| TERM | GROUP | DEFINITION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DECUSSATE | ADJ | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: In opposites pairs, each pair at right angles to each other. |
| DEHISCE | V | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: To split open releasing spores. |
| DEHISCENCE | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Dehiscence refers to way in which a sporangium (or other fruiting structure) splits to release its contents. |
| DENDROGRAM | N | SYSTEMATICS | Pronunciation: DEN-dro-gram Etymology: Dendrogram is formed from two Greek roots that mean tree (dendron, δένδρον) and that which is written or drawn (gramma, γράμμα). Technically, a dendrogram is any diagram that takes the shape of a tree. A cladogram fits that definition, but usually is not described by that term. In general, a dendrogram is the result of a Numerical Taxonomic analysis. |
| DERIVED OR ADVANCED CHARACTER | NP | SYSTEMATICS | Pronunciation: de-RIV’D Etymology: Derived is an adjective that comes from the Latin, derivare, with literally means to move a stream from its course (de from and rivus stream). In the biological or evolutionary sense, derived means a character or state which has changed from the primitive condition. (See Apomorphic Character). |
| DETERMINANT CLEAVAGE | NP | ANIMALS | Pronunciation: de-TER-mi-nat Kle-veg Etymology: Determinate Cleavage is a phrase that come from two different linguistic roots. Determinate is derived from the Latin verb determinare (to determine). Cleavage comes from an Old English word cleofan, which means to split. Determinate cleavage occurs when cell fate in animals is determined early in the divisions of the zygote to produce a blastula. Very often, animals with spiral cleavage are determinate. |
| DETERMINATE GROWTH | NP | ANIMALS, PLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGI | Pronunciation: Etymology: Limited or defined growth resulting in particular shape or form. |
| DICHOTOMOUS BRANCHING | NP | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Dichotomous branching is the simple pattern of branching in which each node produces two equal branches. |
| DICHOTOMY | N | SYSTEMATICS | Click here |
| DICOT | N | PLANTS | DICHOTOMY |
| DICOTYLEDONOUS | ADJ | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Having two cotyledons in the same seed. |
| DICTYOSTELE | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A dictyostele is amphiphloic siphonostele that is separated into segments in the stem cortex. |
| DIKARYOPHASE | N | FUNGI | Pronunciation: Etymology: Portion of life cycle during which cells are dikaryotic. |
| DIKARYOTIC | ADJ | FUNGI | Pronunciation: Etymology: Cells contain a nucleus from each of the conjugating haploid parents. |
| DIMORPHIC NUCLEI | NP | PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: The condition in which a cell can have different forms of nuclei is called the condition of dimorphic nuclei. Usually, one form controls vegetative functions while the other form is involved in reproduction. Both Foraminiferotista and Ciliota have dimorphic nuclei. |
| DIOECIOUS | ADJ | PLANTS, PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Dioecious organisms have separate male and female individuals. |
| DIPLOSEGMENT | N | ANIMALS | Pronunciation: Etymology: The diplosegment is the fused double segment of millipedes. |
| DIRECTLY-OPPOSED BASAL BODIES | NP | PLANTS, PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Directly opposed basal bodies occur with the following orientation. |
| DIASPORE | N | ANIMALS, PLANTS, PROTISTS, FUNGI, BACTERIA | Pronunciation: Etymology: Any propagule, sexual or asexual. |
| DISCOID CRISTA (DISCOID CRISTAE) | NP | PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Discoid cristae (crista, sing.) are swollen tube-like cristae within certain mitochondria. |
| DISPERSAL | N | EVOLUTION | Pronunciation: dis-PER-s’l Etymology: Dispersal (disperse) is formed from two Latin roots that mean apart (dis) and to scatter (spargere). The reference is to being scattered in all directions. Dispersal, in a biological sense, is the spread or movement of organisms to a new area. Dispersal can be active in which organisms undergo directed movement to an new area, and it can be passive in which the propagule moves only as it is carried by the medium (water or air) or by a host organism. |
| DIVISION | N | SYSTEMATICS | Pronunciation & Etymology: Division is a common English word. Division in a Biological sense is an obsolete term for phylum. In the old 2-kingdom system (Plants and Animals), division was the term used for any of the botanical groups that would be approximate to the phylum. Because phylum is an older term, it has priority in a multiple-kingdom system. |
| DOLIPORE SEPTUM | NP | FUNGI | Pronunciation: Etymology: Septum between two portions of a cell of hypha. Contains central pore around which the septum is swollen to form a barrel-shaped structure. |
| DOMAIN | N | SYSTEMATICS | Pronunciation: do-MAIN Etymology: Domain is derived from a Latin word dominium, which means property or estate. All of life, excluding viruses, is organized into three domains: Archaea, Bacteria (Eubacteria), and Eukaryota. Each domain has more than one kingdom. |
| DRUPE | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A fleshy fruit containing one or more seeds, each with a stony endocarp. |
