Deleterious
"Deleterious" means harmful or causing damage - typically used to describe something that has a negative, damaging, or injurious effect.
Common contexts:
- Biology/Genetics: A deleterious mutation is one that reduces an organism's fitness or survival - e.g., "deleterious alleles are often removed by natural selection."
- Medicine/Health: Describing substances, behaviors, or conditions with harmful effects - e.g., "smoking has deleterious effects on lung function."
- General use: Any harmful influence - e.g., "the policy had deleterious consequences for the economy."
Word origin: From Latin deleterius, from Greek deleterios ("noxious, destructive"), rooted in deletere ("to harm or destroy").
Synonyms: harmful, injurious, damaging, detrimental, pernicious, adverse, noxious.
Example sentence: "Prolonged exposure to UV radiation has deleterious effects on skin cells, increasing the risk of mutation."
Is there a specific context - genetic, medical, environmental - you'd like more detail on?
Sequestered means
Sequestered means isolated, separated, or set apart from others or from general use. It can also mean kept hidden or withheld.
Common contexts:
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General use: Kept away or secluded - e.g., "The jury was sequestered during the high-profile trial" (kept isolated from outside influence).
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Biology/Biochemistry: A substance is sequestered when it is bound, stored, or locked away so it cannot freely react - e.g., "Carbon is sequestered in plant biomass" or "Iron is sequestered by ferritin proteins in the body."
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Environmental science: Carbon sequestration = the process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO₂, preventing it from contributing to greenhouse effects.
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Law: To sequester a jury means to confine them away from public contact. Assets can also be sequestered (seized or frozen) by legal order.
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Genetics: A gene or segment can be sequestered when it is shielded from transcription or interaction.
Word origin: From Latin sequestrare - "to remove, set aside, or surrender for safekeeping," from sequester ("mediator" or "trustee").
Synonyms: isolated, secluded, segregated, confined, withheld, stored, locked away.
Example sentence: "Heavy metals are sequestered in bone tissue, where they accumulate over time rather than circulating freely in the bloodstream."
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How much litres of water to drink a day
The popular "8 glasses a day" rule is a rough guideline, but actual needs vary by person.
General recommendations (total daily fluid intake):
| Group | Recommended Daily Fluid |
|---|---|
| Adult men | ~3.7 litres (about 15 cups) |
| Adult women | ~2.7 litres (about 11 cups) |
| Pregnant women | ~3.0 litres |
| Breastfeeding women | ~3.8 litres |
Source: U.S. National Academies of Sciences - these figures include water from ALL sources (drinks + food).
About 20% of daily water comes from food (fruits, vegetables, soups), so pure water intake is roughly:
- Men: ~2.5-3 litres/day
- Women: ~2-2.5 litres/day
Factors that increase your needs:
- Hot or humid weather
- Physical exercise / heavy sweating
- High-altitude environments
- Fever, vomiting, or diarrhea
- High-protein or high-fiber diet
- Certain medications (diuretics)
Simple signs you're drinking enough:
- Urine is pale yellow (not dark or concentrated)
- Rarely feeling thirsty
- Normal energy levels
Bottom line: There is no single number that fits everyone. A practical target for most adults is 2 to 3 litres of water per day, adjusted for your body size, activity level, and climate. Let thirst and urine color guide you day to day.
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