v

ecological dictionary

V

Vaccine

A medication that contains debilitated or dead pathogens (e.g. viruses). When a vaccine is injected into the body of an animal or human, it causes the generation antibodies. These antibodies can combine with the antigens of live pathogens, fighting off an infection, and providing protection from a disease.

Vacuole

A space in the cytoplasm of a cell filled with liquid.

Vector

An element (insect, animal, or other physical form) that transmits pathogenic germs from one organism to another.

Virus

A microscopic agent that can infect an organism and reproduce itself in that organism, causing sickness.

Vitamin

An organic substance that an animal must have in its diet. Vitamins are usually named after the letters of the alphabet, and are found in different foods or are created by the action of sunlight on our skin. Vitamin A, for example, is found in carrots, lettuce and tomatoes, and vitamin C in lemons, limes, and oranges.

a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z