CARTA Glossary

A vast grassland region covering much of Mongolia and extending into parts of northern China and southern Siberia. It is part of the larger Eurasian Steppe and is characterized by its temperate, semi-arid climate and open plains.

A simple sugar; the most basic unit of a carbohydrate or glycan.

The shape or form (outward appearance) of an organism. The branch of biology interested in the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.

Conscious understanding and realization of personal mortality.

The part of the cerebral cortex in the brain where the nerve impulses originate that initiate voluntary muscular activity.

The part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movement.

A stone tool type characterized by hand- axes, scrapers, triangle points, and denticulates (a stone tool with edges of multiple notched shapes, or teeth) produced using a prepared core (i.e. Levallois Technique) and is most associated with Neanderthals. ~315 - 30 kya.

The condition of being composed of more than one cell, with cells that are specialized and cooperate to perform different functions within an organism.

An auditory form of art composed of pitch (melody and harmony), rhythm (tempo, meter, articulation), dynamics (loudness/softness), timbre and texture.

Change in a DNA or RNA sequence.

An abbreviation for “millions of years ago.”

An insulating layer of fatty tissue (wrapped cell membrane) that protects nerve cells, especially their axons.

The most common sialic acid in most vertebrates and was first discovered in animal saliva and brains.

A burrowing rodent endemic to parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, and is the only mammal with cold-blooded-like body temperature regulation and eusocial behavior.

An archaeological culture of the Neolithic Levant dating to around 15,000 to 11,500 years ago that was sedentary or semi-sedentary prior to the introduction of agriculture.

An extinct Eurasian hominin species that existed from 500-30 kya and interbred with ancient humans and Denisovans.

The failure to provide for the development of the child in all spheres: health, education, emotional development, nutrition, shelter, and safe living conditions (including protecting the child from harm). It is the most common form of child maltreatment. In rodents, neglect it is similarly defined as inconsistent care, failure to group displaced infants in the nest, infant avoidance and failure to protect infants from harm or potential harm.

Meaning “new stone age,” it is an archaeological period representing the final division of the Stone Age in Europe, Asia, Mesopotamia, and Africa. The Neolithic dates between 10,000 and 2,000 BCE and encompasses the “neolithic revolution” in which farming, domestication, and permanent settlement began.

A tumor mass, either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer), that is composed of cells that have lost their regulatory checks and multiply without control or do not undergo pre-programmed cell death.

A bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.

The specialized cells of the nervous system responsible for processing, transmitting, and responding to information in the form of electrical and chemical signals. They are the building blocks of the brain, spinal chord, and peripheral nerves.

Cells that are capable of dividing a limited number of times and have the capacity to differentiate into a restricted repertoire of neuronal and glial cell types.

A gene that encodes an RNA-binding protein primarily involved in regulating alternative splicing in neurons. NOVA1 is involved in early brain development and is implicated in autism and schizophrenia. Archaic variants of NOVA1 archealized into human brain organoids affect alternative splicing, synaptic protein interactions, and neural connectivity.

The progressive deterioration and loss of neurons in the central or peripheral nervous system, resulting in neurological dysfunction.

The interaction between the nervous system and the endocrine system, particularly how the brain regulates hormone production and secretion. The neuroendocrine system is responsible for regulating various physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, stress response, reproduction, and mood. It functions through a network of signals, where neurons release chemicals that influence hormone secretion, and hormones in turn affect brain function and behavior.

The study of the role of genetics in the development and function of the nervous system.

Relating to the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system.

A specialized cell that transmits nerve impulses and forms synapses with other cells.

The ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections through growth and reorganization. These changes include new neural connections and cortical remapping resulting from learning, environmental influences, practice, and psychological stress.

A multidisciplinary science that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the nervous system. It encompasses the evolution, development, cellular and molecular biology, physiology, anatomy and pharmacology of the nervous system, as well as computational, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.

A chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other cells.

Not displaying or characterized by autistic or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior.

A family of proteins (transcription factors) crucial for regulating various biological processes, including immunity, inflammation, cell growth, and apoptosis, and is activated by diverse stimuli like cytokines and bacterial products.

A natural alkaloid and insecticide produced by several plant species (tobacco and jimson weed). It also functions as a central nervous system stimulant as an analog of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

A common chemical element with the atomic number 7. Most nitrogen on earth exists as inert gas (N₂).

Genetic changes, mutations or polymorphisms, that occur in regions of DNA that do not code for proteins. Non-coding variants include enhancers that can influence gene regulation, gene expression, and genome function without changing protein sequences.

The finding that care giving behavior can occur in female rats and mice that have not reproduced themselves through repeated exposure to infants.

Depression that is not related to changes in the seasons.

So called “smart drugs” or cognitive enhancers that are claimed to improve cognitive function. E.g., Modafinil.

A new strain of a disease that has not been previously identified in a species.

A protein (transcription factor) that acts as a master regulator of cellular responses against oxidative stress, regulating genes involved in antioxidant defense, detoxification, and other processes.

Atmospheric areas that generate particulate matter PM2.5 from dissolved ammonia from agricultural nitrogen pollution.

Molecular building blocks for DNA and RNA Specifically, they consist of three components: a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The type of sugar, either deoxyribose or ribose, determines if the resulting nucleic acid is DNA or RNA.

A sign for a number, such as the Hindu-Arabic digit ‘5’, the Roman ‘V’, or the French word ‘cinq’, that signify the number five.

A property or attribute of a stimulus (discrete quantities) which can be measured by an investigator in units of numerosity.

Tool use is a necessity for survival. Tool use is an essential part of being human and we are the only known obligate tool users.

A biological constraint of bipedalism and large fetal brains imposed on the human female pelvis.

The ratio between the odds of individuals having a phenotype associated with a specific allele and the odds of the same phenotype for individuals who do not have that same allele.