Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse bewirken
English translation:
to stop all biological processes
German term
Germany
Scientific & technical expertise
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: German to English
einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse bewirken
"Die im Betrieb verwendeten Chemikalien bewirken einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse"
or:
In der späteren Anwendung ist eine Spülung im ersten Schritt eines Prozesses mit Formalin vorgesehen welches eine Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse innerhalb der Proben mit sich bringt.
I was thinking along the lines of "the chemicals used stop/halt all vital functions " or "which causes all vital functions in the samples to cease", but this is a bit too much biology for me. If the formalin also deactivates any enzymes that may still be active in dead cells, for example, or kills all microorganisms, is "vital functions" applicable, or should I say "all living processes"?
May 12, 2009 11:32: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse" to "einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse bewirken"
May 20, 2009 06:40: Steffen Walter changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/62748">David Williams's</a> old entry - "einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse bewirken"" to ""[formalin, etc.] stops all biological processes""
May 20, 2009 06:40: Steffen Walter changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/34047">Steffen Walter's</a> old entry - "einen Stillstand aller Lebensprozesse bewirken"" to ""to stop all biological processes""
Proposed translations
Germany
Par Excellence Translations
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
[formalin, etc.] stops all biological processes
http://nature.ca/discover/treasures/anim/tr3/coecol_e.cfm
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Note added at 43 mins (2009-05-12 12:11:34 GMT)
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"inhibit biological processes" may also work.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-05-12 14:05:45 GMT)
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Collins English Dictionary:
"inhibit" 3. to stop, prevent, or decrease the rate of) a chemical reaction).
I agree that "inhibit", while it certainly can mean "stop", is more open to interpretation and less categorical than "stop". "Stop", being less ambiguous, is probably the safer option here.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-05-12 14:06:50 GMT)
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Sorry, that should have been ... "of (a chemical reaction)".
| Wouldn't "inhibit biological processes" suggest that they are just slowed down or inhibited in some other way that is less severe than being stopped, whether temporarily or permanently? |
Germany
Dr. rer. nat. Annett Behn-Krappa 
Expert knowledge at your service!
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German
living processes
| agree |
Zareh Darakjian Ph.D.
: I would think, however, that "life processes" would be a better choice..
42 mins
|
will bring to a halt all biochemical reactions essential for life
acts to arrest all biological processes
I like the word arrest here because formalin indeed "freezes" the processes.
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