Glossary · Nouns · B
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Biochipnouna microchip that uses tiny strands of DNA to latch onto and quickly recognize thousands of genes at a timeverified
Biodefencenounprocedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agentsverified
Biodefensenounprocedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agentsverified
Biodegradable PollutionnounMWEpollution that is rendered harmless by natural processes and so causes no permanent harmverified
Biodiversitynounthe diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat (or in the world as a whole)verified
Bioengineeringnounthe branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environmentsverified
Biofeedbacknouna training program in which a person is given information about physiological processes, such as heart rate or blood pressure, that is not normally available with the goal of gaining conscious control of themverified
Bioflavinoidnouna vitamin that maintains the resistance of cell and capillary walls to permeationverified
Biogeographical RegionnounMWEan area of the Earth determined by distribution of flora and faunaverified
Biohazardnounhazard to humans or the environment resulting from biological agents or conditionsverified
Biohazard SuitnounMWEa loose one-piece garment worn to protect the wearer against dangerous biological or chemical agentsverified
Biologic AttacknounMWEthe use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or foodverified
Biological AgentnounMWEany bacterium or virus or toxin that could be used in biological warfareverified
Biological AttacknounMWEthe use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or foodverified
Biological ClocknounMWEan innate mechanism in living organisms that controls the periodicity of many physiological functionsverified
Biological DefencenounMWEprocedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agentsverified
Biological DefensenounMWEprocedures involved in taking defensive measures against attacks using biological agentsverified
Biological WarfarenounMWEthe use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or foodverified
Biomenouna major biotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climateverified
Biomedical CloningnounMWEnuclear transplantation of a patient's own cells to make an oocyte from which immune-compatible cells, especially stem cells, can be derived for transplantverified
Biomedical SciencenounMWEthe application of the principles of the natural sciences to medicineverified
Biomedicinenounthe branch of medical science that studies the ability of organisms to withstand environmental stress (as in space travel)verified
BiometricnounA measurable physical characteristic or personal behavioral trait used to recognize the identity, or verify the claimed identity, of an applicant. Facial images, fingerprints, and iris scan samples are all examples of biometrics.Credential
Biometric AuthenticationnounMWEthe automatic identification of living individuals by using their physiological and behavioral characteristicsverified
Biometric DatanounMWEan individual’s physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including information pertaining to an individual’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), that is used or is intended to be used singly or in combination with each other or with other identifying data, to establish individual identity. Biometric information includes, but is not limited to, imagery of the iris, retina, fingerprint, face, hand, palm, vein patterns, and voice recordings, from which an identifier template, such as a faceprint, a minutiae template, or a voiceprint, can be extracted, and keystroke patterns or rhythms, gait patterns or rhythms, and sleep, health, or exercise data that contain identifying information.CredentialRegulatedPII
Biometric IdentificationnounMWEthe automatic identification of living individuals by using their physiological and behavioral characteristicsverified
Biometric InformationnounMWEThe stored electronic information pertaining to a biometric. This information can be in terms of raw or compressed pixels or in terms of some characteristic (e.g., patterns.)Credential
Biometric SystemnounMWEAn automated system capable of: 1) capturing a biometric sample from an end user; 2) extracting biometric data from that sample; 3) comparing the extracted biometric data with data contained in one or more references; 4) deciding how well they match; and 5) indicating whether or not an identification or verification of identity has been achieved.Credential
Biometrynouna branch of biology that studies biological phenomena and observations by means of statistical analysisverified
Bionic MannounMWEa human being whose body has been taken over in whole or in part by electromechanical devicesverified
Bionic WomannounMWEa human being whose body has been taken over in whole or in part by electromechanical devicesverified
Bionicsnounapplication of biological principles to the study and design of engineering systems (especially electronic systems)verified
Bionomicsnounthe branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environmentverified
Biopsynounexamination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a diseaseverified
Bioremediationnounthe act of treating waste or pollutants by the use of microorganisms (as bacteria) that can break down the undesirable substancesverified
Biosafety Level 1nounMWEexposure only to infectious agents that do not ordinarily cause human diseaseverified
Biosafety Level 2nounMWEexposure to infectious agents that can cause disease in humans but whose potential for transmission is limitedverified
Biosafety Level 3nounMWEexposure to infectious agents that can be transmitted by the respiratory route and which can cause serious infectionverified
Biosafety Level 4nounMWEexposure to exotic infectious agents that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease and can be transmitted as an aerosol and for which there is no vaccine or therapyverified
Biosciencenounany of the branches of natural science dealing with the structure and behavior of living organismsverified
Biospherenounthe regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms existverified
Biostatisticsnouna branch of biology that studies biological phenomena and observations by means of statistical analysisverified
Biosystematicsnounuse of data (e.g. cytogenetic or biochemical) to assess taxonomic relations especially within an evolutionary frameworkverified
Biosystematynounuse of data (e.g. cytogenetic or biochemical) to assess taxonomic relations especially within an evolutionary frameworkverified
Biotechnounthe branch of molecular biology that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial processesverified
Biotechnologynounthe branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environmentsverified
Biotic CommunitynounMWE(ecology) a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each otherverified
Biotypenounorganisms sharing a specified genotype or the genotype (or peculiarities) so sharedverified
Birch FamilynounMWEmonoecious trees and shrubs (including the genera Betula and Alnus and Carpinus and Corylus and Ostrya and Ostryopsis)verified
Birch Leaf MinernounMWEsmall black sawfly native to Europe but established in eastern United Statesverified
Birch TreenounMWEany betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling barkverified