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B lymphocyte (B cell):
Type of lymphocyte that makes antibodies.
bacterium (plural bacteria):
Common name for any member of the diverse group of procaryotic
organisms. Most are single cells, but multicellular forms also
exist.
bacteriophage (phage):
Any virus that infects bacteria. They were the first organisms
used for the study of molecular genetics and are now widely used
as cloning vectors. (From Greek phagein, to eat.)
bacteriorhodopsin:
Pigmented protein found in the plasma membrane of a salt-loving
bacterium, Halobacterium halobium; it pumps protons out
of the cell in response to light.
basal:
Situated near the base. The basal surface of a cell is opposite
the apical surface.
basal body:
Short cylindrical array of microtubules plus their associated
proteins found at the base of a eucaryotic cell cilium or flagellum.
Serves as a nucleation site for the growth of the axoneme. Closely
similar in structure to a centriole.
basal lamina (plural basal laminae):
Thin mat of extracellular matrix that separates epithelial sheets,
and many types of cells such as muscle cells or fat cells, from
connective tissue. Sometimes called a basement membrane.
base:
Molecule (usually containing nitrogen) that accepts a proton
in solution. Often used to refer to the purines and pyrimidines
in DNA and RNA.
base pair:
Two nucleotides in an RNA or a DNA molecule that are paired
by hydrogen bonds - for example, G with C and A with T or U.
basic:
Having the properties of a base.
basophil:
White blood cell that releases histamine in an inflammatory
response. Closely related to a mast cell.
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