The term sister is used to refer to a female relative, friend, or even an individual in general. In some situations, the word sister may also refer to a member of a religious order. Sisters often served as nurses. The word sister is derived from the Old English word sweoster, which means “female with the same parents.”
In the United States, a sister can be a female or a male, and both terms can have the same meaning. Sisters are often called sissies, a popular informal abbreviation used in direct address. However, in some instances, the word sissy carries the negative connotation of an effeminate man. In either case, the word sister refers to a sister’s status in a social, religious, or familial organization.
Catholic sisters live a life within the world and engage in apostolic works. They make perpetual simple vows and live evangelical counsels. The IHM Sisters of Monroe, Michigan are an example. In the United States, the term ‘nun’ is more common than “sister,” since it means a woman who has professed vows to God. This is often more accurate, as nuns are not cloistered.
In the United States, sister companies can be grouped under the same parent company. These entities produce unrelated products, and are rarely direct rivals. Despite this, they often work together on joint marketing efforts and even share inventories. For example, a fabric manufacturer may partner with a furniture retailer to produce and market fabrics. If two companies work closely together, company divisions may become increasingly blurred. For example, multimedia giant Viacom Inc. counts its cable channel Viacom Media Networks as a subsidiary. These cable channels include Nickelodeon, BET, and Spike.
In a cell, chromatids are replicated in a process called mitosis. This process creates sister chromatids. Sister chromatids are also known as homologous chromosomes, which are pairs of genetically similar chromosomes that code for similar traits. In a cat, there are two copies of chromosome number 2, while a human has 23 pairs of homologous chromatids.