Self-limiting (biology)

Self-limiting (biology)

In biology, a self-limiting organism or colony of organisms limits its own growth by its actions. For example, a single organism may have a maximum size determined by genetics, or a colony of organisms may release waste which is ultimately toxic to the colony once it exceeds a certain population. In some cases, the self-limiting nature of a colony may be advantageous, such as in the case of parasites. If their numbers became too high, they would kill the host, and thus themselves.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Self-limiting — may refer to:*Self limiting (biology), an organism or colony of organisms which limits its own growth *Governor (device), used to control the speed of mechanical equipment to prevent it from operating at unsafe speeds …   Wikipedia

  • Self-organization — is a process of attraction and repulsion in which the internal organization of a system, normally an open system, increases in complexity without being guided or managed by an outside source. Self organizing systems typically (though not always)… …   Wikipedia

  • Self-replication — is any process by which a thing might make a copy of itself. Biological cells, given suitable environments, reproduce by cell division. During cell division, DNA is replicated and can be transmitted to offspring during reproduction. Biological… …   Wikipedia

  • Self-reconfiguring modular robot — Modular self reconfiguring robotic systems or self reconfigurable modular robots are autonomous kinematic machines with variable morphology. Beyond conventional actuation, sensing and control typically found in fixed morphology robots, self… …   Wikipedia

  • Chemical biology — is a scientific discipline spanning the fields of chemistry and biology that involves the application of chemical techniques and tools, often compounds produced through synthetic chemistry, to the study and manipulation of biological systems.… …   Wikipedia

  • History of molecular biology — The history of molecular biology begins in the 1930s with the convergence of various, previously distinct biological disciplines: biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, and virology. With the hope of understanding life at its most fundamental… …   Wikipedia

  • Hybrid (biology) — In biology and specifically, genetics, the term hybrid has several meanings, all referring to the offspring of sexual reproduction.[1] In general usage, hybrid is synonymous with heterozygous: any offspring resulting from the mating of two… …   Wikipedia

  • List of important publications in biology — Anatomy Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna s Canon *Ibn al Nafis *Ibn al Nafis, Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna s Canon , 1242.Description: The Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna s Canon was the first publication to describe the pulmonary… …   Wikipedia

  • Mutualism (biology) — Hummingbird Hawkmoth drinking from Dianthus. Pollination is a classic example of mutualism. Mutualism is the way two organisms of different species biologically interact in a relationship in which each individual derives a fitness benefit (i.e.,… …   Wikipedia

  • Magnesium in biology — Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion. It is an essential mineral nutrient for life[1][2][3] and is present in every cell type in every organism. For example, ATP (adenosine… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”