Definitions Flashcards
0
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Observation
A
An unbiased, accurate report of an event
1
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Scientific method
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A process of investigation where problems are identified and their explanations are tested by carrying out experiments
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Hypothesis
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An educated guess based on observations
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Experiment
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An experiment is designed to test a hypothesis
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Data
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Consists of measurements, observations / information gathered during an experiment
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Replicate
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A repeat of an experiment
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Control
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A comparison used to provide a standard against which actual experiment can be judged
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Theory
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A hypothesis that has been supported by different experiments
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Principle / Law
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A theory that has shown to be valid against long-term testing
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Ethics
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Refers to whether issues are right or wrong
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Continuity of life
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Living things arise from other living things of the same type
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Metabolism
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Sum of all the chemical reactions in an organism
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Characteristics of life
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The common features share by living organisms
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Organisation
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Living things are composed of cells, tissues, organs and organ systems
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Nutrition
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Process by which an organism obtains and uses food
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Excretion
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Removal of waste products of metabolism
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Response
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The reaction of an organism to stimuli in their environment
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Reproduction
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The production of new individuals
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Biomolecules
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Molecules found in living things are composed of atoms where elements are bonded together in different ratios to form bio molecules such as carbohydrates
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Organic compounds
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Carbon atoms bonded together to make up most of the chemical compounds in living things
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Monosaccharides
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Single sugar molecules such as sucrose, lactose and maltose
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Polysaccharides
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Made up of many sugar molecules bonded together e.g. Starch, glycogen and cellulose
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Phospholipids
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Fat-like substances where one of the patty acids is replaced by a phosphate group
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Anabolic reactions
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Convert smaller molecules into larger ones- using energy e.g. Photosynthesis
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Catabolic reaction
Complex molecule is broken down into simpler molecules- releasing energy e.g. Respiration
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Ecology
The study of the relationships of living organisms wit gone another and with their environment
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Ecosystem
A community of organisms and their abiotic environment
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Biosphere
Part of the earth where life can occur
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Habitat
Place in the environment where an organism lives
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Population
All the members of the same species living in an area
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Community
Plants and animals sharing the resources of a particular habitat
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Niche
The functional role of an organism in an ecosystem e.g. How it feeds, what it eats, who eats it etc..
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Abiotic factors
Non-living factors
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Biotic factors
Living factors
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Climatic factors
Refers to weather over a long period of time
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Edaphic factors
Aspects of the soil that influence an ecosystem such as soil pH, soil type, moisture, air and mineral content of soil
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Producers
Autotrophs that carry out photosynthesis
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Consumers
Organisms that take food from another organism
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Primary consumer
Organisms which feed directly on producers e.g rabbits
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Secondary consumer
Carnivores that feed on primary consumers- fox
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Tertiary consumers
Carnivore that feed on secondary consumers - badger
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Food chain
The pathways along which energy is transferred in an ecosystem
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Food web
2 or more interlinked food chains
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Trophic level
A feeding stage/ energy level in a food chain
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Pyramid of numbers
Based on numbers of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain
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Nutrient recycling
The way in which elements ( carbon and nitrogen ) are exchanged between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem
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Nitrogen fixation
Conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia, ammonium or nitrate
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Nitrification
The ammonia is converted to nitrites and then to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria
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Denitrification
Conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas. It is carried out by denitrifying bacteria in the soil
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Pollution
Any harmful addition to the environment
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Pollutants
Substances that cause undesirable change to the environment
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Conservation
The wise management of our natural resources.
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Competition
Occurs when organisms actively struggle for a resource that is in short supply
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Intra-specific competition
This takes place between members of the same species eg buttercups compete with each other for light and minerals
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Inter-specific competition
Occurs between members of different species eg foxes and thrushes compete for earthworms
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Contest competition
Involves an active physical contest between 2 individuals eg robins actively defend a territory for feeding, nesting and reproduction
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Scramble competition
Involves all the competing organisms getting some of the resources e.g seedlings competing for space around parent plant
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Adaptations
Ways in which organisms as specialised either instruction behaviour to survive competition
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Predation
An organism that lives by killing and consuming other living things . Eg ladybirds kill greenfly
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Parasitism
Living organism that feeds on another living organism of a different species known as host , generally causing harm to the host.
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Ectoparasites/Exoparasites
Living on the body Eg greenfly on rose bushes
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Endoparasites
Live on the inside of the body of the host. Eg disease causing bacteria in the human body (Streptococcus)
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Symbiosis
Relationship between two organisms of different species that live in close association to the benefit of both organisms
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Saprophytes
Lives on dead organisms
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Quantitative study
A study to find out the number of organisms that exist in an ecosystem
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Qualitative study
A study to find out the type(s) of organisms that exist in an ecosystem
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Protoplasm
Is all the living parts of a cell
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Ultra structure
The fine detail of a cell as seen with an electron microscope
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Chromatin
Name given to chromosomes when they are not dividing
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Ribosomes
Very small organelles made of protein and RNA. Functional is to make proteins.
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Prokaryotic Cells
Cells do not have a nuclear membrane surrounding their DNA. Eg monera.
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Eukaryotic cells
These cells have a membrane bound nucleus and organelles.
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Tissue
A group of similar cells specialised to carry out the same function.
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Tissue culture
Cells grown on a sterile nutrient medium outside an organism
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Organ
A structure containing different tissues which has a specific function
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Organ system
A group of organs and tissues working together to carry out a specific function
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Catalyst
A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction (metabolism ) without itself taking part in the reaction
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Enzymes
Defined as biological catalysts, protein in nature. Enzymes speed up the reactions in the cell without being used up in the reaction
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Substrate
The substance an enzyme reacts with.
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Product
Is formed when an enzyme reacts with a substrate.
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Active site
The region of the enzyme that binds with the substrate.
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Denatured enzyme
An enzyme that has lost its shape and can no longer carry out its function
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Bio processing
Use of enzyme controlled reactions to produce a product
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Bioreactor
A vessel used to carry out enzyme controlled reactions
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Batch processing
Fixed amount of nutrients added at beginning and emptied at end of production
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Immobilised enzymes
Enzymes that are fixed/ attached to each other or to an inert material
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Phosphorylation
Addition of phosphorous to a molecule
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Protease
an enzyme which digests protein.
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Cell continuity
All cells develop from pre-existing cells
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Chromosome
Coiled threads of DNA and protein that become visible in the nucleus at cell division.
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Haploid cell
A cell which contains one of every chromosome type or pair
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Diploid cell
A cell which contains two of each type of chromosome (in homologous pairs)
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homologous pairs)
Consists of two chromosomes that each have genes for the same features at the same positions.
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Interphase
The phase in the cell cycle when the cell is not dividing
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Mitosis
A form of cell division that produces two daughter cells, genetically identical to each other and to the parent cell
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Meiosis
A form of cell division that produces four genetically different daughter cells, each of which has half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.
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Cancer
Group of disorders in which certain cells load their ability to control both the rate of mitosis and the number of times mitosis takes place.
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Selectively permeable
Cell membranes allow the passage of some materials but not others
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Diffusion
The movement of a substance from its area of higher concentration to its area of lower concentration. (Passive process) .
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Diffusion
The movement of a substance from its area of lower concentration to its area of higher concentration (opposite of diffusion)
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Osmosis
The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from its area of higher concentration to its area of lower concentration.
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Hypotonic sol
Has a low concentration of solutes and thus a higher concentration of water than another solution
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Hypertonic sol
Has a Higher concentration of solutes than and thus a lower concentration of water than another solution
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Isotonic sol
Has the same concentration of solutes and water as another solution.
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Turgor/Turgor pressure
Is the pressure of the cytoplasm and vacuole against the cell wall
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Phagocytosis
Process where large particles are engulfed by the cell and become incorporated into a vacuole within the cell.
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Species
A group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
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Variations within a species
In a group of successfully interbreeding organisms the individual members show different characteristics
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Heredity
The transmission of traits from parents to offspring
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Mutation
Is a spontaneous inheritable change in the structure of genetic material
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Mutagens
Agents that cause mutations
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Gene (point) mutations
Are changes in a single gene
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Chromosome mutations
Large changes in the number and structure of the chromosomes
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Evolution
Defined as a change of a population of 1 species that gives rise to one or more new species
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Natural selection
A mechanism of evolution whereby the best adapted individuals survive and produce more offspring. Or inheritable change within a population in response to change in the environment by natural selection over time.
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Gene
Part of a chromosome, made of DNA and controls a single characteristic or trait
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Gene expression
The process whereby genetic information, encoded in a gene, is transferred to its functional product
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DNA profiling
A process of making unique patterns in the non- coding regions of an individual's DNA. Or examining DNA for a pattern or a band to compare
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Genetic screening
Testing DNA to identify the presence or absence of particular genes.
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Transcription
Copying of a sequence of genetic bases from DNA into mRNA. ( making mRNA using DNA template)
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Translation
Conversion of a sequence of genetic bases on mRNA into a sequence of amino acids
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Chromosome
Found in the nucleus, made of DNA and protein and contain genes along their length
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Homologous chromosomes
Pairs of chromosomes that contain genes for the same characteristics at the same positions on the chromosomes
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Gametes
Haploid cells that are capable of fusion
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Allele
Different forms of the same gene. They occupy the same position ( locus) on homologous chromosomes
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Locus
The position of the gene on the chromosome
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Genotype
The genotype is the kind of genes present in the cell
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Phenotype
This is the expression of the gene in the environment. This is how genes affect the appearance of the organism
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Progeny
Refers to offspring that are produced
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Homozygous
When two alleles for a particular characteristic are the same.
Eg TT= tall and tt =short
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Heterozygous
When two alleles for a particular characteristic are different. Eg Tt= tall
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Dominant
A dominant allele is one that is always expressed in the phenotype. Generally written with a capital letter
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Recessive
A recessive allele is not expressed in the presence of the dominant allele, but only when both recessive alleles are present. Generally written with a small letter.incomplete dominance
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Incomplete dominance
The condition in which both alleles in the heterozygous condition are expressed in the phenotype, and an intermediate phenotype results
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Fertilisation
Fusion of a haploid sperm and an egg to form a diploid zygote
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The law of segregation
An individual has two genes for a character. These segregate at gamete formation. Only one of a pair of such genes can be carried in a single gamete. At fertilisation, the new organism will have two genes for each trait, one from each parent
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The law of independent assortment
When gametes are formed, each member of a pair of alleles can be inherited with any one from another allele pair
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Linkage
That genes are located on the same chromosome
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Sex linkage
A characteristic is controlled by a gene on an X/Y chromosome.
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Pedigree
A diagram showing the occurrence and appearance of a particular genetic trait from one generation to the next
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Genetic engineering
The artificial manipulation/alteration of genes
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DNA ligase
An enzyme that is used to stick DNA molecules from sources firmly together.
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Restriction enzymes
Enzymes that cut DNA at specific places
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Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Living things whose DNA has been altered artificially
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Autotrophs
Organisms which can make their own food fom simple inorganic substances. Eg green plants
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Photosynthetic
A type of nutrition where organisms make their own food using light energy. Eg purple sulphur bacteria
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Chemosynthetic
A type of nutrition where organisms make their own food using energy from chemical reactions. Eg. Nitrifying bacteria
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Heterotrophs
Organisms which cannot make their own food. Eg animals, fungi
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Saprophytes
Organisms that can take in food from dead organic matter. Eg bacteria of decay
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Parasites
Organisms that take in food from a live host and cause harm. Eg disease causing bacteria
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Pathogens
Micro organisms that cause disease
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Antibiotics
Chemicals produced by some bacteria and fungi that inhibit the growth or reproduction of other bacteria or fungi
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Mycology
Study of fungi
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Hypha
Tube/filament in a fungus
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Mycelium
Made up of network of fine tubular filaments (hyphae)
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Chitin
Fungus' have rigid cell walls that contain chitin
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Sporulation
Process of making spores
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Aseptic/asepsis
The exclusion of micro organisms
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Sterile
The absence of micro-organisms/free from micro organisms
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Osmoregulation
The control of water and salt balance in an organism
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Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria
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AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome )
A collection of disorders following infection by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV virus contains RNA.
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Meristem
Zone of active cell division in plants
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Dermal tissue
Single layer of cells covering the different parts of the plant. Eg epidermis
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Vascular tissue
The tissues involved in transport within the plant, xylem and phloem
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Ground tissue
All the other tissues within the plant
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Cuticle
Living cells often with a waxy layer covering over the outer surface
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Herbaceous
Plants do not contain wood/ lignin. Eg buttercup
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Woody
They possess woody tissue. Eg oak
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Transpiration
Loss of water vapour from the leaves and other aerial parts of the plant
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Lenticels
Endings in the stems of plants that allow gas exchange
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Stimulus
Anything that brings about a response in an organism
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Response
The effect the stimulus has on the organism activity. Plants respond to light by growing
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Tropism
The growth response of a plant to an environmental stimulus
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Phototropism
Growth of plants in response to light
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Geotropism
Growth of plants in response to gravity
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Thigmotropism
Growth of plants in response to touch
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Hydrotropism
Growth of plants in response to water
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Chemotropism
Growth of plants in response to chemicals
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Growth regulators
A chemical that controls growth in plants
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Phytoalexins
When a plant is infected by a micro org., the plant is able to produce stress proteins
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Asexual
Reproduction involves only one parent
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Sexual reproduction
Involves the Union of 2 sexual gametes
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Gametes
Haploid cells capable of fusion
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Stamens
Male parts of the flower
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Carpels
Female parts of the flower
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Pollination
The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma of a flower from the same species
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Self pollination
The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma on the same plant
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Cross pollination
The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma on a different plant of the same species
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Fertilisation
Union of the male and female gametes to form a diploid zygote
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Non endospermic seed
Has no endosperm when fully formed
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Endospermic seed
Contains some endosperm when fully formed
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Dispersal
The transfer of a seed/fruit away from the parent plant
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Dormancy
Resting period when seeds undergo no growth and have reduced cell activity/ metabolism
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Germination
The re growth of the embryo, after a period of dormancy, if the environmental conditions are suitable.
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Vegetative propagation
Asexual reproduction in plants Eg strawberry
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Clone
A group of cells/organisms that are genetically identical to each other and are produced by mitosis
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Runners
Horizontal stems that run/ grow above the ground and from whoh new plants grow
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Root tuber
A swollen underground root that remains dormant during winter and from which new plants ma grow
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Bulb
Modified bud
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Micro propagation
Involves growing large numbers of plant from small pieces of plant tissue (single cells)
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Tissue culture
The growth of tissues outside the organism on an artificial medium. Eg micro propagation of plants
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Leaf venation
The way in which veins in the leaf are arranged is called leaf venation
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Granulocytes
Formed in the red bone marrow. They are phagocytic(actively seek out and engulf bacteria)
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Serum
Is plasma with fibrinogen removed. This prevents plasma from clotting and serum can be stored by hospitals for transfusions
