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Element

Definition

noun, plural: elements

(physics, chemistry) A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by chemical means, and is made up of atoms all with identical number of protons.

(general)

(1) A fundamental component of a composite entity (such as a vessel element that makes up the vessels in angiosperms).

(2) A place or condition best suited or most favorable for an individual (e.g. water is the element of fishes).

(3) Any of the formerly theorized building blocks of material universe: water, earth, fire and air.


Supplement

Common examples of elements are iron, copper, silver, gold, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The combination of these elements form a compound. For instance, the combination of sodium and chlorine atoms results in the formation of a table salt or sodium chloride.


Word origin: from Latin elementum.
Related forms: elemental (adjective)

See also: compound

Related terms:


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Unidentified Non-Human Remain

I'm having issues identifying a particular non-human bone element. The bone itself possesses several distinguishable characteristics. The only issue is I have no clue what it's function is. I have looked around and found that it may represent a tarsal ...

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by JeremiahRocker
Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:15 pm
 
Forum: Zoology Discussion
Topic: Unidentified Non-Human Remain
Replies: 0
Views: 68

Knockout mice

... of Cdc42 in the developing retina was achieved by crossing Cdc42 floxed mice [29] with mice expressing cre recombinase under the control of the α element of the Pax6 promoter [30]. " From Mat'l & Methods: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553133/

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by jonmoulton
Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:24 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Knockout mice
Replies: 5
Views: 674

Sound and how the brain reacts to it

... come back if all gets quiet again. I agree that there must be some pleasant association that was created at some point, but there must be another element for us, because EVERYBODY has pleasant associations, but only we get the distinct tingling. Mine, btw, doesn't travel - it stays in my head. ...

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by Snoozin
Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:57 am
 
Forum: Human Biology
Topic: Sound and how the brain reacts to it
Replies: 81
Views: 77033

Artificial Life

... evidences proofing it at all? By the way we still, in spite of our remarkable scientific progresses, have the slightest idea about the essential element of life-something which is traditionally referred to as soul/spirit/consciousness-am I right? Many thanks in advance for your response.

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by Phosphorus
Sat Nov 17, 2012 4:39 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Artificial Life
Replies: 0
Views: 207

Evolutionary mechanisms

... hybridization, natural genetic engineering, orthogenesis, nomogenesis, hopeful monsters, directed mutagenesis, morphogenetic fields, transposable element (jumping genes), hox genes, controlling elements, Phenotypic plasticity, Quantum evolution etc Any opinions about any of these?

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by Forests
Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:14 pm
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Evolutionary mechanisms
Replies: 3
Views: 807
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