UNESCO/IUBS/EUBIOS BIOETHICS DICTIONARY - "X"s

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X- FACTOR: Heme required for the growth of certain Haemophilus Spp. (JA)

X-LINKED: Genes carried on the X chromosome.

X-LINKED RECESSIVE DISORDERS: Those disorders due to a mutation on the X chromosome. X-linked recessive disorders usually only affect males, but the disorders can be transmitted through healthy female carriers. Examples are haemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the Fragile X syndrome which is associated with learning disability. (JA)

XENOBIOTIC: (Greek xenos "foreign" + bios "life") pertaining to drugs or organic poisons that are foreign to the body; such as drugs of abuse, organophosphorus pesticides, certain anticancer drugs, cytotoxic agents and aromatic hydrocarbon components of cigarette smoke. (See smoking, passive smoking). (IP)

XENOETHICS: 1. foreign ethics such as the ethical beliefs of other cultures. 2. standards of conduct and moral judgment based on cultural and/or religious confines. (See ETHICS). (IP)

XENOGRAFT: (Greek xenos "foreign" + graphion "stylus") also called heterograft, a temporary graft of tissue from a foreign species used in emergency situations, as in the treatment of severe burns, when insufficient healthy tissue from the patient is available. The graft is quickly rejected by the body’s immune system but provides protection of open wounds for a few days. (See AUTOGRAFT, ALLOGRAFT). (IP)

XENOPHOBIA: (Greek xenos "foreign" + phobos "fear") an irrational fear of strangers, especially foreigners, or an unfounded anxiety in unfamiliar environments. The condition may be seen as a type of anxiety disorder. (See RACISM). (IP)

XENOTRANSPLANTATION: involves the removal of an organ/s, tissue/s or cell/s from one animal species donor organism and transplanted to a human being. Xeno = other than /different. One animal to a different animals transpecies implantation (JA+IP)

XYLEM: Vascular tissue of angiosperm plants, involved in the transport of water with its dissolved minerals and nutrients. (See PHLOEM, ANGIOSPERM, PLANTAE) (MP)

XYY KARYOTYPE: An abnormal chromosomal arrangement in males which is characterized by an extra Y chromosome. (DM)

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