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25 Entries in this category

Acid binding capacity

Value for the buffering capacity of a water against titration with a strong acid up to pH 4.3 in mmol/l

Acriflavine

Disinfectant, antiseptic. Contained in many over-the-counter preparations for fish. Acridine derivative. Obsolete name: Trypaflavin

Adipose

Adipose fin - second small dorsal fin in some fish such as tetras and catfish

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate - compound of the sugar molecule adenosine with a diphosphate

adult

Fully grown, adult; also in the sense of sexually mature

aggradative / aggradation

In the chemical sense: constructive

Alpha lipoic acid

Normally sufficient self-synthesis. Sometimes helpful in diabetic neuropathy.

Alum

Double salt of potassium and aluminium sulphate - occasionally used to disinfect aquatic plants.

Amino acid

Building blocks of proteins and peptides

amorphous

Not crystalline

AMP

Adenosine monophosphate

anion

Negatively charged ion. Mostly complex ions such as phosphate, sulphate, nitrate and hydrogen carbonate

Antagonist

A substance that hinders or blocks the uptake of another substance by a receptor.

Anthelmintics

Medicines against worms

anthocyanin

Photoprotective pigment of plants in the cytosol

Aplanospore

Immobile spores that develop inside a mother cell (sporangium) and look different from the mother cells

Apocarotenic acid ethyl ester

A synthetic carotenoid. Used in the animal feed industry to enhance the yellow colour of eggs and chicken.

apoplast

The entire extraplasmic space of plant cells, i.e. the network of cell walls and intercellular spaces filled with air or water

apoptosis

Programmed cell death

Archaebacteria

Prokaryotes

Ascorbic acid

Vitamin C; strong reducing agent, radical scavenger - protects other compounds from oxidation

astaxanthin

A natural carotenoid. Used in the animal feed industry to enhance the red colour of eggs and animals. It also helps fish to develop blue pigments and reflex colours.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, energy supplier of the cell. Formed during respiration during the enzymatic oxidation of organic compounds to CO2 and water in the mitochondria.

Autolysis

Self-digestion

Autospore

Immobile spores that develop inside a mother cell (sporangium), do not differ in shape from the mother cell, but are smaller.