Category: R
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Reciprocal crosses
In genetics, a second cross involving the same strains but carried by sexes opposite to those of the first cross.
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Reciprocal-altruism hypothesis
Altruism that is based on the expectation that today’s giver will be tomorrow’s taker, kin-selection hypothesis; alarm call.
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Recidivism
The relapse or recurrence of a disease. Habitual criminality; the repetition of antisocial acts.
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Recessive gene
A unit of heredity that is contrasted to the dominant gene. Member of a pair of genes (an allele) that cannot express itself in the presence of its more dominant allele; it is expressed only in the homozygous state. For example, the gene for blue eyes is recessive and will not manifest itself if the…
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Receptor site theory
The theory that a drug exerts its effect on certain parts of the body because specific receptor cells receive only certain body chemicals or drug molecules that structurally resemble them.
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Receptive language disorders
Difficulty in understanding what others say.
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Receptive field
The retinal area in which visual stimulation affects a particular cell’s firing rate.
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Recency effect
In free recall, the recall superiority of the items at the end of the list compared to those in the middle of the list.
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Recapitulation theory
The now discredited view that in embryological development each organism goes through the evolutionary history of the species of which it is a member. The theory that during development an individual organism goes through the same progressive stages as did the species in developing from the lower to the higher forms of life; the theory…
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Recalcitrant
A person who is obstinate in defying authority. Not responding to treatment.