Antigen Drift: The random accumulation of mutations in viral genes recognized by the immune system. Such accumulation may significantly change the antigens of the virus, and may help it evade the immune system.

 

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Antigen Drift: The random accumulation of mutations in viral genes recognized by the immune system. Such accumulation may significantly change the antigens of the virus, and may help it evade the immune system.

Genetic Drift: Random changes in the frequency of alleles from generation to generation; especially in small populations, can lead to the elimination of a particular allele by chance alone.

Drifts: Normally used when referring to snow or sand particles are deposited behind obstacles or irregularities of the surface or driven into piles by the wind.

Klipdrift Brandy: South African brandy.

Longshore Drift: The movement of sediment along a coastline caused by waves striking the coast at an oblique angle. The waves wash sediment particles up the beach at an oblique angle and the swash back to th . . . View Full Definition

Wind Drift: An ocean current in which only the Coriolis and frictional forces are significant. The wind drift embodies an Ekman spiral.

Drifting Snow: Snow particles blown from the ground by the wind to a height of less than six feet.

Drift (Glacial): A collective term for all the rock, sand, and clay that is transported and deposited by a glacier either as till or as outwash.

Antigenic Determinant: The site on an antigen to which an antibody binds, forming an antigen-antibody complex.

Antigens: Molecules carried or produced by microorganisms that initiate antibody production; mostly proteins or proteins combined with polysaccharides.