CARTA Glossary

The idea that some genes are more easily expressed because of their chromatin state.

Ovaries that contain a large number of small, fluid-filled sacs called follicles, or cysts, just under the surface. These cysts are usually immature follicles that failed to develop properly during the menstrual cycle and did not release an egg (ovulate).

Relating to a trait determined by two or more genes. Most traits of organisms are polygenic.

A mating system where males regularly mate with multiple females.

The “many forms,” or genetic variants, of a single gene that exist and are maintained in a population at a frequency of 1% or higher.

A homopolymer of sialic acids abundant in the brain and fish eggs and found on certain pathogenic bacteria.

A vast grassland region in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, stretching from the northern shores of the Black Sea (Pontic) to the Caspian Sea. It forms the western part of the Eurasian Steppe and has played a crucial role in human migration, culture, and prehistoric population dynamics.

The dramatic reduction in population size, which often results in a loss of genetic diversity.

Temporary cessation of menstrual cycles after giving birth.

The portion of parietal neocortex that plays an important role in planned movements, spatial reasoning, and attention.

The period of time after a woman has ceased ovulating. This life-stage is unique to humans and not expressed in non-human primates.

The product of work and speed (velocity).

A small rodent found across central North America, particularly in prairies and grasslands where they feed on grasses, seeds, and roots. They play a significant role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds and aerating the soil. Prairie voles are social, live in small colonies, and form strong, monogamous pair bonds with their mates.

Any of a complex of symptoms (including emotional tension and fluid retention) experienced by some women in the days immediately before menstruation.

A pregnancy associated disorder characterized by high blood pressure and large amounts of protein in urine, typically accelerating during the third trimester.

A version of a scholarly or scientific paper that has not yet been formally peer reviewed. It is freely available before it is published as a finished product in a peer-reviewed scholarly or scientific journal, which often include costly paywalls. It is generally not good practice for news outlets to report on preprinted results because they have not been peer-reviewed.

Ritual pricking of the prepuce or clitoris to draw a drop of blood. This is sometimes used as a substitute by those seeking to maintain a custom in a minimal way that does not leave lasting damage.

Regions of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing sensorimotor control, and is composed of the primary somatosensory cortical area (SI) and the primary motor cortical area (MI). These areas manage sensory and motor functions related to the trunk, limbs, and orofacial regions.

The region of the cerebral cortex that receives and processes sensory information from the body, including touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception.

A group of mammals that include humans, apes, monkeys, and prosimians.

A type of abnormal, pathogenic protein that can cause other, normal, proteins to similarly misfold. Prions are involved in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as “mad cow disease.”

The open-ended ability to combine meaningful linguistic units into new higher order units of meaning: for example, roots, prefixes (e.g. anti-), and suffixes (e.g. -ish) into words, and words (or signs) into phrases and sentences (Kluender, 2020).

Unicellular organisms that lack a membrane-bound nucleus, mitochondria, or any other membrane-bound organelle. This definition is now debated as some “prokaryotes,” such as archaea (“extremophiles”), are more closely related to eukaryotes.

A protein hormone primarily produced by the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain. It plays a key role in stimulating milk production in females after childbirth. Prolactin also has other functions in both men and women, including regulating reproductive health, immune system function, and metabolism.

Predictor of positive outcome under most conditions, whether risk is low or high.

A short-acting medication, believed to work at least partly via GABA receptors, that is used for the starting and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. Effects include decreased level of consciousness and a lack of memory for events.

A group of primates that includes all living and extinct galagos, lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers. They are considered to have characteristics that are more “primitive” (ancestral) than those of monkeys, apes, and humans.

Moderator of risk or adversity associated with better outcomes particularly when risk or adversity is high.

A section of DNA or RNA that codes for protein.

An informal term for unicellular (single celled) eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic.

A gene that has lost its function. Some pseudogenes may be translated into a protein, but typically the protein is inactive.

The mental equivalent of a physiological evolutionary barrier (such as the difficulty of evolving from an aquatic existence to living on land). A hypothetical concept.

A broad class of drugs that stimulate sympathetic nerves and whose effects can include increased movement, arousal, vigilance, anorexia, vigor, wakefulness, and attention. Some psychostimulants, especially at high doses and with a rapid route of administration, can produce euphoria, a sense of power and confidence, and addiction. Cocaine is a psychostimulant.

An intoxicating beverage made by fermenting fructose-rich juice collected from the heart of the maguey plant.

The term used to refer to an infant rodent (rat or mouse).

A type of neuron found in the mammalian cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and amygdala of the brain. They are the most abundant excitatory cell type and receive both excitatory and inhibitory input.

Determiners or pronouns which occur in various degrees in all natural languages and indicate the magnitude of quantities, such as the English ‘few’ or ‘many’.

A primary progenitor cell capable of generating neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Radial glia are defined by their position, morphology, and genetic phenotype. These cells are involved in establishing a temporary scaffold for cortical layer development.

A molecule on the surface of host cells used by pathogens for attachment and/or invasion. Examples: angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) used by SARS- CoV- 2; Sialic acid used by influenza A.

A mating system where individuals from different groups repeatedly from pair bonds across groups, track these relationships (with the help of personal names and kinship terms), and exchange goods and services.

The ability to embed linguistic structures of similar types within each other.

Resuturing or tightening of an infibulation scar, particularly after childbirth, for restoring vaginal tightness.

Rapid eye movement sleep, a phase of mammalian sleep characterized by random movement of eyes, low muscle tone, and vivid dreams.

Age at which an individual initiates their reproductive career, influences lifetime reproductive success.

The external (labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening) and internal (clitoris, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries) sex organs that function in reproduction.

Capacity (potential or manifested) of a system to adapt successfully to challenges that threaten system function, survival, or development; positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity exposure.

A medical condition in which menstrual blood flows backward through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of leaving the body through the vagina. This backward flow can carry endometrial cells into the abdominal cavity, where they can implant and grow.

A molecule essential in gene coding, decoding, regulation, and expression. RNA consists of sequences of the four nucleotide bases: Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, and Cytosine. Types of RNA include messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), and other non-coding RNAs. Some viruses including Influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 have RNA genomes.