Acquired

Acquired
Anything that is not present at birth but develops some time later. In medicine, the word "acquired" implies "new" or "added." An acquired condition is "new" in the sense that it is not genetic (inherited) and "added" in the sense that was not present at birth. For example, AIDS (the acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is an acquired form of immune deficiency due to the acquisition of HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus). An acquired mutation is a change in a gene that occurs in a single cell after the conception of the individual. That change is then passed along to all cells descended from that cell. Acquired mutations are involved in the development of cancer.
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Denoting a disease, predisposition, abnormality, that is not inherited. [L. ac-quiro (adq-), to obtain, fr. quaero, to seek]

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ac·quired adj
1) arising in response to the action of the environment on the organism (as in the use or disuse of an organ) <\acquired characteristics> compare GENETIC (2), HEREDITARY
2) developed after birth <\acquired heart murmurs> compare CONGENITAL (2), FAMILIAL, HEREDITARY

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adj.
describing a condition or disorder contracted after birth and not attributable to hereditary causes. Compare congenital.

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ac·quired (ə-kwīrdґ) [L. acquirere to obtain] not genetic, but produced by influences originating outside the organism.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • acquired — adj. 1. 1 (Biol.) gotten through environmental forces. Contrasted with {inherited}. acquired characteristics cannot be passed on noninheritable (vs. inheritable), nonheritable Syn: nurtural [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • acquired — (adj.) c.1600, gained by effort, pp. adjective from ACQUIRE (Cf. acquire). Of diseases, occurring after birth, thus not dependent on heredity, 1842 (opposed to congenital). Acquired taste is attested from 1734 …   Etymology dictionary

  • acquired — acquired; un·acquired; …   English syllables

  • acquired — Having purchased or otherwise obtained title, ownership, or possession, including, in the absence of a statutory restriction upon the meaning, a taking by descent, 3 Arn J2d Aliens § 31. Having obtained possession under a lease. State ex rel.… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • Acquired — Acquire Ac*quire , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Acquired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Acquiring}.] [L. acquirere, acquisitum; ad + quarere to seek for. In OE. was a verb aqueren, fr. the same, through OF. aquerre. See {Quest}..] To gain, usually by one s own… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • acquired — adj. Acquired is used with these nouns: ↑characteristic, ↑immunity, ↑taste …   Collocations dictionary

  • acquired — Developed in response to the environment, not inherited, such as a character trait (acquired characteristic) resulting from environmental effect(s). cf acclimatization …   Glossary of Biotechnology

  • acquired — adjective gotten through environmental forces (Freq. 1) acquired characteristics (such as a suntan or a broken nose) cannot be passed on • Similar to: ↑noninheritable, ↑nonheritable …   Useful english dictionary

  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome — Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, auch Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (englisch für „erworbenes Immundefektsyndrom“), zumeist abgekürzt als AIDS oder Aids benannt, bezeichnet eine spezifische Kombination von Symptomen, die beim Menschen in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Acquired vision — is the phenomenon of a blind person gaining the ability to see, usually as a result of medical treatment.MedicalThe first known case of acquired vision is in 1728, of a blind 13 year old boy by William Cheselden.In 1960, Maurice von Senden… …   Wikipedia

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