pancreas
n. gland in vertebrates, lying behind the stomach, releasing glucagon and insulin in the bloodstream and pancreatic juice in the duodenum
The duodenum secretes the hormone secretin which in turn stimulates the pancreas to release pancreatic juice.

binary fission
n. type of asexual reproduction which leads to splitting of parental cells in two equal parts
Prokaryotes use binary fission as the primary process of cell division involving the replication of a single DNA molecule and the seperation of both the original and replicated DNA molecules in different cells.

interconvertible
adj. changeable; exchangeable
All energies are interconvertible meaning that energy can be changed, e.g. from thermal to chemical energy. 

adiabatic
adj. related to a thermodynamic process involving no heat exchange
Loss or gain of heat does not occur during an adiabatic process.

denaturation
n. process in which proteins lose their tertiary structure leading to the elimination or diminishing of their original features
Changes in pH, temperature, or solute concentration can lead to denaturation.

dispersion
n. separation of a complex wave into its components according to given features, e.g. frequency or wavelength
An example of dispersion is the splitting of white light into its comoponent colors.

perpendicular
adv. straight; vertical
When a charged particle moves perpendicular to a constant, uniform magnetic field, this results in a circular motion with constant speed.

diffraction
n. change in the directions and intensities of a group of waves after passing by a barrier
Diffraction is the spreading out of light as it passes through a narrow opening.

orphaned
adj. children with parents being dead.
The publication offers idealized pages to support orphaned siblings or widowed mothers.

invoke
v. to apply to; to advocate
Abstract ideals like human rights are invoked to justify certain behavior.