Please find below, for your edification and entertainment, a mostly accurate or at least relatively helpful list of definitions. A work in constant progress.
Immunology terms
Hematopoietic stem cells: rare cells in the bone marrow that give rise to all of the type of cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) undergoes cell division, it gives rise to a HSC and a daughter cell that belongs to one of the blood cell lineages.
Immune cells: cells that descend from the hematopoietic stem cells in your bone marrow and contribute to maintaining health in an organism; white blood cells.
Immune system: the cells and organs responsible for maintaining and restoring health.
Immunology: the study of the immune system.
Pathogen: a microbe that can cause illness, such as a harmful bacteria.
White blood cells: cells that descend from the hematopoietic stem cells in your bone marrow and contribute to maintaining health in an organism; immune cells.
Some common terms related to working in a lab
Article: a document that summarizes either new research (primary article) or provides a synopsis of the field (review article). Also referred to as a manuscript, especially while in preparation, or a paper.
The bench: generally refers to working in the laboratory. The PI hasn’t been at the bench in years. or I was at the bench for 12 hours yesterday.
Grad or graduate student: usually refers to a student pursuing a PhD, though can also refer to a Master’s student. In the UK, generally referred to as a postgraduate or postgrad.
Journal: a periodical that publishes scientific findings, usually in a glossy magazine format and/or online
Postdoc or postdoctoral researcher: a scientist who has earned a PhD, but is performing research in another PI’s research group. Many PhD’s do some postdoctoral work prior to becoming independent researchers with their own labs or before moving away from the bench.
Principal investigator or PI: the scientist in charge of the lab, who typically provides the bulk of intellectual guidance and funding. The boss.
Tech or technician: a scientist who is critical to the smooth running of the lab, usually not associated with pursuing a particular degree.
The suffixes
-itis: inflammation of
-ology: the science of
-ometry: measurement of
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