ortholog

Term: ortholog

Literally meaning: “straight homolog"

Origin: Anc Greek

ορθο-/ortho- (=straight, correct, direct)

λόγος/logos(=word, speech, discourse, reason)

Coined/History

The terms "ortholog" and "paralog" were coined in 1970 by American biologist Walter Fitch (1929 – 2011) in order to differentiate between different kinds of homology and different subsets of homologs. The homologous characters (genes and their products) that are produced by speciation are called orthologs meaning “straight homology”. Homologous genes that are produced as gene duplication, which can occur within a lineage, in the absence of any speciation are called paralogs meaning “parallel homologs”.

Definition

Orthologs are genes in different species originating from a single ancestral gene in the last common ancestor of the compared genomes. Orthologs retain the same function whereas paralogs evolve new functions.

paralog

Term: paralog

Literally meaning: “beside homolog”

Origin: Anc Greek

παρα-/para- (=beside, near, parallel)

λόγος/logos(=word, speech, discourse, reason)

Coined/History

The terms "ortholog" and "paralog" were coined in 1970 by American biologist Walter Fitch (1929 – 2011) in order to differentiate between different kinds of homology and different subsets of homologs.  The homologous characters (genes and their products ) that are produced by speciation are called orthologs meaning “straight homology”. Homologous genes that are produced as gene duplication, which can occur within a lineage, in the absence of any speciation are called paralogs meaning “parallel homologs”.  

Definition

Paralogs are genes related by duplication within a genome. Orthologs retain the same function in the course of evolution, whereas paralogs evolve new functions, even if these are related to the original one.

parenteral

Term: parenteral (adj)

Literally meaning: “not through bowel”

Origin: Anc Greek

παρα-/para (=past by, over)

έντερον/enteron(=intestine, bowel) < εντός/entos(=inside, within)

Coined/History

(?)

Definition

Parental pertaining to treatment not through the digestive system such as parenteral nutrition which is given through the veins.

para- or par-

παρα-/para- or before vowel par-  

prefix denoting

1. near or besides(parallel), contrary to (paresthesia), over or beyond(paradox), intensification (paroxysm)

2. Chemistry

. a combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. Abbreviation: p-.

paresthesia or paraesthesia

Term: paresthesia or paraesthesia (in British English)

Literally meaning: “morbid  sensation”

Origin: Anc Greek

παρα-/para-(=pefix denoting  “beside”, “near”, “contrary of”)  

αίσθησις/esthisis(noun))/(=perception )> αϊω/aio(=see, hear

Coined/History

Definition

Paresthesia is a sensation of numbness, itching  or tingling on the skin usually in the extremities ( hands, feet, fingers, and toes). Chronic paresthesia over a long period of time is generally a sign of a nerve damage.

parenchyma

Term: parenchyma

Literally meaning: “that which is poured in”

Origin: Anc Greek

παρα-/para-(=pefix denoting  “beside”, “near”)  

+έγχυμα/enchyma( = infusion or juice) > εν-/en-(=with) +εγχέω/enheo-(=pur).

Coined/History

1. By English botanist and plant physiologist Nehemiah  Grew (1628 - 1711). Grew stated that every plant organ had two parts, a ligneous (woody) and a pithy part composed of undifferentiated cells with air spaces bettween them.  

Definition

2. (histology) The functional tissue characteristic of an organ, as distinguished from the capsule that encompasses  it or supporting tissues
3. (botany) The primary tissue of higher plants, composed of thin-walled and usually undifferentiated cells

pathogen

Term: pathogen

Literally meaning: “that causes suffering/disease”

Origin: Anc Greek

παθο-/patho-(=prefix denoting “suffering”) > πάθος / pathos(=passion, sorrow, strong emotion)

+ γεννώ/geno (=”give birth to”, “producer of”)

Coined/History

(?)

Definition

An agent that causes disease like some infectious microbes, bacteria, viruses or fungi

epiphora

Term: epiphora

Literally meaning: "bringing to or in addition"

Origin: Anc Greek

επί-/epi-(= “upon”, “on”, “besides” “in addition”)

φέρω(verb)/phero(=”bear”, “carry”, “bring”)

Coined/History

(?)

Definition

1.     Epiphora or tearing is an overflow of tears, usually caused by insufficient tear film drainage from the eyes because of a disruption in the balance between tear production and tear drainage.

2.     Epiphora (fungus) is a fungus genus in the Dothideomycetes order

3.     Epiphora (insect) is a moth genus in the  Satumirniidae family

pericarditis

Term: pericarditis

Literally meaning: “inflammation of pericardium”

Origin: Anc Greek

περί-/peri- (=combining form meaning  “around”)

+ καρδία /kardia (=heart)  > derived according Meletios(7th-8th cen AD) probably from verb >κραδαίνω/kradeno (=rattle, rock)

+ (-ίτις)/-ιτις (=-itis, suffix meaning “pertaining to” or “inflammation”.) It is in feminine gender because it was used with feminine noun η νόσος/ e nosos /(=disease)

Coined/History

Definition

Pericarditis is defined as an inflammation of the pericardium characterized usually by chest pain.

phacomatosis

Term: phacomatosis (often called neurocutaneous syndromes)

Literally meaning: “tumor of lenses”

Origin: Anc Greek

φακός/phacos(=lens, spot) >φάος/phaos(=light)

+(-ωμα)/-oma (suffix denoting “mass growth” or a “complete set of”)

Coined/History

     The term was coined in 1920 by the Dutch opthalmologist Jan Van der Hoeve (

1878 – 1952), who initially had included retinal hamartomas and later the tuberous sclerosis, the neurofibromatosis, and the cerebroretinal angiomatosis (von Hippel-Lindau disease).  The term “phakomatosis” became inappropriate when Van der Hoeve included encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis (Sturge-Weber syndrome) which is not characterized by phakomas or hamartomas. Etymologically, this term also is inadequate to encompass this entire group because it does not include the nervous system. In any case, its use should be reserved to those conditions which manifest retinal hamartomas (“phakomas”), as in the original description.

Definition

A generic term for of hereditary diseases characterized by the development of benign tumors consisting of a disorganized tissue mass of surrounding tissues (hamartomas) in the central nervous system that additionally result in lesions on the skin and the eye.

hypertelorism

Term: hypertelorism

Literally meaning: “excessive separation”

Origin: Anc Greek

υπέρ-/hyper-(= prefix meaning something is excessive, above normal)

+ τηλε-/tele(= prefix meaning far off, to a distance)

+ορίζω/orizo(=demarcate) > όρος/horos(=barrier)

Coined/History

In 1924 by David M. Greig in order to desribe the excessive separation between the eyes . It should be distinguished from telecanthus, en increased distance between the medial canthi. Hypertelorism is not a primary anomaly pre se, but is found in a variety of diseases.

Definition

1.

Hypertelorism is an abnormally increased distance between two paired organs, usually referring to an increased distance between the eyes (ocular hypertelorism). Hypertelorism is often associated with a genetic defect.

philtrum

Term: philtrum

Literally meaning: “spot of affection”

Origin: Anc Greek

φίλτρον/philtron(=philtrum, love potion) > φιλέω/phileo(=kiss, love)

Coined/History

Etymology of the term derived by Ancient Greeks belief that the philtrum is of the most erogenous  parts of the body. Other traditions say that it is an indent left by the finger of ann Angel or God.

Definition

The philtrum is a genetically determined vetrical groove which extendeds from the nose to the upper lip. As genetic defect is presented in many syndromes such as Williams syndrome, Cohen disease and chromosome 18q deletion syndrome.

porphyra

Term: porphyra

Literally meaning: “purple-red color”

Origin: Anc Greek

πυρ/pyr(=fire)

+φύρω/phyro(=stir)

Coined/History

Greek “porphyra” (Latin, “ purpura”) was a very expensive dye in texts dated about 1600 BC. The use and large scale production of the dye ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and it was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple and madder.

Definition

1. Porphyra is a red algal genus (class Bangiophyceae), comprising approximately 70 species.

2. Porphyra or Tyrian purple is a purple-red natural dye which is extracted from from a mollusc found on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia.

porphyria

Term: porphyria

Literally meaning: “state or disease characterised by purple hue”

Origin: Anc Greek
πορφυρούν/porphyroun(= deep red or marine shell Haustellum brandaris which used for extraction of πορφύρα dye 

πυρ/pyr(=fire)

+φύρω/phyro(=stir)

+-ία/-ia(=suffix denoting a state in feminine gender)

Coined/History

In 1889 by Dutch phycisian and Barend Joseph Stokvis (1834 –1902) who observed the dark red urine, discovered that it contained porphyrins. Porphyrins had been described as a chemical entity in 1871 by the German chemist Felix Hoppe-Syeler, named for their purple hue .

Definition

Porphyrias are a group of inherited or acquired disorders caused by abnormalities in the chemical steps that lead to heme production affecting mainly skin and nervous system. Symptoms include blisters, itching, and swelling of skin when it is exposed to sunlight and also pain in the chest or abdomen, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation.

Comment
In 1985 David Dolphin, a biochemist, suggested that the mythical vampires might have been people suffering with porphyria. He made his case by pointing out that porphyria victims are exceedingly sensitive to sunlight. 

porphyrin

Term: porphyrin

Literally meaning: “having purple-red hue”

Origin: Anc Greek

πυρ/pyr(=fire)

+φύρω/phyro(=stir)

Coined/History

In 1889 by Dutch phycisian and Barend Joseph Stokvis (1834 –1902) who observed the dark red urine, discovered that it contained porphyrins. Porphyrins had been described as a chemical entity in 1871 by the German chemist Felix Hoppe-Syeler, named for their purple hue .

Definition

pyrrole nuclei

Porphirins are organic pigments, such as heme and chlorophyll, all of them containing the porphin structure (four linked pyrrole nuclei).

progeria

Term: progeria

Literally meaning: “prematurely old”

Origin: Anc Greek

προ-/pro-(= suffix denoting “toward”, “in front of”, “precede”, “before”)

γήρας/geras(=old age)

Coined/History

In 1886,the English surgeon and pathologist Dr Jonathan Hutchinson (1828 –1913) presented a case of a 3-year-old boy who had features resempling those of an enderly man. In 1887 nglish surgeon, Dr Hasting Gilford (1861-1941) described the second known case of this particular syndrome and he coined the term “progeria” in order to describe his findings.

Definition

Progeria (or "Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome”) is a rare genetic disease characterised by symptoms resembling with normal human aging. The disese is caused mainly by mutations affecting lamin-A protein.

mesonephros

Term: mesonephros

Literally meaning: “middle kidney”

Origin: Anc Greek

μέσος/mesos(=middle, between)

νεφρός/nephros(-kidney)

Coined/History

(?)

Definition

Mesonephros is one of the trhee excretory embbryonic organs in anamniotes after pronephros and before the metanephros.

opisthonephros

Term: opisthonephros

Literally meaning: “kidney at last”

Origin: Anc Greek

( όπισθο- )/( opistho- ) = prefix meaning “following, at last” (time) or “behind”(=place)

νεφρός/nephros(-kidney)

Coined/History

In 1919 by Scottish embryologist Grahan Kerr (1869 –1957) best known for his studies of the embryology of lungfishes. Kerr used the term to denote  the lsta stage of the embryonic kidney development in lungfishes. 

Definition

Opisthonephros is the functional adult kidney in cyclostomes, fishes (except Myxini) and amphibians .

amniotes or amniota (sing ular amniote)

Term: amniotes, amniota

Literally meaning: “that having amnion”

Origin: Anc Greek

αμνίον/amnion (=liquid collection vessel) probably derived from verb αμάω/amao=collect, gather

Coined/History

The author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer (8^th cen BC), used to the word αμνίον in order to define a vessel for warrior’s blood collection before their death Later, the term was used to denote that surrounds or contents something.

Definition

Amniotes or Amniota is a group of tetrapod vertebrates that have an an amnion during embryonic development(the membrane around the fetus),that is specially adapted to a terrestrial environment including reptiles, birds and mammals.