Glossary

List of terms beginning with Va

Vaccination: Giving a small amount of killed or weakened form of a disease to give immunity against catching the disease.
Vaccine: Small amount of killed or weakened form of a disease used to give immunity against catching the disease or to treat it (see ' therapeutic vaccine').
Vagina: Muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body; used in sexual activity and as the birth canal.
Variable: Something that can be counted or measured and that can change during an experiment. This includes age, sex, weight, height, income, behaviour and so forth. Variables are used in scientific research: for instance, when testing a new drug for protecting against cancer, the 'independent variable' (the one that can be controlled by either being given or not given to a participant) is the new drug and the 'dependent variable' (the effect measured after manipulating the independent variable) is the occurrence of cancer.