Glossary
Terms starting with D
303 definitions · page 5 of 6.
- dosage compensation
- A mechanism by which species with sex chromosomes ensure that the homogametic sex does not have too much or the heterogametic sex too little activity of loci on the homogametic sex chromosome. The process, in organisms using a chromosomal sex determination…
- DOSE
- The amount of ionizing radiation energy absorbed per unit mass of irradiated material at a specific location, such as a part of a human body.
- dot blotting
- A technique of blotting cloned DNA without prior restriction digestion and electrophoresis (See Southern blotting). Autoradiography reveals dots indicating probe hybridization.
- Double cream
- Cows' milk contains butterfat which is removed from milk using a centrifuge system. The longer the milk is centrifuged, the thicker the cream becomes. Double cream is very rich, with a fat content of 48 per cent, making it the most versatile cream because it…
- double crossover
- Two crossovers occurring in a chromosomal region under study.
- double digest
- The product formed when two different restriction endonucleases act on the same sample of DNA.
- DOUBLE GLAZING
- Windows having two sheets of glass with an airspace between.
- double helix
- The normal structural configuration of DNA consisting of two helices winding about the same axis. The structure of DNA first proposed by Watson and Crick with two interlocking helices joined by hydrogen bonds between paired bases.
- double infection
- Infection of a bacterium with two genetically different phages.
- double reduction
- The condition in polyploids in which a heterozygous individual produces homozygous gametes.
- double-breasted
- Having one-half of the front lapped over the other, and usually has a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes.
- Double-Double
- A four-digit number made up of two doubles. Example; 1221. Draw - The lottery results.
- double-tee top
- A layered look with one T-shirt over another.
- doublesex
- Locus (dsx) in Drosophila in which some mutations convert both males and females into intersexes. Encodes male and female specific proteins produced by differential splicing of the primary transcript in each sex.
- Dover sole
- The superior sole, Dover sole is a member of the flatfish family, fished from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. It has a light brown/grey speckled skin and a creamy underside. It has a firm but delicate and flavourful flesh and is best cooked as simply as…
- DOWER
- The legal right or interest, recognized in some states, that a wife acquires in the property her husband held or acquired during their marriage. During the husband's lifetime the right is only a possibility of an interest; upon his death it can become an…
- down draft
- a rapidly descending column of cooling air that causes heavy rains and violent wind gusts.
- Down Quark
- The down quark (d) is the second flavor of quark (in order of increasing mass), with an electric charge -1/3. [ Top ] [ Close Glossary ]
- Down syndrome
- An abnormal human phenotype, including mental retardation, due to a trisomy of chromosome 2l; more common in babies born to older mothers.
- downbeat
- A strong or accented beat, most frequently the first beat of a measure.
- DOWNSTREAM
- A term used in the petroleum industry referring to the refining, transportation and marketing side of the business.
- downstream
- A convention used to describe features of a DNA sequence, gene or mRNA related to the position and direction (5' to 3') of transcription by RNA polymerase or translation by the ribosome. Downstream (or 3' to) is in the direction of transcription (or…
- Dramshop laws
- statutes that impose a special liability on those in the business of producing, distributing and selling alcoholic beverages to the public.
- draped bodice
- An extra piece of material is draped over the bustline.
- Dress for Success
- Although a cliché, it's still very important. The combination of a job seeker's clothing, personal grooming and overall appearance when attending an interview are what an employers will use to make his first impression. How you dress will tell employers a…
- Driver
- A sound-producing device. It is also another word for loudspeaker. The woofer, midrange and tweeter are the "drivers" in a speaker enclosure.
- drone
- A sustained tone (a kind of permanent pedal point) over which a melody unfolds.
- Drop Down
- A horse is running for a lower claiming tag than in his previous races.
- dropped shoulders
- Characterized by the shoulder/sleeve seam falling off the shoulder.
- dropped waist low waist
- A waistline that is sewn below the body's natural waistline.
- Dropping consistency
- The consistency required of cake mixes where the mixture isn't soft enough to fall easily off the spoon but slides off reluctantly after a few seconds.
- DRY BULB TEMPERATURE
- A measure of the sensible temperature of air.
- DRY HOLE
- A drilled well that does not yield gas and/or oil quantities or condition to support commercial production; also applied to gas that has been produced and from which liquid components have been removed.
- DRY STEAM
- The conventional type of geothermal energy used for electricity production in California. Dry steam captured at the earth's surface is used to run electric turbines. The principal dry steam resource area is the Geysers in Northern California; one of only two…
- DSL
- Digital Subscriber Line. A better way of connecting a computer to the Internet using the telephone line. It's faster than the dialup and doesn't block the telephone line. However, it is more expensive because the special equipment is required.
- DUAL AGENCY
- Representing both parties to a transaction. This is unethical unless both parties agree to it, and it is illegal in many states.
- Dual-Branding
- when two or more brand name operations are located in the same retail space.
- DUAL-DUCT SYSTEM
- A central plant heating , ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC ) system that produces conditioned air at two temperatures and humidity levels. The air is then supplied through two independent duct systems to the points of usage where mixing occurs.
- DUAL-FUEL or BI-FUEL VEHICLE
- refers to a vehicle capable of operating on two different fuels, in distinct fueling systems, such as compressed natural gas and gasoline.
- DUAL-PANED (double-glazed)
- Two panes of glass or other transparent material, separated by a space.
- Dubbing
- Allows you to add video or audio (or both) to tapes. Video dub inserts new video segments into previously recorded material without interrupting the existing soundtrack. Audio Dub records a new soundtrack onto finished videos from VCRs, cassettes or from a…
- Dublin Bay prawn
- This isn't actually a prawn at all, but a small lobster fished off the north-west coast of Scotland. It's also known as langoustine and sometimes called scampi, but this term has also become the term used to refer to the tail-end pieces of prawn that are…
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- A lethal muscle disease in humans caused by mutation in a huge gene coding for the muscle protein dystrophin; inherited as an X-linked recessive phenotype.
- DUCT
- A passageway made of sheet metal or other suitable material used for conveying air or other gas at relatively low pressures.
- DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSE
- A provision in the mortgage that states that the entire balance of the note is immediately due and payable if the mortgagor transfers (sells) the property.
- duet
- A composition for two performers.
- DUMP
- Excess hydropower that cannot be stored or conserved. Also know as SPILL ENERGY.
- duple meter
- The regular grouping of beats into twos (STRONG-weak). The most common duple meters have two or four beats per measure. dynamics The relative softness or loudness of a note or passage.
- duplicate gene
- An identical locus mapping to a second site in a genome.
- duplication
- More than one copy of a particular chromosomal segment in a chromosome set. Duplications supply genetic material capable of evolving new functions.
- Duration of Status
- In certain visa categories such as diplomats, students and exchange visitors, the alien may be admitted into the U.S. for as long as the person is still doing the activity for which the visa was issued, rather than being admitted until a specific departure…
- DURESS
- Unlawful constraint or action exercised upon a person whereby the person is forced to perform an act against his or her will. A contract entered into under duress is voidable.
- Durian
- A large, green, spiky, South-east Asian fruit about the size of a football. To all but its fans, the durian has a nauseating smell - in fact its transport has been outlawed by many airlines. How something so delicious can smell so dreadful is one of life's…
- dust
- tiny particles floating in space
- Duxelles
- A mixture of chopped mushrooms cooked in butter with onion (or shallots) and thyme. Duxelles is used as a stuffing or garnish and in the preparation of various dishes called 'à la duxelles. It's traditionally used in beef Wellington but is also delicious on…
- DV
- See Diversity Visa .
- DVD-Audio SACD Ready
- Receivers that are DVD-Audio/SACD ready enable an outboard digital decoder to be added to the system. A receiver is considered "future compatible" if it offers 6.1 channel outputs that can be used with a DVD-Audio/SACD player.
- DVD-RAM
- A recorder which allows the user flexibility of starting to watch a program from the beginning as soon as they wish while still recording the end.
- dwarf galaxy
- a small galaxy containing a few million stars; the most common type of galaxy in the universe
- dwarf star
- a main-sequence or smaller star