plasm

n. [ See Plasm. ] 1. (Min.) A variety of quartz, of a color between grass green and leek green, which is found associated with common chalcedony. It was much esteemed by the ancients for making engraved ornaments. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) The viscous material of an animal or vegetable cell, out of which the various tissues are formed by a process of differentiation; protoplasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Unorganized material; elementary matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) A mixture of starch and glycerin, used as a substitute for ointments. U. S. Disp. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. same as blood plasma. [ PJC ]

6. (physics) a state of matter in which charged particles such as electrons and atomi nuclei have sufficiently high energy to move freely, rather than be bound in atoms as in ordinary matter; it has some of the properties of a gas, but is a conductor of electricity. In a typical plasma, the number of positive and negative particles are approximately equal. Plasmas are found naturally in the atmosphere of stars, and can be created in special laboratory apparatus. [ PJC ]

Blood plasma (Physiol.), the colorless fluid of the blood, in which the red and white blood corpuscles are suspended. It may be obtained by centrifuation of blood to remove the blood cells. It is distinguished from serum in that plasma still has the fibrin of blood, and may be clotted, while in serum the fibrin has been removed. --
Muscle plasma (Physiol.), the fundamental part of muscle fibers, a thick, viscid, albuminous fluid contained within the sarcolemma, which on the death of the muscle coagulates to a semisolid mass. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. Forming; shaping; molding. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to plasma; having the character of plasma; containing, or conveying, plasma. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. plasmatio. ] The act of forming or molding. [ R. ] Grafton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A former; a fashioner. [ R. ] “The sovereign plasmator, God Almighty.” Urquhart. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Form; mold. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or connected with, plasma; plasmatic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Molecular genetics) A piece of DNA, usually circular, functioning as part of the genetic material of a cell, not integrated with the chromosome and replicating independently of the chromosome, but transferred, like the chromosome, to subsequent generations of daughter cells. In bacteria, plasmids often carry the genes for antibiotic resistance; they are exploited in genetic engineering as the vehicles for introduction of extraneous DNA into cells, to alter the genetic makeup of the cell. The cells thus altered may produce desirable proteins which are extracted and used; in the case of genetically altered plant cells, the altered cells may grow into complete plants with changed properties, as for example, increased resistance to disease. [ PJC ]

n. (Physiol. Chem.) A proteid body, separated by some physiologists from blood plasma. It is probably identical with fibrinogen. [ 1913 Webster ]