Dormant

Dormant refers to a state of rest or inactivity. In the context of biology and medicine, it often refers to a period in an organism's life cycle when physical development is temporarily stopped. This can occur in both plants and animals, and is often a survival strategy for times of unfavorable conditions.

Overview

In the medical field, the term "dormant" is often used to describe a disease or condition that is currently inactive or not showing symptoms, but has the potential to become active again in the future. This can apply to a wide range of conditions, from cancer to infectious diseases like tuberculosis.

Dormancy in Diseases

Cancer

In cancer, cells can become dormant for a variety of reasons. This can occur as a result of treatment, where the cancer cells are not completely eliminated and remain in the body in a dormant state. These cells can then reactivate at a later time, leading to a recurrence of the disease.

Infectious Diseases

In infectious diseases, dormancy can occur when the pathogen is not completely eliminated from the body. This can happen in diseases like tuberculosis, where the bacteria can remain in the body in a dormant state for many years before becoming active again.

Dormancy in Biology

In biology, dormancy is a period in an organism's life cycle when growth, development, and (in animals) physical activity are temporarily stopped. This minimizes metabolic activity and therefore helps an organism to conserve energy. Dormancy tends to be closely associated with environmental conditions.

See Also

• Hibernation
• Estivation
• Diapause
• Brumation

References

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