
The term constitutive describes an essential part of a whole, especially in terms of physical makeup. It is used to describe something that is necessary for a whole to work correctly. The word is used in both general and scientific contexts, including chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. In science, constitutive can refer to an enzyme or protein produced in relatively constant amounts in all cells of an organism, or to a molecular property determined by the arrangement of atoms in a molecule. In a general sense, constitutive can refer to something that is foundational or essential to a concept or group. For example, gun violence has become constitutive of a certain national identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Having the power to enact or establish | Constructive |
| Essential part of a whole | Physical makeup |
| Refers to the state of having the power or authority to form or establish something | Rules |
| Refers to an enzyme or protein produced in all cells of an organism | Chromatin |
| Constitutive good | An object of strong evaluation |
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What You'll Learn
- Constitutive describes an essential part of a whole, especially physical makeup
- It refers to the power to establish something
- It can refer to an enzyme or protein produced in all cells of an organism
- It can also refer to chromatin of a chromosomal region
- It is used to describe the relationship between the loading force and deformation of geomaterials

Constitutive describes an essential part of a whole, especially physical makeup
The word "constitutive" describes an essential part of a whole, especially in terms of physical makeup. It is a word with both general and scientific uses, appearing in chemistry and biology books. Something that is constitutive is necessary for a whole to function correctly.
In chemistry, the term "constitutive" is used to describe a physical property that is determined by the arrangement of atoms in a molecule rather than their nature. For example, it can refer to an enzyme or protein produced in relatively constant amounts in all cells of an organism without regard to cell environmental conditions. It can also refer to chromatin in a chromosomal region that is condensed into heterochromatin in all cells of an organism.
In biology, the term "constitutive" can refer to a fundamental object of "strong evaluation". It is something that is judged as good and something that ought to be desired or shown concern for. For example, it is a constitutive property of fire to be hot and of snow to be white.
In the social sciences, "constitutive" is used to describe the power to enact or establish something. For example, a government may put constitutive rules on its people, such as a tax on every good purchased. In this context, "constitutive" can also refer to essential human goods, involving issues of morality.
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It refers to the power to establish something
The term "constitutive" refers to the power to establish something. It describes the authority to form or implement rules, laws, or standards that govern behaviour or define a system. For example, a government may impose constitutive rules on its citizens, such as taxes on goods. Similarly, parents may establish constitutive rules for their children, such as a curfew.
In a broader sense, constitutive can refer to an essential part of a whole. It can be used to describe the fundamental components that make up a larger entity or concept. For instance, an engine, steering wheel, and tires are constitutive parts of a car; without them, it would not be a functioning vehicle. Similarly, certain practices or characteristics can be seen as constitutive of a culture or identity. For example, gun violence has become constitutive of a particular societal identity.
In biology, the term constitutive is used to describe the continuous formation of an enzyme or protein in cells, irrespective of the cell's needs. It also refers to physical properties determined by the arrangement of atoms in a molecule rather than their nature. In biochemistry, a constitutive enzyme is formed continuously, irrespective of the cell's needs.
The concept of constitutive goods is also notable. A constitutive good is a fundamental object of "strong evaluation", judged as something we ought to desire or show concern for, rather than simply being desired. This idea explores the relationship between social facts and moral questions, highlighting issues of morality and the recognition of things beyond self-perfection that are "worthy of being valued".
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It can refer to an enzyme or protein produced in all cells of an organism
The term "constitutive" is used to describe an enzyme or protein that is produced in all cells of an organism at a constant rate, regardless of the cell's metabolic state or environmental conditions. These enzymes are essential for maintaining cell processes and metabolism, and they are always operational.
Constitutive enzymes are produced continuously, regardless of the presence or absence of a substrate. This is in contrast to inducible enzymes, whose synthesis can be activated or depressed according to the cell's requirements at a given time. For example, the synthesis of some enzymes used in glucose and amino acid metabolism is stimulated by the presence of their respective substrates.
An example of a constitutive enzyme is COX-1 (PGHS-1), which is expressed in nearly all tissues, including the colon, kidney, spleen, stomach, liver, lung, heart, and brain. PGHS-1 has been observed to be present in tissues such as the stomach and kidney, while its inducible counterpart, PGHS-2 (COX-2), is associated with inflammation.
Another example is MnSOD in bacteria, which is a constitutive enzyme, while MnSOD in mammalian cells is inducible under oxidative stress. Constitutive enzymes are also involved in the central pathway of catabolism, such as glycolysis.
Constitutive enzymes are essential for the proper functioning and structure stability of the human body, as they are always active and help maintain the necessary metabolic processes.
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It can also refer to chromatin of a chromosomal region
The term "constitutive" has a variety of meanings, including the power to establish or enact, and it is often used to describe an essential part of a whole. In the context of chromatin of a chromosomal region, "constitutive" specifically refers to "constitutive heterochromatin".
Constitutive heterochromatin is a type of chromatin that is found in the chromosomes of eukaryotes. It is characterised by its highly condensed and transcriptionally inert state, which means that the underlying DNA is protected from being accessed or used for transcription. This type of chromatin is typically formed at the gene-poor regions of pericentromeres, which are crucial chromosomal elements responsible for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis.
The formation of constitutive heterochromatin involves the trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me3). This process results in the recruitment of distinct protein machineries, leading to chromatin compaction. While constitutive heterochromatin was once thought to be devoid of genes, researchers have discovered over 450 genes in the heterochromatic DNA of Drosophila melanogaster. These genes exhibit position-effect variegation, where their transcription is usually silenced when placed near constitutive heterochromatin, resulting in a mosaic phenotype.
Constitutive heterochromatin is one of the three major chromatin classes, along with euchromatin (EC) and heterochromatin (HC). Euchromatin is gene-rich, transcriptionally active, and replicates in the first half of the S-phase. Heterochromatin, on the other hand, is gene-poor, transcriptionally silent, and replicates in the second half of the S-phase. Constitutive heterochromatin, being gene-depleted silent chromatin, replicates at the very end of the S-phase. These chromatin classes have distinct locations within the interphase nucleus, with chromosomes establishing intra- and interchromosomal contacts during late telophase and early G1.
In summary, the term "constitutive" in the context of chromatin of a chromosomal region refers specifically to constitutive heterochromatin. This type of chromatin has distinct characteristics, formation processes, and gene expression behaviours. It plays a crucial role in protecting the underlying DNA and maintaining chromosome integrity.
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It is used to describe the relationship between the loading force and deformation of geomaterials
Constitutive is a term that generally refers to something that has the power or authority to form or establish something else. In biology and chemistry, it is used to describe an enzyme or protein produced in relatively constant amounts in all cells of an organism, regardless of cell environmental conditions.
In the context of geomaterials, the term constitutive is used to describe the relationship between the loading force and deformation of these materials. Geomaterials are materials such as cement, concrete, rock, and soil that are commonly used in construction and infrastructure. When a load is applied to these materials, they may undergo deformation, which refers to a change in their original shape.
The relationship between loading force and deformation in geomaterials is essential to understand, especially in predicting their failure processes and mechanisms. For instance, dynamic loadings such as earthquakes, blasts, and impacts can cause deformation and fracturing in geomaterials. By studying the deformation and fracturing characteristics of geomaterials under dynamic loading, scientists can gain insights into how these materials fail and develop ways to mitigate potential damage.
Numerical models, such as the discrete element method (DEM), can be used to validate the experimental findings and provide a better understanding of the deformation of geomaterials under high loading rates. Additionally, constitutive models, such as those incorporating the effects of anisotropy, destructuration, interparticle bond degradation, and viscosity, can be used to predict the creep degradation of geomaterials over time.
The relationship between loading force and deformation in geomaterials is also important in designing cost-effective and safe structures. By understanding how geomaterials behave under different loading conditions, engineers can make informed decisions about the types of materials to use and the structural designs that can withstand specific loading forces without failing.
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Frequently asked questions
The term "constitutive" refers to something that is essential for a whole to function correctly. It describes a fundamental part of a whole, especially in terms of its physical makeup.
In everyday life, constitutive rules or norms established by authorities, such as governments or parents, are common. For instance, a government may impose taxes on goods, or parents may set a rule for their children to be home by a certain time.
"Constitutive" has specific meanings in scientific fields like biology and chemistry. In biology, it can refer to enzymes or proteins produced consistently in all cells of an organism, regardless of cell environmental conditions. In chemistry, it can describe physical properties determined by the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
"Constitutive" can be used to describe essential characteristics or properties that define a subject's identity. For example, it is a constitutive property of fire to be hot and snow to be white. These properties are intrinsic to the nature of the subject.
Here's an example sentence: "Gun violence has become constitutive of who we are as a nation." In this context, "constitutive" indicates that gun violence has become an integral part of the nation's identity and social fabric.


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