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Conotoxin
Conotoxin A toxin made by cone snails (Conidae), also called cone shells, which are fish-eating snails that inhabit tropical coral reefs, mangroves and associated habitats. Each of the 500 species of cone snail produces roughly 50 to 100 distinct conotoxins which they use to immobilize prey. These toxins are selective in their receptor binding sites. Conotoxins have been used to characterize receptors in heart muscle, skeletal muscle and brain. Calcium, potassium, and sodium ion channels have also been characterized using conotoxins.
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Toxin
A poison formed as a specific secretion product in the metabolism of a vegetable or animal organism as distinguished from inorganic poisons. Such poisons can also be manufactured by synthetic processes.
Cone
One of the two light receiving retinal cells (the other is the rod) that is responsible for daylight vision (e.g., color vision, high visual acuity, bright light vision). The area of the retina that provides central or reading vision, known as the fovea, contains only cones.
Receptor
A molecule that recognizes a unique hormone. Once that hormone is bound to the receptor, the information carried by the hormone can now exert its biological action.
Receptors
Areas on the outer part of a cell that allow the cell to join or bind with insulin that is in the blood.
Heart
The hollow, muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Brain
"That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called ""hemispheres."" "
Calcium
Chemical element needed for healthy teeth, bones and nerves
Sodium
A mineral found in most of the foods we eat. The largest source of dietary sodium comes from sodium chloride or table salt. Intake of sodium tends to increase the retention of water.
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Conjunctivitis, allergic
Inflammation of the whites of the eyes (the conjunctivae) with itching and redness of the eyes and tearing, due to allergy. Frequently accompanies hay fever.
Conn syndrome
Overproduction of the hormone aldosterone (pronounced al-do-ster-one) by a tumor that contains tissue resembling that normally present in the outer portion (cortex) of the adrenal gland. The excess aldosterone results in a potassium level (hypokalemia), underacidity of the body (alkalosis), muscle weakness, excessive thirst (polydipsia), excessive urination (polyuria), and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Connectionism
A theory of information processing within cognitive science (the study of the mind). Connectionism is based upon the known neurophysiology of the brain.
Connexin
A subunit of connexon, a protein that forms a gap junction, a channel that permits ions and small molecules to move between adjacent cells. The connexins are important to intercellular communication.
Connexon
"A special type of protein composed of an assembly of six subunits that are called connexins. A connexon of one cell is joined to that of an adjacent cell to form an intercellular channel consisting of 12 connexin subunits. Clusters of intercellular channels are known as a gap junction because of the minute extracellular ""gap"" that separates the apposed plasma membranes. Each intercellular channel provides an axial channel that interconnects the cytoplasm of the apposed cell directly and permits the passage of ion and other small molecules between adjacent cells."
Conotoxin
Conservative mutation
A change in a DNA or RNA sequence that leads to the replacement of one amino acid with a biochemically similar one. It is conservative in the sense that it is not a radical change that might, for example, stop all protein production.
Conserved sequence
A base sequence in a DNA molecule (or an amino acid sequence in a protein) that has remained essentially unchanged, and so has been conserved, throughout evolution.
Consolidation therapy
Cancer treatment given after induction therapy to consolidate the gains obtained, further reduce the number of cancer cells and achieve a complete remission. Often just called consolidation. The overall sequence of therapy may be induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy. Induction therapy is the initial step toward reducing the number of cancer cells. Consolidation is designed to further diminish the number of cancer cells and achieve a complete remission. Maintenance is given to maintain the remission and prevent a relapse.
Constraint-induced movement therapy
A form of intensive physical therapy aimed at reorganizing and reprogramming the brain after a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord damage.
Consultant
An individual to whom one refers for expert advice or services. The use of consultants is common in medicine.
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