Biology Flashcards
1-97
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
a.k.a DNA, a molecule that carries most of the genetic instructions
used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms.
Example Sentence: “DNA contains the instructions for building and maintaining an
organism.”
Biome
A large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and
animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.-
Example Sentence: “The desert biome is characterized by low precipitation and high temperatures.”
Genotype
The genetic constitution of an individual organism.
Chromosome
A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and proteins found in the
nucleus, carrying genetic information.
Homogeneous
Of the same kind; alike
Heterogeneous
Diverse in character or content
Ion
An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss
or gain of one or more electrons.
Paleontology
The branch of science concerned with fossil animals and
plants
Zoology
The scientific study of animals.
Example Sentence: “Zoology encompasses the study of animal behavior,
physiology, and classification.”
Epigenetics
The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of
gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.
Example Sentence: “Epigenetics plays a role in determining how genes
are activated or silenced during development.”
Transcription
The process by which genetic information from DNA is copied
into RNA.
Example Sentence: “During transcription, RNA polymerase synthesizes a
complementary RNA strand from a DNA template.”
Quorum Sensing
The ability of bacteria to communicate and coordinate behaviour
based on population density.
Example Sentence: “Bacterial quorum sensing is involved in the regulation of virulence and biofilm formation.”
Glycolysis
The metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate,
producing ATP and NADH.
Example Sentence: “Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration and
occurs in the cytoplasm.”
Polygenic Inheritance
The inheritance of traits that are controlled by multiple genes.
Example Sentence: “Human height is an example of a polygenic trait influenced by the interaction of multiple genes.”
Telomere
The repetitive DNA sequence at the end of a linear chromosome, therefore protecting it from deterioration.
Example Sentence: “Telomeres play a role in cellular ageing and the prevention of chromosomal fusion.”
Phenotypic Plasticity
The ability of an organism to express different phenotypes in re
sponse to environmental factors.
Example Sentence: “Plant phenotypic plasticity allows them to adapt to
varying light conditions.”
Introns
Non-coding regions of DNA within a gene that are transcribed
but removed during RNA processing.
Example Sentence: “Introns are spliced out during mRNA processing,
leaving only the exons to form the mature transcript.”
Allopatric Speciation
The formation of new species due to geographic isolation.
Example Sentence: “Allopatric speciation occurs when a population is
separated by a physical barrier, leading to genetic divergence
Prion
An infectious protein particle that causes abnormal folding of
normal cellular proteins.
Example Sentence: “Prions are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases
such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.”
Phylogenetics
The study of evolutionary relationships among groups of organ
isms.
Example Sentence: “Phylogenetic trees depict the evolutionary history
and relatedness of different species.”
Eukaryogenesis
The process by which eukaryotic cells evolved from simpler
prokaryotic cells.
Example Sentence: “Eukaryogenesis is a complex and debated topic in
evolutionary biology.
Symbiosis
A close and long-term interaction between two species may be mutually beneficial or harmful.
Example Sentence: “The relationship between clownfish and sea anemones is an example of symbiosis.”
Cytoskeleton
A network of protein filaments and tubules within a cell that pro
vides structural support and facilitates cell movement.
Example Sentence: “The cytoskeleton is involved in maintaining cell
shape and organizing cellular organelles.”
