cell - (biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; cells may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals

culture - (biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar); "the culture of cells in a Petri dish"

homogeny - (biology) similarity because of common evolution

isomorphism, isomorphy - (biology) similarity or identity of form or shape or structure

heterology - (biology) the lack of correspondence of apparently similar body parts

valence, valency - (biology) a relative capacity to unite or react or interact as with antigens or a biological substrate

coarctation - (biology) a narrowing or constriction of a vessel or canal; especially a congenital narrowing of the aorta

spindle - (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle; "chromosomes are distributed by spindles in mitosis and meiosis"

meme - a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one generation to another by nongenetic means (as by imitation); "memes are the cultrual counterpart of genes"

bioscience, life science - any of the branches of natural science dealing with the structure and behavior of living organisms

biogeography - dealing with the geographical distribution of animals and plants

botany, phytology - the branch of biology that studies plants

cryobiology - the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living tissues or organs or organisms

cytology - the branch of biology that studies the structure and function of cells

bionomics, environmental science, ecology - the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment

embryology - the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms

astrobiology, exobiology, space biology - the branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life

forestry - the science of planting and caring for forests and the management of growing timber

genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms

microbiology - the branch of biology that studies microorganisms and their effects on humans

molecular biology - the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role)

morphology - the branch of biology that deals with the structure of animals and plants

neurobiology - the branch of biology that deals with the anatomy and physiology and pathology of the nervous system

palaeobiology, paleobiology - a branch of paleontology that deals with the origin and growth and structure of fossil animals and plants as living organisms

physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms

radiobiology - the branch of biology that studies the effects of radiation on living organisms

sociobiology - the branch of biology that conducts comparative studies of the social organization of animals (including human beings) with regard to its evolutionary history

zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals

cell doctrine, cell theory - (biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms; proposed in 1838 by Matthias Schleiden and by Theodor Schwann

theory of evolution, theory of organic evolution - (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals

theory of inheritance - (biology) a theory of how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations

cybernetics - (biology) the field of science concerned with processes of communication and control (especially the comparison of these processes in biological and artificial systems)

taxonomy - (biology) study of the general principles of scientific classification

cataplasia - (biology) degenerative reversion of cells or tissue to a less differentiated or more primitive form

subkingdom - (biology) a taxonomic group comprising a major division of a kingdom

variety - (biology) a taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differe from others of the same species in minor but heritable characteristics; "varieties are frequently recognized in botany"