Dissimilation (redirected from Dissimilatory)

Dissimilation 

in biology, the opposite of assimilation in the process of metabolism, consisting in the decomposition of organic compounds and conversion of protein, nucleic acids, fats, and carbohydrates (including those ingested) into simple substances. A number of dissimilation processes—respiration, fermentation, and glycolysis—play the central role in metabolism. As a result of these processes, energy contained in the molecules of complex organic compounds is released, partially to be transformed into adenosinephosphoric acids (chiefly ATP). The fundamental end products of dissimilation in all organisms are water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. In animals these products are eliminated as they accumulate. In plant organisms CO₂, partially, and NH₃, totally, are used in the biosynthesis of organic matter, thus serving as the primary materials for assimilation.

The inseparable link between dissimilation and assimilation assures constant tissue renewal in organisms. Thus, in human blood one-half of the existing albumin is exchanged for new albumin molecules in ten days; the life span of erythrocytes is about four months. The relationship of the intensity of assimilation and dissimilation changes in relation to the stage of development, age, and physiological condition of the organism. The growth and development of the organism are characterized by the predominance of assimilation, which is manifested in the formation of new cells, tissues, and organs; their growth and differentiation; and in a general increase in body weight. In some pathological conditions and in starvation dissimilation usually predominates over assimilation, leading to a decrease in body weight.

S. E. SEVERIN and G. A. SOLOV’EVA

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Dissimilation 

in linguistics, one of the kinds of combinative sound changes in the course of speech. It occurs when one of two identical or similar speech sounds (adjacent or nonadjacent) changes to another distinct or less similar sound. Two examples of dissimilation are Latin peregrinum and Russian piligrim and Latinfebruaris and Russian fevral’.