ScienceAugust 29, 2026
dissimilatory
dih-SIM-uh-luh-tor-ee
Definition
In microbiology, referring to a metabolic process where a chemical compound, such as nitrate, is reduced and excreted into the environment rather than being incorporated into the cell's own biomass.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'dissimulare' (to disguise or make unlike), combined with the suffix '-ory'; in scientific contexts, it denotes a process that alters a substance into a different form.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe a specific nitrogen-cycling process (DNRA) where nitrate is reduced and released, which acts as a mechanism for retaining nitrogen within the stream ecosystem.
Climate, land use shape bacterial diversity and nitrogen cycling in headwater sediments
Read the full article ↗Bioengineer.org