ALL YEARS – *Definitions For Key Words & Phrases* Flashcards
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Abiotic factor
An abiotic factor is a non - living thing that affects the distribution of organisms.
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Accommodation
Accommodation is the process of the changing of the shape of the lens to focus on near or distant objects. For near objects the lens gets thicker, as this allows the rays to refract more strongly.
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Accuracy (of experimental results)
Accuracy is how close it is to the right results that you should be getting in an experiment.
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Acid rain
Acid rain is rain that is acidic (yep.), and can be damaging to wildlife. It is caused by heating hydrocarbon fuels (in cars) because there are sulfur impurities in the fuel. It also happens when the fuel heats up and heats nitrogen and oxygen together in the air. Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides mix with water vapour to form dilute sulfuric and nitric acids. This is then rained…
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Active site
The active site is the part of an enzyme that the substrate joins to, for it to be broken down. If the temperature or pH is increased it can become denatured and the enzyme will stop working.
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Active transport
Active transport is the movement of particles (dissolved molecules) into or out of a cell, through a partially permeable membrane, from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration going up/against a concentration gradient. Due to this, it requires energy, that was released during respiration.
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Adaptation
An adaptation is a characteristic of an organism that improves its chances of survival/ reproduction.
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Adenosine triphosphate
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is energy carrying molecule used in cells because it can release energy very quickly. ???
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ADH
ADH stands for anti-diuretic hormone. ADH controls the reabsorption of water into the blood.
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Adrenal glands
Adrenal glands are the glands that produce adrenaline.
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Adrenaline
Adrenaline is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. It is released at times of fear or stress, and targets vital organs, increases heart rate, boosts delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain and muscles and prepares the body for fight or flight.
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Aerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration need oxygen. It is the chemical reaction of turning glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water.
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Agar
Agar is a jelly like substance that is used for some experiments, like diffusion, and for bacteria spreading.
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Algae
Algae is a broad term for a group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. They lack true roots, stems, and leaves.
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Algal bloom
Algal bloom is the rapid increase of algae in an aquatic system. This can be bad as it can make the water toxic to humans and fish, cause illness and smells bad.
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Alleles
Alleles are variation all forms of the same gene. Eg. The gene for eye colour has an allele for blue eyes, green eyes and brown eyes.
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Alveoli (alveolus = singular)
Alveoli are the tiny air sacs in your lungs that allows gas to be exchanged during breathing. They give the lungs a large surface area, are moist and thin, and have lots of capillaries, which all help gas diffuse.
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Amino acid
An amino acid is what make up a protein.
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Amnion
An amnion is the bag around the fetus in the uterus that contains the amniotic fluid that cushions the fetus.
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Amniotic fluid
Amniotic fluid is found in the amnion, and is the fluid that protects and cushions the fetus.
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Amylase
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose. Amylase is made in the salivary glands and used in saliva in the mouth.
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Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration is the use of glucose to produce energy and lactic acid. Anaerobic respiration happens with oxygen.
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Anther
Anther is the male part of the flower, which is held up by the filament. It produces male sex cells (pollen).
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Antibody
An antibody is a protein produced by a type of white blood cell, lymphocytes. When a pathogen infects the body (coated in antigens), the lymphocytes produce antibodies to attack them.
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Anticodon
Anticodon is a trinucleotide sequence that is complimentary to the shape of a codon in a messenger RNA sequence.
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Antigen
Antigen is the substances found on the surface of cells (including bacteria and pathogens).
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Anus
The anus is the part of the alimentary canal where faeces leaves the body.
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Arteriole
Arteriole is a small diameter blood vessel that extends and branches out from an artery and leads to capillaries.
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Artery (arteries = plural)
An artery is a blood vessel that takes blood (and oxygen) away from the heart to organs and body tissues. Arteries have narrow passageways, but thick muscular walls, allowing them to carry blood at high pressure.
What does the following term mean? Artificial insemination (AI)
Artificial insemination (AI) is a procedure where sperm is placed directly into the uterus so fertilisation can be achieved.
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Artificial selection
Artificial selection is where humans breed plants or animals for particular genetic characteristics. Eg. Pugs for their flat face.
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Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is reproduction using only one parent. There is no joining of sex cells during fertilisation. Organisms produced by this are genetically identical, they are clones.
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Assimilation
Assimilation is the movement of digestive food molecules into the cells in the body where they are used.
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Atria (atrium = singular)
Atria is the upper chambers of the heart which receives blood from the body (right atrium) and from the lungs (left atrium).
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Auxin
Auxins are plant hormones which control growth at the tips of shoots and roots.
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Axon
Axon is the long part of a nerve cell that the electrical signals move quickly across.
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Bacteria
Bacteria are single celled, microscopic prokaryotic organisms. They don’t have a nucleus, but have circular chromosomes of DNA and plasmids. Some can photosynthesise, and some are pathogenic. Most feed of other organisms - both living and dead.
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Bacteriophage
A bacteriophage is a type of virus that infects bacteria.
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Balanced diet
A balanced diet is a diet that contains all of the opponents in their correct amounts, needed to maintain health.
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Base (in DNA)
A base (in DNA) are the 4 chemicals that make up DNA: - thymine, T - adenine, A - guanine, G - cytosine, C T-A G-C
What does the following term mean? Basement membrane (in Bowman’s capsule)
The basement membrane is what filters the blood in the kidneys. The basement membrane is found between the glomerus and Bowman’s capsule.
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Beri-beri
Beri-beri is a disease that humans (and animals) get if they don’t have enough thiamine (vitamin B1)
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Bicuspid valve
The bicuspid valve is the valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
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Bile
Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Bile neutralises stomach acid as it enters the small intestines. It also emulsifies fats, giving them more surface area, making fats easier to break down.
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Bile duct
The bile duct takes bile from the gall bladder to the first part f the small intestine.
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Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation occurs when toxins build up or accumulate in the food chain. The animals at the top of the food chain are affected most severely.
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Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variation of different species of organisms on earth or within an ecosystem.
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Biological control
Biological control is the alternative to using pesticides and involves using one species or biological agent to control the population size of another species.
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Biomagnification
Biomagnification is when organisms at the top of the food chain suffer more than those at the lower end of a food chain due to bioaccumulation.
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Biomass
Biomass is the total dry mass of one animal or plant species in a food chain/web.
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Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the alteration of living organisms to make products that help humans.
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Biotic factor
A biotic factor is a living organism that affects the population of another species in an ecosystem.
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Bladder
The bladder is organ that stores urine before is is released by the urethra.
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Blind spot
A blind spot is where the optic nerve leaves the retina so it lacks receptor cells.
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Bowman’s capsule
Bowman’s capsule surrounds a ball of capillaries called the glomerulus. There the blood is put under lots of pressure. Ultrafiltration of the blood happens, in which water, ions ,glucose and other small molecules pass into the tubule (but not proteins or cells).
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Bronchial tree
Bronchial tree is the pattern of bronchioles leading to alveoli.
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Bronchioles
Bronchial are small tubes leading from the bronchi to the alveoli.
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Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a condition where the bronchi become irate tend by pathogens and mucus, that isn’t swept away by the epithelial cells. It can also be caused by smoke.
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Bronchi (bronchus = singular)
Bronchi are the big tubes that lead from the trachea to the bronchioles carrying gas.
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Capillary
Capillaries are tiny, thin walled veins that form a network to carry oxygen through organs and tissues.
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Capsule (of bacteria)
The capsule on a bacterium is a slime protection that also stops the bacterium from drying out.
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Carbohydrase
Carbohydrase is an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates polysaccharides and disaccharides into monosaccharides.
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Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a food group consisting of mono/di/polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are used for energy but re stored in fat if eaten in excess. In plants carbohydrates are useful for photosynthesis.
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Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas. When it is breathed in, it binds with haemoglobin on red blood cells, which limits the amount of oxygen they can carry. It has no smell or colour, and makes no sound. It can be deadly.
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Carboxyhemoglobin
Carboxyhemoglobin is formed when carbon monoxide (CO) and haemoglobin join.
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Carcinogen
Carcinogen is a chemical (or other agent) that causes cancer.
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Cardiac cycle
The cardiac cycle is the pattern of contraction and relaxation of the heart to complete a heartbeat.
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Cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle is the type of muscle found only in the heart.
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Carnivore
A carnivore is an animal that only eats meat/ flesh.
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Cartilage
Cartilage is soft, spongy, connective tissue.
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Catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that changes the rate of a reaction but doesn’t get used up or changed in the reaction.
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Cell
A cell is a simple building block that makes up plants and animals.
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Cell membrane
Cell membrane is a selectively permeable membrane surrounding the cell that controls what comes in and out of the cell.
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Cell wall
A cell wall is made from cellulose and strengthens the cell and supports the plant.
