Pleiotropic


Producing or having multiple effects from a single gene. For example, the Marfan gene is pleiotropic, potentially causing such diverse effects as long fingers and toes (arachnodactyly), dislocation of the lens of the eye, and dissecting aneurysm of the aorta.

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  • Pleiotropic cytokine

    cytokine that affects the activity of multiple cell types. A cytokine is a small protein that has a specific effect on the interactions between cells, on communications between cells, or on the behavior of cells.

  • Pleomorphic

    Many-formed. For example, a pleomorphic tumor would be a growth that is composed of different types of tissues. Also known as protean.

  • Pleonasm

    An excess in the number of parts or in the size of a growth. Pleonasm comes from a Greek word (pleonasmos) meaning exaggeration or redundancy. A pleonasm in language is also a redundancy. It is the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense as, for example, in “a false lie.”

  • Plethoric

    Florid, red-faced. Persons with polycythemia vera commonly have a plethoric facial appearance.

  • Pleura

    One of the two membranes around the lungs. These two membranes are called the visceral and parietal pleurae. The visceral pleura envelops the lung, and the parietal pleura lines the inner chest wall. There is normally a small quantity (about 3 to 4 teaspoons) of fluid that is spread thinly between the visceral and parietal […]


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