Biology Defenitions Flashcards
1
Q
Biology
A
Is the study of living things.
2
Q
The scientific method
A
is the process of investigation in which problems are identified and their suggested solutions are tested by carrying out experiments.
3
Q
An observation
A
Is when something is noticed.
4
Q
A hypothesis
A
Is an educated guess.
5
Q
An experiment
A
Is designed to test a hypothesis.
6
Q
Data
A
Consists of the MEASUREMENTS, OBSERVATIONS or INFORMATION GATHERED from experiments.
7
Q
A conclusion
A
Is a summary of the results of an experiment.
8
Q
A theory
A
Is a hypothesis that has been SUPPORTED by many different experiments.
9
Q
A principle or law
A
Arises from a theory that has been shown to be VALID when FULLY TESTED over a long period of time.
10
Q
A variable
A
Is a factor that may change in an experiment.
11
Q
A control
A
is used to provide a comparison against which the actual experiment is being tested.
12
Q
A replicate
A
Is a repeat of an experiment, under the same conditions.
13
Q
Double blind
A
Means that both the investigator and the participant are unaware of the nature of the treatment the participant is receiving.
14
Q
Ethics
A
Relates to whether conduct is right or wrong.
15
Q
An Organism
A
Is a living thing.
16
Q
Metabolism
A
Is the sum of all chemical reactions in an organism.
17
Q
Continuity of life
A
Means that living things arise from other living things of the same type.
18
Q
Life
A
Is defined as the possession of these five characteristics: organisation, nutrition, excretion, response, reproduction.
19
Q
Organisation
A
Means that living things are composed of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
20
Q
Nutrition
A
Is the way living things get and use food FOR ENERGY.
21
Q
Exrection
A
Is the removal of waste products of METABOLISM.
22
Q
Response
A
is the way living things REACT to changes in their environment.
23
Q
Reproduction
A
Is the production of new individuals.
24
Q
Sexual Reproduction
A
Involves the union of sex cells.
25
Asexual Reproduction
Dose not involve the union of sex cells.
26
Biomolecules
Are the chemicals that are made inside a living thing.
27
Phospholipids
Are fat-like substances in which one of the fatty acids is replaced by a phosphate group or has a phosphate group added to it.
28
Anabolic reactions
The USE energy to convert smaller molecules into larger molecules.
29
Catabolic reactions
The RELEASE energy when a complex molecule is broken down to a simpler form.
30
Cytoplasm
Is the living material in a cell outside the nucleus.
31
Transmission Electron Microscope
Shows the internal structure of a specimen.
32
Scanning Electron Microscope
Shows a surface view of a specimen.
33
Cell ultra-structure
Is the fine detail of a cell as seen with an electron microscope.
34
Chromatin
Is the name given to chromosomes when they are elongated and not dividing.
35
Hydrophilic
Water loving.
36
Hydrophobic
Water hating.
37
Prokaryotic cells
Do not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles. e.g. bacteria cells.
38
Eukaryotic cells
Have a Nucleus and membrane bound organelles. e.g. animal and plant cells.
39
Tissue
Are groups of similar cells that have the same structure and function.
40
Micropropogation
Is the growth of new plants from plant cells.
41
Callus
A group of cells.
42
Tissue culture
Is the growth of new cells in or on a sterile nutrient medium outside the organism.
43
Monoclonal antibodies
Cancer treatment antibodies.
44
In vitro
Outside of the body.
45
Organ
Is a structure composed of a number of different tissues that work together to carry out one or more functions.
46
Organ system
Consists of a number of Organs working together to carry out one or more functions.
47
Organism
A group of organ systems working together to allow life.
48
Diffusion
Is the spreading of gas molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. (Passive Process)
49
Osmosis
Is the movement of water molecules from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration across a selectively permeable membrane. (Passive Process)
50
A selectively permeable membrane
Allows some but not all molecules through.
51
Hypertonic
Water concentration is higher inside than outside the cell.
52
Isotonic
Water concentration is the same inside and outside the cell.
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Hypotonic
Water concentration is higher outside the cell than inside the cell.
54
Protoplasm
Is all the living parts of a cell.
55
Turgor or Turgor pressure
Is the OUTWARD pressure of the cytoplasm and vacuole AGAINST the cell wall of the plant.
56
Cell continuity
Means that cells develop from pre-existing cells.
57
Chromosomes
Are COILED THREADS of DNA and protein.
58
A gene
Is a section of DNA that contains the instructions to make a protein.
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A diploid Cell
Has two sets of chromosomes, one from the mother and one from the father. (2n)
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A homologous Pair
is two chromosomes of similar size, with the same sequence of genes.
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Haploid cells
Have one set of chromosomes. (n)
62
Interphase
Is the phase in the cell cycle when the cell is not dividing.
63
A centromere
Is the point where chromosomes attach.
64
Mitosis
Is a form of nuclear division in which one nucleus divides into two nuclei, each containing identical sets of chromosomes.
65
Cancer
Is a group of disorders in which certain cells lose their ability to control both the rate of mitosis and the number of times it happens.
66
Meosis
Is the form of nuclear division in which 4 daughter nuclei contain half the number of parent chromosomes.
67
Micro-organisms
Are small living things.
68
Autotrophic
Means an organism makes its own food.
69
Chemosynthesis
Is the production of food using energy released from chemical reactions.
70
Photosynthetic
Describes bacteria that make their own food using light energy.
71
Heterotrophic
Means an organism takes in food made by other organisms.
72
Saprophytes
Are organisms that take in food from dead organic matter.
73
Parasites
Are organisms that take in food from a live host and usually cause harm.
74
Pathogenic Bacteria
Are bacteria that cause disease.
75
Antibiotics
Are chemicals produced by micro-organisms that stop the growth of, or kill other micro-organisms without damaging human tissue.
76
Batch Culture
Is the cell growth of cells in a sealed container, or bioreactor, over a short period of time under ideal conditions until all the nutrients are used up.
77
A Bioreactor
Is a vessel or container in which living cells or their products are used to make a product.
78
Continuous Flow
Food processing is the growth of cells in an open container, or bioreactor, where nutrients are added and the end products are removed all the time at a rate that maintains the volume of liquid and the number of cells.
79
Aerobic Bacteria
Use oxygen
80
Anaerobic Bacteria
Do not use oxygen
81
Hypha
Is a tube or filament in a fungus.
82
Mycelium
Is a visible mass of hyphae.
83
Obligate parasite
Can only take it's food from a live host.
84
Facultative parasite
Can get its food from a live or dead host.
85
Sporulation
Is the process of making spores.
86
Meristem
Is a plant tissue capable of mitosis.
87
Herbaceous plants
do not contain wood (lignin)
88
Woody plants
contain wood (lignin)
89
Node
Is the point of a stem at which the leaf is attached
90
internode
is the region on a stem between two nodes
91
bud
is a potential growth point which may develop into a shoot, a leaf or flower
92
lenticel
is an opening on a stem for gas exchange
93
venation
is the pattern of veins in a leaf
94
Lignin
is a strengthening material found in some plant cell walls
95
cotyledon
is a seed leaf
96
Plasma
Is the liquid part of the blood
97
Serum
Is plasma with the blood clotting proteins removed.
98
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells
99
Lymphocytes
White blood cells that produce antibodies
100
Monocytes
White blood cells that engulf pathogens.
101
Open circulatory system
Means that blood leaves the blood vessels and flows around the cells of the animal's body before re-entering blood vessels again.
102
Closed circulatory system
Means that blood remains in a continuous system of blood vessels.
103
Blood pressure
Is the force the blood exerts against the wall of the blood vessel.
104
Valves
Control the direction of the blood flow.
105
A portal system
Is a blood pathway that begins and ends in capillaries
106
Diastole
Is when the heart chambers relax
107
Systole
Is when the heart chambers contract.
108
Pulse
Is the alternate expansion and contraction of the arteries
109
Herbivores
Are animals that feed mainly on plants.
110
Carnivores
Are animals that feed mainly on animals.
111
Omnivores
Are animals that feed on plants and animals.
112
Digestion
Is the physical and chemical breakdown of food.
113
The dental formula for an adult human:
2(I2/2 C1/1 P2/2 M3/3)
114
Peristalsis
Is a wave of muscular action in the walls of the alimentary canal that moves the contents along.
115
A balanced diet
Contains all the necessary food types in the correct proportions.
116
Homeostasis
Is the ability of an organism to maintain a constant internal environment.
117
Pharynx
Is the throat
118
Larynx
Is the voice box.
119
Inhalation
Means breathing in.
120
Exhalation
Means breathing out.
121
Neuron
Is a nerve cell
122
Sensory neuron
Takes a message from a sense organ to the CNS
123
Motor neuron
Takes a message from the CNS to a muscle of a gland.
124
Ganglion
Is a group of cell bodies located outside of the CNS
125
Interneuron
Carries information between sensory and motor neurons.
126
Threshold
Is the minimum stimulus needed to cause an impulse to be carried in a neuron
127
All or Nothing Law
States that if the threshold is reached an impulse is carried, but if the threshold is not reached no impulse is carried.
128
Refractory period
Is a short time span after a neuron has carried an impulse during which a stimulus has failed to cause a response
129
Synapse
Is a region where two neurons come into close contact.
130
Synaptic cleft
Is the tiny gap between the two neurons at a synapse
131
Reflex action
Is an automatic, involuntary, unthinking response to a stimulus.
132
Reflex arc
Is the pathway taken by a nerve in a reflex action
133
Gonad
Is an organ that produces sex cells in animals
134
Semen
Is a fluid containing sperm and seminal fluid
135
Acrosome
Is a part of the head of the sperm. It digests the membrane of the egg.
136
Nucleus of the sperm
Is a part of the head of the sperm and contains 23 chromosomes
137
Collar of sperm
Is the mid piece. It's contains mitochondria for energy.
138
Puberty
Is the beginning of sexual maturity
139
Secondary sexual characteristics
Are those features that distinguish males from females, apart from the sex organs themselves.
140
Infertility
Is the inability to produce offspring
141
Ovulation
Is the release of the egg from the ovary
142
Menstrual cycle
Is a series of events that occur every 28 days on average in the female, if fertilisation hasn't taken place
143
Menopause
Is when ovulation and menstruation stop happening in the female.
144
Menstruation
Is the discharge of the endometrium and the unfertilised egg
145
Copulation
Is the act of sexual intercourse
146
Orgasm
Is the physical and emotional sensations experiences at the peak of sexual excitement
147
Ejaculation
Is the release of semen from the penis
148
Insemination
Is the release of semen into the vagina, just outside of the cervix
149
Chemotaxis
Is the process by which sperm swim towards a chemical released by the egg
150
Fertilisation
Occurs when the nucleus of the sperm fuses with the nucleus of the the egg to form a zygote
151
Implantation
Is the embedding of the fertilised egg into the lining of the uterus
152
In vitro fertilisation
Involves removing eggs from an ovary and fertilising them outside of the body
153
Morula
Is a solid ball of cells formed from a zygote by mitosis
154
Blastocyst
Is a hollow ball of cells formed from a morula
155
Germ layers
Are basic layers of cells in the blastocyst in which all adult tissue and organs will form
156
Gestation
Is the length of time spent in the uterus from fertilisation to birth
157
Lactation
Is the secretion of milk by the mammary glands of the female
158
Colostrum
Is a thick, yellow fluid that comes out before the milk. It is high in proteins, minerals and antibodies.
159
Prolactin
A hormone that stimulates milk production
160
Birth control
Refers to the methods to limit the number of children born
161
Contraception
Is the deliberate prevention of fertilisation or pregnancy
162
Eustachian tube
It equalises pressure on either side of the eardrum
163
Exocrine glands
Release their product from ducts
164
Endocrine gland
Is a ductless gland that produces hormones, which are released directly into the bloodstream
165
Hormone
A chemical messenger produced by an endocrine gland and carried by the bloodstream to another part of the body, where it has a specific effect
166
Axial skeleton
Consists of the skull, spine, ribs and sternum
167
Appendicular skeleton
Is composed of the limbs, the pectoral girdle and the pelvic girdle
168
Pectoral girdle
Consists of collarbone and shoulder blade
169
Pelvic girdle
Is composed of two halves of the hip joined to the sacrum
170
Osteoblasts
Is a bone forming cell
171
Growth plate
Is the area between the epiphysis and the diaphysis in a long bone within which brown growth occurs
172
Osteoclasts
Is a bone digesting cell
173
Joint
Is where two or more bones meet
174
Synovial fluid
Is produced in moveable joints to lubricate and reduce friction
175
Ligaments
Strong, fibrous, slightly elastic tissues that connect bone to bone
176
Tendons
Strong, flexible, inelastic fibres that connect bone to muscle
177
Agnostic pair
Is two muscles that have opposite effects to each other.
178
Ecology
Is the study of interactions between living things and between organism and their environment
179
Biosphere
Is that part of the planet containing living organisms
180
Ecosystem
Is a group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their environment as a unit
181
Habitat
Is the place where a plant or animal lives
182
Population
Is all members of the same species living in an area
183
Community
Is all different populations in an area
184
Abiotic factors
Non living factors
185
Biotic factors
Living factors
186
Climate factors
Refers to weather over a long period of time
187
Edaphic Factors
Relate to soil
188
Producers
Are organisms that carry out photosynthesis
189
Flora
Is all the plants in an ecosystem
190
Consumers
Are organisms that take in food from another organism
191
Fauna
Is all the animals in an ecosystem
192
Decomposers
Are organisms that feed on dead organic matter
193
Detritus feeders
Are organisms that feed on small pieces of dead organic matter
194
Food chain
Is a sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next member in the chain
195
Trophic level
Is a stage in a food chain
196
Food web
Consists of two or more interlinked food chains
197
Pyramid of numbers
Represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain
198
Niche
Of an organism is the functional role it plays in the community
199
Nutrient Recycling
the WAY in which ELEMENTS are EXCHANGED between living and non living COMPONENTS of the environment.
200
Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
in the soil convert nitrogen gas, in the air, to nitrates. These are free living bacteria.
201
Symbiotic
two different species living together usually involving benefit
202
Nitrification
conversion of ammonia compounds to nitrates to nitrites.
203
Denitrification
conversion of nitrites to nitrogen gas
204
Pollution
Any harmful additions to the environment
205
Pollutant
the harmful addition to the environment
206
Conservation
wise management of our environment to maintain biodiversity.
207
Eutrophication
is the addition of nutrients to fresh water. this leads to a lack of oxygen in the water.
208
Competition
occurs when organisms actively struggle for resources that are in short supply.
209
Intra-specific competition
takes place between members of the same species.
210
Inter-specific competition
occurs between members of different species.
211
Contest Competition
is when there is an active physical confrontation between two individual organisms and one wins the resource.
212
Scramble Competition
is when EACH organism tries to ACQUIRE as MUCH of the resource as possible.
213
Predation
is the catching, killing and eating of another organism.
214
Predator
is an organism that catches, kills and eats another organism.
215
Prey
is an organism that is eaten by the predator
216
Parasitism
occurs when two organisms live in close association and one organism obtains its food from, and to the disadvantage of, the second organism.
217
symbiosis
occurs when two organism of different species live in close association and at least one of the benefits.
218
Qualitative study
Records the presence or absence of organisms.
219
Quantitative study
Records the number of organisms that are present.
220
Adaption
is any ALTERATION that IMPROVES an organism's CHANCE of SURVIVAL and REPRODUCTION.
221
Key
IS A MEANS of IDENTIFYING organisms BY ANSWERING a series of questions with ALTERNATIVE answers.
222
Percentage Cover
is an ESTIMATE of the amount of GROUND in a QUADRAT covered by a species.
223
Frequency
is the CHANCE of finding a NAMED SPECIES with any ONE THROW of a QUADRAT.
224
Metablism
The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism
225
Solar Energy
energy from the sun
226
Cellular energy
the energy stored in the bonds of biomolecules.
227
Catalyst
a substance that speeds up a reaction without its self being used up in the reaction
228
Enzymes
are proteins(nature of the enzyme) that speed up a reaction without being used up in the reaction - biological catalyst
229
Substrate (enzymes)
the substance that an enzyme acts on
230
Products (enzymes)
The substances that an enzyme forms
231
The active site
The part of the enzyme that combines with the substrate
232
Denatured Enzyme
has lost its shape and can no longer carry out its function
233
Bioprocessing
is the use of enzyme controlled reactions to produce a product
234
Bioreactor
A vessel in which living CELLS or their ENZYMES are used to make a product
235
Immobilized Enzymes
are enzymes that can be attached to each other or to inert substances and can be used repeatedly. (to each other, insoluble supports: glass, within a gel: sodium Alginate)
236
Immunity
The ability of an organism to resist infection
237
Pathogens
Micro-organisms that cause disease
238
Phagocytic white blood cells
the white blood cell engulfs and destroys any pathogens
239
Complement Proteins
Proteins activated by infection and then destroy viruses
240
Interferon Proteins
Proteins that prevent mutiplication
241
Antigen
a foreign molecule that stimulates the production of antibodies
242
Antibody
is a protein, made by lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen
243
Specific Defense system
this attacks particular pathogens
244
Induced immunity
is the ability to resist disease caused by specific pathogens by the production of antibodies
245
Active immunity
involves the production of a person's own antibodies in response to foreign antigens that enter the body
246
Natural Active Immunity
occurs when a pathogen enters the body in the natural way
247
Artificial active immunity
occurs when a pathogen is medically introduced into the body
248
Vaccine
is a non disease causing dose of a pathogen, which triggers the production of antibodies.
249
Passive immunity
occurs when individuals are given antibodies that were formed by another organism
250
Natural passive Immunity
occurs when a child gets antibodies from its mother
251
Artificial Passive Immunity
occurs when a person is given an injection containing antibodies made by another organism.
252
vaccinations
is the administration of a non disease causing does of pathogens to stimulate the production of antibodies.
253
Immunisation
occurs when we produce or are injected with antibodies
254
capsid
protein coat that surrounds a virus
255
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
256
Photosynthesis
Plants make their own food using light energy (Anabolic Reaction)
257
ATP
Adenosine Triphosphate
258
ADP
Adenosine Diphosphate
259
NADP
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phophate
260
NAD
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinuleotide
261
Phosphorylation
The addition of ADP and P to make ATP
262
Cyclic Photophosphorylation
In the first pathway of the light stage in photosynthesis the electron makes a full cycle back to the original chlorophyll that it left.
263
Photolysis
The splitting of water using light energy
264
Non Cyclic photophosphoylation
In the second pathway of the light stage in photosynthesis the electrons do not return back to the original chlorophyll that it left.
265
Respiration
is the chemical breakdown of glucose to release energy (Catabolic reaction)
266
Aerobic Respiration
The release of energy from food in the presence of O2
267
Anaerobic Respiration
The release of energy from food without requiring the presence of O2
268
Fermentation
Anaerobic respiration - no oxygen
269
Gametes
are haploid cells that are capable of fusion
270
Fertilisation
the fusion of two gametes to form a single cell called a zygote
271
Alleles
are different forms of the same gene
272
locus
of a gene is its position on a chromosome
273
Dominant
the alleles that prevent the recessive allele is expressed
274
recessive
the allele is prevented from being expressed by a dominant allele.
275
genotype
the genetic make-up of an organism
276
phenotype
the physical make-up of an organism
277
progeny
the offspring produced.
278
homozygous
two alleles are identical
279
heterozygous
two alleles are different
280
punnett square
a grid used to show the ratio of the genotypes of the progeny in a genetic cross
281
incomplete dominance
neither allele is dominant or recessive with respect to the other. Both alleles are equally expressed in the heterozygous genotype to produce an intermediate offspring.
