Degenerace

Degenerace (degeneration or degeneracy) is a term used in several disciplines to describe a decline or deterioration in quality or function, or, in some contexts, a grouping of distinct states that share a common property. The precise meaning depends on the field and context.

In biology and medicine, degeneration refers to progressive loss of structure or function of tissue or organ, often related to aging or disease. Degenerative diseases include examples such as neurodegenerative disorders (for instance, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) and conditions affecting joints or intervertebral discs. Degeneration can be a gradual process leading to reduced performance or failure of an organ system.

In genetics and molecular biology, degeneracy or degeneracy of the genetic code describes redundancy. The genetic code is degenerate because multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. Functional degeneracy also means that different genes or pathways can perform the same function, contributing to biological robustness.

In mathematics and physics, degeneracy denotes a multiplicity of equivalent states. Degenerate energy levels occur when two or more quantum states have the same energy. Degeneracy often arises from symmetry in a system. Degenerate matrices have zero determinant. In astrophysics, degeneracy pressure is a quantum mechanical resistance to compression in fermionic matter, crucial for the stability of white dwarfs and neutron stars.

In geometry, a degenerate case refers to a limiting or abnormal instance in which a figure loses a dimension, such as a line being a degenerate form of a circle. The term thus covers a broad set of related ideas across disciplines.