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  Home >>Biology Dictionary >> Primates - Proembryo

Premolars. Those crushing cheek teeth of mammals which (unlike molars) have predecessors in deciduous (milk) set of teeth, have usually more than one root, and  pattern of ridges and projections on biting surface.

Presumptive. (Zool). Embryological term applied to tissues before their differentiation, meaning  becoming in the course of normal development. e.g. if a tissue is presumptive epidermis, it means that in normal development it would become epidermis, regardless of whether or not it is already determined as epidermis. A presumptive region is part of an embryo consisting of all the cells which will, in normal development, become a particular organ or tissue. Maps of presumptive regions have been prepared for early stages of many species.

Primary feather. The quill feathers on the hand of the birds wing, the outermost flight feather.

Primary meristem. Region of active cell division, that has persisted from origin in embryo or young plant, e.g. growing points (apical meristems) of root and stem cambium.

Primary sturchire. The linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

Primates. An order of mammals that includes the monkeys, apes, and man. Primates evolved from arboreal insectivores 150 million years age. They are characterized by thumbs and big toes that are opposable (i.e. capable of facing and touching the other digits), which permits manual dexterity, and formed- facing eyes allowing binocular vision.

The brain particularly the cerebrum is relatively large and well developed, starting for the intelligence and quick reactions of these mammals. The young are usually produced singly and undergo a long period of growth and development for adult form.

Primitive. At an early stage in the evolutionary history of a giving group; or similar to an organism (or part thereof) at such an early stage.

Primitive streak. A  longitudinal thickening in disc – like early embryo of bird or mammals during the stage of gastrulation. The streak is produced by the accumulation of mesoderm and some endoderm as this material moves from its originally superficial position into the interior of the embryo.

Primordial germ cells. Large cells in vertebrates, appearing early in embryonic life, which turn to the developing gonads and there give rise to the gametes.

Productivity.(of an ecosystem), primary productivity is the rate at which energy from light is absorbed and utilized with carbon dioxide in the production of organic matter in photosynthesis.

Net productivity is given by the amount or organic matter formed in excess of that used in respiration. It represents food potentially available to the consumers of the ecosystem. It can be measured approximately by sampling vegetation at intervals and measuring dry weight produced per unit area; or on a small scale in appropriate conditions by measuring rates of photosynthesis and respiration of the whole plants or of small areas of vegetation.

Proembryo. In seed plants, group of cells formed by initial divisions of fertilized egg – cell which by further development is differentiated into suspensor and embryo proper.

Proflavin. A Mutagen that can initiate Frameshifts in the Translations of an mRNA sequence.

Progestogen. General term for substance with progesterone like effects.

Prognathous. Having a protruding face or jaws.

Proglottis. (Plural proglottides). One of the string of segments of which a tapeworm consists; when mature each has at least a set of reproductive organs.

Prolactin. Lactogenic hormone.

Prolegs. Stumpy appendages without joints, on ventral surface of abdomen of caterpillar.

Promeristem. Extreme tip of apical meristem consisting of actively dividing cells which have not yet begum to show morphological differentiation.

Prometamorphosis. The first stage of metamorphosis in amphibians.

Pronation. Position, or rotation towards the position, of forelimb such that fore-foot (hand) is twisted by 90 degrees relative to elbow, the radius and ulna being crossed. In this way the fore-foot points forwards, which is the natural position for walking in many tetrapods.  Men and other primates can untwist the fore-arm.

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