female. During sexual reproduction, a male and a female gamete fuse to form a zygote, which develops into an offspring that inherits traits from each parent. By convention, organisms that produce smaller gametes (spermatozoa, sperm) are called male, while organisms that produce larger gametes (ova, often called egg cells) are called female. An organism that

atom, molecule, or ion that has an unpaired valence electron; typically highly reactive

thumb|Mammals excrete urine through the urinary system. Excretion is elimination of metabolic waste, which is an essential process in all organisms. In vertebrates, this is primarily carried out by the lungs, kidneys, and skin. This is in contrast with secretion, where the substance may have specific tasks after leaving the cell. For example, placental mammals expel urine from the bladder through the urethra, which is part of the excretory system. Unicellular organisms discharge waste products directly through the surface of the cell. Another example would be how mammals release solid waste (f

right|thumb|Venenivibrio stagnispumantis gains energy by oxidizing hydrogen gas.

upright=1.8|thumb|Overview, including some Physiology|physiological parameters, of the human circadian rhythm ("biological clock")

process by which gases diffuse through a membrane

process specifically pertinent to the functioning of integrated living units

combination of two biological processes to supply cells with nutrients

radical composed by one atom of oxygen and one atom of hydrogen

analysis of material by examining how it responds to heat

A process is a series or set of activities that interact to produce a result; it may occur once-only or be recurrent or periodic.

series of chemical reactions which are initiated by a stimulus acting on a receptor that is transduced to the cell interior through second messengers and ultimately to effector molecules, resulting in a cell response to the initial stimulus

Imbibition is a special type of diffusion that takes place when liquid is absorbed by solids-colloids causing an increase in volume. Water surface potential movement takes place along a concentration gradient; some dry materials absorb water. A gradient between the absorbent and the liquid is essential for imbibition. For a substance to imbibe a liquid, there must first be some attraction between them. Imbibition occurs when a wetting fluid displaces a non-wetting fluid, the opposite of drainage in which a non-wetting phase displaces the wetting fluid. The two processes are governed by differe

switching of activated B cells from IgM biosynthesis to biosynthesis of other isotypes of immunoglobulin

thumb|upright=1.2|Fossil skeletal parts from extinct Belemnitida|belemnite cephalopods of the [[Jurassic – these contain mineralized calcite and aragonite.]]

In chemistry and biology, activation is the process whereby something is prepared or excited for a subsequent reaction.

biologically inherent cyclic variation or recurrence of an event or state, such as the sleep cycle, circadian rhythms, or periodic diseases

specific type of communication within (intraspecific) or between (interspecific) species of plants, animals, fungi, protozoa and microorganisms

correction of replication errors by DNA polymerase using a 3'-5' exonuclease activity.

Transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, is the process in which one mature somatic cell is transformed into another mature somatic cell without undergoing an intermediate pluripotent or progenitor cell stage. It is a type of metaplasia, which includes all cell fate switches, including the interconversion of stem cells. Current uses of transdifferentiation include disease modeling and drug discovery and in the future may include gene therapy and regenerative medicine. The term 'transdifferentiation' was originally coined by Selman and Kafatos in 1974 to describe a change in c

thumb|300px|right|The degranulation process in a Mast cell. 1 = antigen; 2 = [[IgE; 3 = FcεR1; 4 = preformed mediators (histamine, proteases, chemokines, heparin); 5 = granules; 6 - Mast cell; 7 - newly formed mediators (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, platelet-activating factor)]] Degranulation is a cellular process that releases antimicrobial, cytotoxic, or other molecules from secretory vesicles called granules found inside some cells. It is used by several different cells involved in the immune system, including granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, and mast cells)

how patterns in nature, such as stripes and spots, can arise naturally and autonomously from a homogeneous, uniform state

1952 article by Alan Turing

Xenohormesis is a hypothesis that posits that certain molecules such as plant polyphenols, which indicate stress in the plants, can have benefits for another organism (heterotrophs) that consumes it. Or in simpler terms, xenohormesis is interspecies hormesis. The expected benefits include improve lifespan and fitness, by activating the animal's cellular stress response.