Glossary of Scientific Terms

F

Fatty acids
Most common form of lipids found in all cells. Come in saturated (reduced) and unsaturated (oxidized) form and are a component of phospholipids and fats.

Fitness
See Darwinian Fitness

Fluid mosaic membrane
The fluid mosaic model of cell membranes describes the structural and dynamical organization of biological membranes. It is composed of phospholipids that form large planar bilayers. In-between phospholipids exist membrane proteins and the alternating composition of phospholipids and proteins found in membranes has been compared to a mosaic structure. In addition, both components are not fixed in space but can freely move within the plane of the membrane. This 'fluidity' similar to the fluid or liquid state of water if it is nor frozen is essential for the proper function of proteins in membranes.

Foot and Mouth disease
All species of cloven-hoofed animals are susceptible to FMD, including domestic livestock and wild ungulates such as buffalo, antelope and warthogs. Clinical signs are essentially similar in all species although the severity may vary considerably. The principal signs are pyrexia followed by vesicle formation in the mouth and feet resulting in salivation and lameness (click here for more information.)
The disease is caused by a virus and is highly contagious but not dangerous to man.

Fractal
A nested pattern that shows the same symmetry/geometry at any scale a pattern is looked at. It is an example of an infinite pattern in both larger and smaller dimensions. Fractals are geometrical abstractions and sometimes used to explain complexity in living organisms, also the comparison does not hold up on closer inspection. As abstractions, they are thought to continue into infinity, even the infinitely small, although physicists believe that there is a material limit to the what constitutes the smallest dimension. As for complex biological organisms, their structure is hierarchical with higher levels having emergent structures and properties not found at the lower levels. Thus it is not a true fractal.

Functional foods
See designer foods, nutraceuticals.