Biology Glossary Flashcards
Abiotic
A physical or chemical factor affecting an ecosystem e.g. light intensity or temperature
Absorption
The movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the intestine into the blood
Accommodation
Adjustments made by the eye to produce a clear image on the retina
Accuracy
How close the result is to the ‘true value’
Acid rain
Rain that is more acidic than normal because various gases (often sulfur dioxide) have dissolved into it
Active
A process which requires energy to work
Active site
The part of an enzyme into which a substrate fits during a reaction
Active transport
Active movement of molecules from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration, against a concentration gradient
Adaptation
A feature of an organism that is well suited to its function and helps the organism survive
Adenine
One of the nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA. Pair with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA
ADH
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
Adrenaline
A hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stressful situation. Affects the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems
Aerobic respiration
Respiration that requires the presence of oxygen
Algal bloom
The rapid growht of algae resulting from an increased nutrient supply.
Allele
One of the alternative forms of a gene
Alveoli
The air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place, site of gas exchange in the lungs
Amino acid
The monomer from which proteins are made, contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen (some have sulfur)
Amnion
Membrane enclosing the embryo during pregnancy
Amniotic fluid
Fluid secreted by the amnion, which supports and protects the developing embryo
Amylase
An enzyme that digests starch into maltose. Produced in the mouth and pancreas
Anaerobic respiration
Respiration that takes place in the absence of oxygen
Animal
Multicellular organisms that have no cell walls, form zygotes after fertilisation and ingest their food
Anomaly
A reading which falls outside the normal, expected, range of measurements
Anther
the part of the stamen in which pollen is formed and from which it is released
Antibody
Proteins secreted by lymphocytes in response to pathogens, attach to pathogens and destroy them.
Anticodon
a group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to the codon on the mRNA
Antigen
A chemical ‘marker’ on the surface of a cell that identifies
Anus
The passage through which faeces are egested.
Aorta
The artery which leaves the left ventricle of the heart
Arteriole
A small artery
Artery
A blood vessel which takes blood away from the heart to the capillaries
Asexual reproduction
Reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes, producing genetically identical offspring
ATP
A chemical produced in respiration and used in active processes
Atrium
A chamber in the heart that receives the blood returning from the body to the heart
Auxin
A plant growth factor that controls the growth of plants
axon
A long projection in a neurone that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.
Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria that can be used as a vector in GE
Benedict’s reagnet
A reagent used to test for sugar in Benedict’s test
Benedict’s test
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
Bicuspid valve
The valve in the heart between the left atrium and ventricle
Bile
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.
Bioaccumulation
The build up of pollutants in an organism
Biomagnification
The increase in concentration of bioaccumulated substances along a food chain
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand; the amount of oxygen in water used up by organisms, measured in mg per litre
Capsule
A layer found outside of some prokaryotic organisms
Order of respiration systems
Mouth -> Oesophagus -> Bronchus -> Bronchiole -> Alveoli -> Cardiovascular system
Carbohydrase
An enzyme that digests carbohydrates
Carbohydrates
A biological molecule. What sugars and starches are made of simple sugars combined.
Carbon cycle
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Nitrogen cycle
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Carpel
The female reproductive organs of plants
Carrier protein
A protein found in the membrane which transports things in and out of the cell
Cell sap v. Xylem
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
Chlorophyll v. Chloroplast
Chlorophyll a magnesium pigment involved in photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis and contain chlorophyll
Cholesterol
Lipid substance present in the in the blood that can lead to Coronary Heart Disease, and later heart attacks
Ciliary muscles
Muscles in the eye responsible to altering the shape of the lens
CNS
(C)entral (N)ervous (S)ystem. The system including the brain and the spine.
Codominant
A characteristic where both alleles of a heterozygous organism are present in the phenotype
Codon
The 3 base sequence used by mRNA to code for certain amino acids in translation. Pair with specific anti-codons in tRNA
Collecting duct
The final part of the nephron where urine forms and where ADH takes effect. Becomes more permeable to water when the body is dehydrated
Concentration gradient
The difference between the concentration of a substance in two areas
Concordant readings
Readings that are close enough to each other that they can be interpreted as identical (often a ±0.1 or ±0.5 difference)
Conjunctiva
The outer layer of the eye that protects it from harm.
Cornea
The transparent area at the front of the eye that refracts light to focus it on the lens
Coronary arteries
Arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Cortex
The outer section of the kidney that contains the Bowman’s capsule
Cytosine
The nitrogenous base, often represented as simply C. Pairs with guanine in both RNA and DNA.
Deiuretic
A substance which results in the production of large amounts of dilute urine.
Duodenum
The first section of the small intestine in which digestion occurs
Digestion
The process by which large insoluble molecules are broken down into smaller, soluble molecules.
Ectotherm
Organisms that use environments to control their body temperature (often described as ‘cold-blooded’)
Emphysema
A lung disease associated with smoking where the walls of the alveoli break down
Enucleated cell
A cell that has had the nucleus removed.
Enzyme
A protein that catalyses chemical reactions
Enzyme-substrate complex
Formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme
Eukaryote
A cell that has a nucleus rather than a plasmid
Exocrine
A gland which secretes a hormone into a duct which leaves the body e.g. salivary gland
Explant
Very small pieces of plant tissue cut from the tips of stems or side shoots
Filament
The base of the stamen in flowes
Flaccid
A term used to describe a cell that has had its water removed
Fovea
A part of the retina with a very high concentration of cone cells
Cone cells v. Rod cells
Both are light-sensitive cells found in the retina, however cones are responsible for colour vision and rod cells are responsible for lowlight vision.
FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone. A hormone produces in females that stimulates the development of egg cells.
Glomerulus
A small ball of capillaries found in the Bowman’s capsule
Glycerol
An oily liquid that makes up lipids
Glucagon
A hormone produced by the pancreas that acts to increase blood sugar
Guard cell
One of a pair of cells on either side of a stoma. Control whether the stoma are open or closed.
Hepatic
Relating to the liver
Hypertonic
A term used to describe a higher concentration solution in reference to a different solution.
Intercostal muscles
Muscles between the ribs that contract and relax to help ventilate the lungs.
Iris
A coloured ring of muscles surrounding the pupil of the eye
Karyotype
A complete set of chromosomes from a single cell
LH
Leutenising Hormone. A hormone that stimulate ovulation and production of progesterone. Produced in the pituitary gland
Maltase + Maltose
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
Myelin
Substance found on the surface of neurones that speeds up nerve impulses by keeping them warm
Nectary
An organ that creates a sugary fluid and is found in insect-pollinated flowers
Palisade mesophyll
The layer of cells below the upper epidermis in a leaf where most of the photosynthesis occurs
Lymphocytes
White blood cells that produces antibodies and provide immunity
Phagocytes
White blood cells that consume pathogens to protect the organism
Phloem
A plant tissue that transports the products of photosynthesis up and down the plant.
Progesterone
A hormone produced in the ovaries that maintains the uterus lining and inhibits Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Protease
An enzyme that digests protein into amino acids. Produced in the stomach, small intestine and pancrease
Receptor
A cell which detects changes in its environment
Reflex arc
The nervous pathway of a reflex
Semilunar valves
Valves present at the start of the aorta and pulmonary artery
Spongy mesophyll
Layer of cells in a leaf that contains lots of air spaces to allow gas exchange
Stamen
The male section of a flower
Stomata
Small pores on the underside of a leaf through which gas exchange takes place
Style
The connection between a stigma and ovaries in a flower. What pollen tubes grow down
Suspensory ligaments
Fibrous strands which connect the ciliary body to the lens
Tricuspid valve
Valve in the heart between the right atrium and ventricle
Vasoconstriction
Decreasing the diameter of small arteries
Vasodilation
Increasing the diameter of small arteries
Vena cava
The vein that takes blood from other veins in the right side of the heart
Waxy cuticle
A waxy layer found on the upper surface of leaves that reduces water loss by transpiration
Zygote
The cell formed in the process of sexual reproduction via the fusion of two gametes from two separate organisms.
