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Biology Glossary Flashcards

1
Q

Abiotic

A

A physical or chemical factor affecting an ecosystem e.g. light intensity or temperature

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2
Q

Absorption

A

The movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the intestine into the blood

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3
Q

Accommodation

A

Adjustments made by the eye to produce a clear image on the retina

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4
Q

Accuracy

A

How close the result is to the ‘true value’

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5
Q

Acid rain

A

Rain that is more acidic than normal because various gases (often sulfur dioxide) have dissolved into it

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6
Q

Active

A

A process which requires energy to work

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7
Q

Active site

A

The part of an enzyme into which a substrate fits during a reaction

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8
Q

Active transport

A

Active movement of molecules from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, against a concentration gradient

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9
Q

Adaptation

A

A feature of an organism that is well suited to its function and helps the organism survive

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10
Q

Adenine

A

One of the nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA. Pair with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA

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11
Q

ADH

A

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland which is involved in control of water levels in the body, makes the collecting duct more permeable to water

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12
Q

Adrenaline

A

A hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stressful situation. Affects the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems

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13
Q

Aerobic respiration

A

Respiration that requires the presence of oxygen

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14
Q

Algal bloom

A

The rapid growht of algae resulting from an increased nutrient supply.

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15
Q

Allele

A

One of the alternative forms of a gene

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16
Q

Alveoli

A

The air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place, site of gas exchange in the lungs

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17
Q

Amino acid

A

The monomer from which proteins are made, contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen (some have sulfur)

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18
Q

Amnion

A

Membrane enclosing the embryo during pregnancy

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19
Q

Amniotic fluid

A

Fluid secreted by the amnion, which supports and protects the developing embryo

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20
Q

Amylase

A

An enzyme that digests starch into maltose. Produced in the mouth and pancreas

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21
Q

Anaerobic respiration

A

Respiration that takes place in the absence of oxygen

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22
Q

Animal

A

Multicellular organisms that have no cell walls, form zygotes after fertilisation and ingest their food

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23
Q

Anomaly

A

A reading which falls outside the normal, expected, range of measurements

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24
Q

Anther

A

the part of the stamen in which pollen is formed and from which it is released

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25
Q

Antibody

A

Proteins secreted by lymphocytes in response to pathogens, attach to pathogens and destroy them.

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26
Q

Anticodon

A

a group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to the codon on the mRNA

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27
Q

Antigen

A

A chemical ‘marker’ on the surface of a cell that identifies

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28
Q

Anus

A

The passage through which faeces are egested.

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29
Q

Aorta

A

The artery which leaves the left ventricle of the heart

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30
Q

Arteriole

A

A small artery

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31
Q

Artery

A

A blood vessel which takes blood away from the heart to the capillaries

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32
Q

Asexual reproduction

A

Reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes, producing genetically identical offspring

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33
Q

ATP

A

A chemical produced in respiration and used in active processes

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34
Q

Atrium

A

A chamber in the heart that receives the blood returning from the body to the heart

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35
Q

Auxin

A

A plant growth factor that controls the growth of plants

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36
Q

axon

A

A long projection in a neurone that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

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37
Q

Bacteriophage

A

A virus that infects bacteria that can be used as a vector in GE

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38
Q

Benedict’s reagnet

A

A reagent used to test for sugar in Benedict’s test

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39
Q

Benedict’s test

A

A test in which Benedict’s solution is added to a liquid and heated to see if it contains sugars. Results in a colour change in positive

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40
Q

Bicuspid valve

A

The valve in the heart between the left atrium and ventricle

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41
Q

Bile

A

A fluid produces by the liver, however it is stored in the gallbladder. It emulsifies fat into small globules to increase the surface area lipase can act upon.

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42
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

The build up of pollutants in an organism

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43
Q

Biomagnification

A

The increase in concentration of bioaccumulated substances along a food chain

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44
Q

BOD

A

Biological Oxygen Demand; the amount of oxygen in water used up by organisms, measured in mg per litre

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45
Q

Capsule

A

A layer found outside of some prokaryotic organisms

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46
Q

Order of respiration systems

A

Mouth -> Oesophagus -> Bronchus -> Bronchiole -> Alveoli -> Cardiovascular system

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47
Q

Carbohydrase

A

An enzyme that digests carbohydrates

48
Q

Carbohydrates

A

A biological molecule. What sugars and starches are made of simple sugars combined.

49
Q

Carbon cycle

A

https://i0.wp.com/zhtutorials.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The-carbon-cycle.jpg?fit=2066%2C2067&ssl=1

50
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

https://i0.wp.com/zhtutorials.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/The-nitrogen-cycle.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1

51
Q

Carpel

A

The female reproductive organs of plants

52
Q

Carrier protein

A

A protein found in the membrane which transports things in and out of the cell

53
Q

Cell sap v. Xylem

A

Cell sap is found in the vacuole and transports sugars, mineral ions, other solutes and water. Xylem transports water and inorganic ions from roots to the stems

54
Q

Chlorophyll v. Chloroplast

A

Chlorophyll a magnesium pigment involved in photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis and contain chlorophyll

55
Q

Cholesterol

A

Lipid substance present in the in the blood that can lead to Coronary Heart Disease, and later heart attacks

56
Q

Ciliary muscles

A

Muscles in the eye responsible to altering the shape of the lens

57
Q

CNS

A

(C)entral (N)ervous (S)ystem. The system including the brain and the spine.

58
Q

Codominant

A

A characteristic where both alleles of a heterozygous organism are present in the phenotype

59
Q

Codon

A

The 3 base sequence used by mRNA to code for certain amino acids in translation. Pair with specific anti-codons in tRNA

60
Q

Collecting duct

A

The final part of the nephron where urine forms and where ADH takes effect. Becomes more permeable to water when the body is dehydrated

61
Q

Concentration gradient

A

The difference between the concentration of a substance in two areas

62
Q

Concordant readings

A

Readings that are close enough to each other that they can be interpreted as identical (often a ±0.1 or ±0.5 difference)

63
Q

Conjunctiva

A

The outer layer of the eye that protects it from harm.

64
Q

Cornea

A

The transparent area at the front of the eye that refracts light to focus it on the lens

65
Q

Coronary arteries

A

Arteries that supply blood to the heart.

66
Q

Cortex

A

The outer section of the kidney that contains the Bowman’s capsule

67
Q

Cytosine

A

The nitrogenous base, often represented as simply C. Pairs with guanine in both RNA and DNA.

68
Q

Deiuretic

A

A substance which results in the production of large amounts of dilute urine.

69
Q

Duodenum

A

The first section of the small intestine in which digestion occurs

70
Q

Digestion

A

The process by which large insoluble molecules are broken down into smaller, soluble molecules.

71
Q

Ectotherm

A

Organisms that use environments to control their body temperature (often described as ‘cold-blooded’)

72
Q

Emphysema

A

A lung disease associated with smoking where the walls of the alveoli break down

73
Q

Enucleated cell

A

A cell that has had the nucleus removed.

74
Q

Enzyme

A

A protein that catalyses chemical reactions

75
Q

Enzyme-substrate complex

A

Formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme

76
Q

Eukaryote

A

A cell that has a nucleus rather than a plasmid

77
Q

Exocrine

A

A gland which secretes a hormone into a duct which leaves the body e.g. salivary gland

78
Q

Explant

A

Very small pieces of plant tissue cut from the tips of stems or side shoots

79
Q

Filament

A

The base of the stamen in flowes

80
Q

Flaccid

A

A term used to describe a cell that has had its water removed

81
Q

Fovea

A

A part of the retina with a very high concentration of cone cells

82
Q

Cone cells v. Rod cells

A

Both are light-sensitive cells found in the retina, however cones are responsible for colour vision and rod cells are responsible for lowlight vision.

83
Q

FSH

A

Follicle Stimulating Hormone. A hormone produces in females that stimulates the development of egg cells.

84
Q

Glomerulus

A

A small ball of capillaries found in the Bowman’s capsule

85
Q

Glycerol

A

An oily liquid that makes up lipids

86
Q

Glucagon

A

A hormone produced by the pancreas that acts to increase blood sugar

87
Q

Guard cell

A

One of a pair of cells on either side of a stoma. Control whether the stoma are open or closed.

88
Q

Hepatic

A

Relating to the liver

89
Q

Hypertonic

A

A term used to describe a higher concentration solution in reference to a different solution.

90
Q

Intercostal muscles

A

Muscles between the ribs that contract and relax to help ventilate the lungs.

91
Q

Iris

A

A coloured ring of muscles surrounding the pupil of the eye

92
Q

Karyotype

A

A complete set of chromosomes from a single cell

93
Q

LH

A

Leutenising Hormone. A hormone that stimulate ovulation and production of progesterone. Produced in the pituitary gland

94
Q

Maltase + Maltose

A

Maltase, an enzyme that turns maltose into glucose
Maltose, a sugar made of two glucose molecules, made from the break down of starch by amylase

95
Q

Myelin

A

Substance found on the surface of neurones that speeds up nerve impulses by keeping them warm

96
Q

Nectary

A

An organ that creates a sugary fluid and is found in insect-pollinated flowers

97
Q

Palisade mesophyll

A

The layer of cells below the upper epidermis in a leaf where most of the photosynthesis occurs

98
Q

Lymphocytes

A

White blood cells that produces antibodies and provide immunity

99
Q

Phagocytes

A

White blood cells that consume pathogens to protect the organism

100
Q

Phloem

A

A plant tissue that transports the products of photosynthesis up and down the plant.

101
Q

Progesterone

A

A hormone produced in the ovaries that maintains the uterus lining and inhibits Follicle Stimulating Hormone

102
Q

Protease

A

An enzyme that digests protein into amino acids. Produced in the stomach, small intestine and pancrease

103
Q

Receptor

A

A cell which detects changes in its environment

104
Q

Reflex arc

A

The nervous pathway of a reflex

105
Q

Semilunar valves

A

Valves present at the start of the aorta and pulmonary artery

106
Q

Spongy mesophyll

A

Layer of cells in a leaf that contains lots of air spaces to allow gas exchange

107
Q

Stamen

A

The male section of a flower

108
Q

Stomata

A

Small pores on the underside of a leaf through which gas exchange takes place

109
Q

Style

A

The connection between a stigma and ovaries in a flower. What pollen tubes grow down

110
Q

Suspensory ligaments

A

Fibrous strands which connect the ciliary body to the lens

111
Q

Tricuspid valve

A

Valve in the heart between the right atrium and ventricle

112
Q

Vasoconstriction

A

Decreasing the diameter of small arteries

113
Q

Vasodilation

A

Increasing the diameter of small arteries

114
Q

Vena cava

A

The vein that takes blood from other veins in the right side of the heart

115
Q

Waxy cuticle

A

A waxy layer found on the upper surface of leaves that reduces water loss by transpiration

116
Q

Zygote

A

The cell formed in the process of sexual reproduction via the fusion of two gametes from two separate organisms.

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