Lethal
Lethal refers to something capable of causing death. In the context of genetics, a lethal gene is one that is capable of causing death when a certain phenotype is expressed.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The term "lethal" is derived from the Latin word "letalis", which means "deadly" or "fatal". It is often used in various fields of study, including medicine, genetics, and toxicology. In medicine, a lethal condition or disease is one that leads to death if not treated promptly. In genetics, a lethal gene or mutation is one that causes death at an early stage of development, thus preventing the organism from reproducing. In toxicology, a lethal dose (LD) is the amount of a substance that is sufficient to cause death.
Lethal in Medicine[edit | edit source]
In the field of medicine, the term "lethal" is often used to describe conditions or diseases that are capable of causing death. For example, a lethal dose is the amount of a drug or other substance that is sufficient to cause death. Similarly, a lethal condition is one that is likely to cause death if not treated promptly. Some examples of lethal conditions include certain types of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Lethal in Genetics[edit | edit source]
In genetics, a lethal gene or mutation is one that causes death at an early stage of development, thus preventing the organism from reproducing. Lethal genes can be either dominant or recessive. Dominant lethal genes are those that cause death when present in a single copy, while recessive lethal genes cause death only when present in two copies. Some examples of diseases caused by lethal genes include Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis.
Lethal in Toxicology[edit | edit source]
In toxicology, a lethal dose (LD) is the amount of a substance that is sufficient to cause death. The LD50 is a commonly used measure in toxicology, which refers to the dose of a substance that is lethal to 50% of a population. This measure is often used to compare the toxicity of different substances.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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