Biological Science (Integrated) Flashcards
Channels in plant cells that allow for communication and transport between adjacent cells.
Plasmodesmata
The process of preserving cells, tissues, or organs at extremely low temperatures to maintain their viability.
Cryopreservation
A DNA sequence that can change its position within a genome, leading to genetic variation.
Transposon
The study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence.
Epigenetics
The protective cap at the end of a chromosome that shortens with each cell division and is associated with aging and cellular senescence.
Telomere
The process by which cells degrade and recycle their own components to maintain cellular homeostasis.
Autophagy
The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples, providing insights into the diversity and function of microbial communities.
Metagenomics
The presence of two or more genetically distinct cell populations within an organism, often resulting from the fusion of embryos.
Chimerism
A type of transposon that uses an RNA intermediate to insert copies of itself into new genomic locations.
Retrotransposon
The formation of new species due to geographic isolation, where populations are separated and evolve independently.
Allopatric speciation
The community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that inhabit a particular environment, such as the human gut.
Microbiome
The number, size, and shape of chromosomes in an individual or a species.
Karyotype
A gene that, when mutated or overexpressed, contributes to the development of cancer by promoting cell proliferation or inhibiting cell death.
Oncogene
A phenomenon in genetics where the effects of one gene are dependent on the presence of one or more modifier genes.
Epistasis
The process by which organisms maintain the balance of water and solutes within their bodies, especially in relation to osmotic pressure.
Osmoregulation
An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Zoonosis
A coding region of a gene that contains information for protein synthesis.
Exon
A non-coding region of a gene that is transcribed but removed during RNA splicing before translation.
Intron
A set of genetic variations (alleles) that are inherited together on the same chromosome.
Haplotype
Programmed cell death, essential for development, tissue homeostasis, and elimination of damaged or infected cells.
Apoptosis
The formation of new species within the same geographic area, often due to ecological or behavioral factors.
Sympatric speciation
A parasite that lives on the external surface of its host.
Ectoparasite
A mutually beneficial relationship between different species in which one organism lives inside the other.
Endosymbiosis
The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, such as a protein.
Gene expression