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Definitions Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living factors

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2
Q

Active immunity

A

The production of a persons own antibodies in response to foreign antigens that enter the body

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3
Q

Active site

A

The part of an enzyme that combines with the substrate

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4
Q

Active transport

A

Energy used to move molecules, often against a concentration gradient

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5
Q

Antagonistic pair

A

Two muscles that have opposite effects on each other

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6
Q

Antibiotics

A

Chemicals produced by micro organisms that stop the growth of, or kill, other microorganisms without damaging human tissue

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7
Q

Antibody

A

A protein produced by white blood cells in response to a specific antigen

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8
Q

Antigen

A

A foreign molecule that stimulates the production of antibodies

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9
Q

Artificial active immunity

A

Occurs when a pathogen is medically introduced into the body

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10
Q

Artificial passive immunity

A

Occurs when a person is given an injection containing antibodies made by another organism

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11
Q

Aseptic / asepsis

A

Means that measures are taken to exclude unwanted microorganisms

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12
Q

Balanced diet

A

One that contains all the necessary food types in the correct proportions

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13
Q

Biomolecules

A

Chemicals that are made inside a living thing

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14
Q

Bioprocessing

A

The use of enzyme-controlled reactions to produce a product

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15
Q

Bioreactor

A

A vessel or container in which living cells or their products are used to make a product

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16
Q

Biotechnology

A

The use of living things or their components to manufacture useful products or r to carry out useful reactions

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17
Q

Birth control

A

Methods taken to limit the number of children that are born

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18
Q

Blood pressure

A

The force exerted by the blood against the wall of the blood vessels

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19
Q

Bud

A

A potential growth point that may develop into a shoot, a leaf or a flower

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20
Q

Cancer

A

A group of disorders in which certain cells lose their ability to control both the rate of mitosis and the number of divisions

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21
Q

Catabolic reactions

A

The breaking down of large molecules into smaller ones with the release of energy

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22
Q

Catalyst

A

A substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up itself in the reaction

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23
Q

Cellular energy

A

Energy stored in the bonds of biomolecules

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24
Q

Chromatin

A

Elongated chromosomes that are not dividing

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25
Q

Chromosomes

A

Coiled threads of DNA and protein that become visible in the nucleus at cell division

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26
Q

Closed circulatory system

A

Blood remains in a continuous system of blood vessels

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27
Q

Competition

A

Occurs when organisms actively struggle for a resource that is in short supply

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28
Q

Conservation

A

Management of existing natural resources to ensure the survival of organisms and their habitats

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29
Q

Contraception

A

The deliberate prevention of fertilisation or pregnancy

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30
Q

Cross-pollination

A

The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma on a different plant

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31
Q

Denatured enzyme

A

One that has lost its shape and can no longer carry out its function

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32
Q

Denitrification

A

The conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas

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33
Q

Diffusion

A

The spreading out of molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration

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34
Q

Diploid cell

A

Has two sets of chromosomes

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35
Q

Dispersal

A

The transfer of a seed or fruit away from the parent plant

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36
Q

DNA profile

A

A method of making a unique pattern of bands from the DNA of a person, which can then be used to compare with the DNA profile of another person

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37
Q

Dormancy

A

A resting period where seeds undergo no growth and have reduced cell activity or metabolism

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38
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment

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39
Q

Edaphic factors

A

Relate to soil

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40
Q

Endocrine gland

A

A ductless gland that produces hormones, which are released directly into the bloodstream

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41
Q

Enzymes

A

Biological catalyst

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42
Q

Enzyme specificity

A

Each enzyme will react with only one particular substrate

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43
Q

Ethics

A

Whether conduct is right or wrong

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44
Q

Eukaryotic cell

A

Have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

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45
Q

Evolution

A

The way in which living things change genetically to produce new forms of life over a long period of time

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46
Q

Excretion

A

The removal of waste products of metabolism from the body

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47
Q

Exocrine glands

A

Release their products into ducts or tubes

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48
Q

Fertilisation

A

The fusing of male and female gametes to form diploid zygote

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49
Q

Fossil

A

The remains of something that lived a long time ago

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50
Q

Gene

A

A section of DNA that contains the instructions for the formation of a protein

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51
Q

General defence system

A

Acts as a barrier to all pathogens attempting to gain entry to the human body

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52
Q

Genetic engineering

A

The artificial manipulation or alteration of genes

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53
Q

Genetic screening

A

Testing DNA for the presence or absence of a particular gene or an altered gene

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54
Q

Germination

A

The regrowth of the embryo after a period of dormancy if the environmental conditions are suitable

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55
Q

Germ layers

A

Basic layers of cells in the blastocyst from which all adult tissues and organs will form

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56
Q

Habitat

A

Where a plant or animal lives

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57
Q

Haploid cell

A

A cell that has one set ot chromosomes

58
Q

Helper T cells

A

Stimulate B cells and killer T cells

59
Q

Herbivores

A

Animals that feed mainly on plants e.g rabbits

60
Q

Heredity

A

The passing on of features from parents to offspring by means of genes

61
Q

Heterotrophic

A

An organiser that takes in food made by another organism

62
Q

Homeostasis

A

The ability of an organism to maintain a constant internal environment

63
Q

Hormone

A

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

64
Q

Hypothesis

A

An educated guess based on observations

65
Q

Immobilised enzymes

A

Enzymes that are fixed to each other or an inert material

66
Q

Immunisation

A

When we are injected with antibodies against a pathogen

67
Q

Immunity

A

The ability to resist infection

68
Q

Implantation

A

The embedding of the fertilised egg into the lining of the uterus

69
Q

Incomplete dominance

A

Both alleles are equally expressed in the heterozygous condition

70
Q

Infertility

A

The inability to produce offspring

71
Q

Insemination

A

The release of semen into the vagina, just outside the cervix

72
Q

Interneuron

A

Carries information between sensory and motor neurons

73
Q

Internode

A

Region on a stem between two nodes

74
Q

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

A

The fertilisation of eggs outside the body

75
Q

Joint

A

Where two or more bones meet

76
Q

Killer T cells

A

Destroy abnormal human body cells

77
Q

Lactation

A

The secretion of milk by the mammary glands (breasts) of the female

78
Q

Law/principle

A

Arises from a theory that has proven to be true when fully tested over a long period of time

79
Q

Law of independent assortment ( Mendel’s second law )

A

At gamete formation, either of a pair of alleles is equally likely to combine with either of another pair of alleles

80
Q

Law of segregation ( Mendel’s first law )

A

Inherited characteristics are controlled by pairs of alleles, these alleles separate at gamete formation, with only one member of the pair being found in each gamete

81
Q

Lenticels

A

Openings in the stems of plants that allow gas exchange

82
Q

Ligaments

A

Tissues that connect bone to bone

83
Q

Linkage

A

Genes are located on the same chromosome

84
Q

Meiosis

A

A form of cell division where the daughter nuclei contain half the number of chromosomes as the parent nucleus

85
Q

Menopause

A

When ovulation and menstruation stop happening in a female

86
Q

Menstrual cycle

A

A series of events that occurs every 28 days on average in the female if fertilisation has not taken place

87
Q

Menstruation

A

The discharge of the endometrium and the unfertilised egg

88
Q

Meristem

A

A plant tissue capable of meiosis

89
Q

Metabolism

A

The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism

90
Q

Micropropogation

A

The growth of plants from small pieces of tissue under sterile conditions on a specially selected medium

91
Q

Mitosis

A

Cell division where the parent cell divides to produce 2 daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes and identical to each other

92
Q

Motor neuron

A

Takes message from CNS to a muscle or gland

93
Q

Mutagens

A

Agents that cause mutation

94
Q

Mutation

A

A spontaneous change in the amount or structure of DNA

95
Q

Natural active immunity

A

When a pathogen enters the body in a normal way (i.e. when you get an infection)

96
Q

Natural passive immunity

A

When a child gets antibodies from its mother

97
Q

Natural selection

A

The process by which organisms with positive genetic adaptations will survive and reproduce to pass on their genes to following generations

98
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell

99
Q

Nutrition

A

The way an organism obtains and uses its food

100
Q

Obligate parasite

A

Can only take its food from a live host

Requires a host cell to reproduce

101
Q

Omnivores

A

Feed on plants and animals

102
Q

Open circulatory system

A

Blood leaves blood vessels and flows around the cells of the body before reentering blood vessels again

103
Q

Organ

A

A group of tissues working together to carry out one or more functions

104
Q

Orgasm

A

The physical and emotional sensations experienced at the peak of sexual excitement

105
Q

Osmosis

A

The movement of water molecules across a semi permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration

106
Q

Osteoblast

A

A bone forming cell

107
Q

Osteoclast

A

A bone digesting cell

108
Q

Ovulation

A

The release of an egg from the ovary

109
Q

Parasites

A

Organisms that take in food from a live host, usually causing harm

110
Q

Pathogen

A

Disease causing

111
Q

Pedigree

A

A diagram showing the genetic history of a group of related individuals

112
Q

Percentage cover

A

An estimate of the amount of ground in a quadrat covered by each species

113
Q

Peristalsis

A

The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the gut wall to move food along

114
Q

Pollination

A

Transfer of from the anther to the stigma of another plant of the same species

115
Q

Population

A

All members of the same species living in an area

116
Q

Portal system

A

A blood pathway that begins and ends in capillaries

117
Q

Prokaryotic cells

A

Do not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles

118
Q

Pulse

A

The alternate expansive and contraction of the arteries

119
Q

Reflex action

A

An automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus

120
Q

Refractory period

A

A short time span after a neutron has carried an impulse during which a stimulus fails to carry a response

121
Q

Response

A

The activity of a cell or organism as a result of a stimulus

122
Q

Saprophytes

A

Organisms that take in food from dead organic matter

123
Q

Secondary sexual characteristics

A

Features that distinguish males from females

124
Q

Self-pollination

A

The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma on the same plant

125
Q

Semen

A

A fluid containing sperm and seminal fluid

126
Q

Serum

A

Plasma from which the clotting proteins have been removed

127
Q

Sex linkage

A

Characteristic that is controlled by a gene on a sex chromosome

128
Q

Sexual reproduction

A

The union of two gametes

129
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding naturally to produce fertile offspring

130
Q

Sterile

A

All micro-organisms are destroyed

131
Q

Stimulus

A

Anything that causes a reaction in an organism or any of its parts

132
Q

Substrate

A

The substance with which an enzyme reacts

133
Q

Symbiosis

A

When two organisms of different species live in close association and at least one of them benefits

134
Q

Synapse

A

A region where two neurous come into close contact

135
Q

Taxonomy

A

Study of classification

136
Q

Tendons

A

Fibres that connect muscle to bone

137
Q

Theory

A

A hypothesis that has been supported by many experiments

138
Q

Threshold

A

The minimum stimulus needed to cause an impulse to be carried in a neuron

139
Q

Tissue culture

A

The growth of cells in or on an artificial sterile medium outside the body

140
Q

Tissue

A

A group of similar cells that are adapted to carry out the same function

Biology (34 decks)

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