(n.) the doctrine of design, which assumes that the phenomena of organic life, particularly those of evolution, are explicable only by purposive causes, and that they in no way admit of a mechanical explanation or one based entirely on biological science; the doctrine of adaptation to purpose.
Example Sentences:
(1) The presence of a preformed pool of TNF mRNA may teleologically be viewed as a mechanism to increase the rapidity of the host's response to sepsis.
(2) Glucose regulation thus becomes of secondary importance to the maintenance of basal insulin secretion, which is teleologically needed for the "anabolic" requirements of cell growth.
(3) By this he has done the step from the cyclical conception of life, essential for early humanity and childhood, towards the causal and teleological thinking of modern man.
(4) This may represent a teleologically appropriate response to prevent catastrophic losses of fluid that would occur, if the normally high rates of glomerular filtration continued, in the face of reduced tubular reabsorptive capacity.
(5) The teleological significance of the neutral cotransport of two Cl- with one Na+ and one K+ is that it enables transporting epithelia like the rectal gland, cornea, salivary gland, and thick ascending limb of Henle's loop to double the efficiency of their Na-K-ATPase pump.
(6) The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the relative degrees to which students' notions of physiological functions are teleologic or mechanistic in nature, 2) whether these notions differ between students in elementary and advanced-level physiology courses, and 3) whether the degree of teleologic vs. mechanistic thinking can be modified by direct discussion of this topic.
(7) The present result extends the variational, teleological formulations found a decade ago by the author to the more-than-two species case.
(8) Teleologically then, it makes sense that in oncogenesis this growth regulating network is utilized by the production of proteins which mimic growth factors, the activated form of their receptors or, the messengers themselves.
(9) While hairy cells have the capacity for immunoglobulin production, we were unable to demonstrate a teleological link between these cells and the renal lesion.
(10) Since this reaction of the organism can barely be influenced and it appears to be teleologically purposeful, many authors have repeatedly attempted to achieve a utilization of nutrients as high and economic as possible using an infusion regimen adapted to these conditions.
(11) Many of these patterns, which are at least partly inherited, can be understood teleologically on the basis of preservation of the internal environmental and natural selection in evolution.
(12) These "teleological" aspects represent the foundation of the phisiopathology of adaptation in advanced age and the key for a correct interpretation of it and therefore for a correct preventive and curative program.
(13) To a certain extent, these changes are teleologically beneficial, as they are able to partially protect the failing heart from potentially toxic adrenergic stimuli.
(14) The author reviews the conceptual, diagnostic, and teleological dimensions of this addition to diagnostic nomenclature.
(15) A questionnaire that determined whether students thought about body functions in a teleologic (why) or mechanistic (how) manner was administered to the following categories of students: 1) a class of high school biology students, 2) classes of students taking elementary college-level physiology courses, and 3) college students in advanced physiology courses.
(16) On teleological grounds alone, it would appear that ocular versions and rotations take place, in many cases, along geodesics of least energy and that paths of higher energy are only taken for reasons of binocular near vision.
(17) The teleological significance of these two pathways remains to be established, particularly since mitochondria are capable of transporting CoA from the cytosol.
(18) This is an attempt to find a teleological rationale for the involution of the thymus with aging.
(19) With this posture, and with the general obstruction of constructive dialogue between evolution and the physical sciences it fosters, come the perennial accusations that Darwinism deals in adaptational teleology but not mechanisms.
(20) Teleologically, however, the role of the HLA system may be viewed as vital for survival of the species and the individual by providing the host with a recognition system of and defenses against viruses, microorganisms, parasites, plant antigens, neoplastic cells, and others.