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Biology LC Revision (Mine) > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Immobilised enzyme

A

An enzyme that is attached or fixed to another enzyme or an inert material.

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2
Q

Bioprocessing

A

The use of enzyme-controlled reactions to produce a product

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3
Q

Bioreactor

A

A vessel in which biological reactions take place

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4
Q

Denatured enzyme

A

A denatured enzyme is an enzyme that has lost its shape and can no longer function

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5
Q

Selectively permeable membrane

A

Allows only certain molecules to pass through it

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6
Q

Diffusion

A

The spreading out of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

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7
Q

Osmosis

A

The movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration

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8
Q

Active site

A

The part of an enzyme that combines with the substrate

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9
Q

Turgor

A

The outward pressure of the cytoplasm and the vacuole against the cell wall

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10
Q

Plasmolysis

A

The loss of water from the cytoplasm and the movement of the cell membrane from the cell wall

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11
Q

Cell continuity

A

All cells develop from pre-existing cells

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12
Q

Chromosomes

A

Chromosomes are coiled threads of DNA (which forms genes) and protein. Role: They carry genes.

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13
Q

Gene

A

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

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14
Q

Haploid cell

A

A haploid cell has one set of chromosomes (n)

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15
Q

Diploid cell

A

A diploid cell had two sets of chromosomes (2n)

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16
Q

Homologous pair

A

A pair of two chromosomes of similar size with the same sequence of genes

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17
Q

Cell Cycle

A

The cell cycle describes the changes that take place in a cell during the period between one cell division and the next

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18
Q

Interphase

A

The phase in the cell cycle when the cell is not dividing. It is the longest phase in the cell.

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19
Q

Mitosis

A

A form of nuclear division in which one nucleus divides to form two nuclei, each containing the same number of chromosomes with identical genes

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20
Q

Cancer

A

Cancer occurs when cells lose the ability to control the rate of mitosis and the number of times mitosis takes place

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21
Q

Tumour

A

A tumour results when a cell (or group of cells) lose the ability to control the rate of mitosis

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22
Q

Metastasis

A

The movement of malignant cells

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23
Q

Meiosis

A

Meiosis is a form of nuclear division in which the four daughter nuclei contain half the chromosome number of the parent nucleus

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24
Q

Diploid number

A

The total number of chromosomes in a cell

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25
Q

Autotropism

A

An organism makes its own food

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26
Q

Photosynthetic organism

A

Uses light to make food

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27
Q

Chemosynthetic organism

A

Uses energy from chemical reactions to make food

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28
Q

Heterotropism

A

An organism takes in food made by other organisms

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29
Q

Saprophytic organism

A

Takes in food from dead organic matter

They allow for mineral recycling

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30
Q

Parasites

A

Organisms that take in food from a live host and usually cause harm

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31
Q

Pathogen

A

A disease-causing micro-organism

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32
Q

Antibiotics

A

Antibiotics are chemicals produced by micro-organisms that stop the growth of, or kill, other micro-organisms, without damaging human tissue

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33
Q

Single Cell Protein Production

A

The use of bacteria, yeasts, fungi and algae to produce edible forms of protein

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34
Q

Batch Culture

A

The growth of cells in a bioreactor over a short period of time and under ideal conditions until all the nutrients are used up

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35
Q

Continuous flow food processing

A

The growth of cells in a 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

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36
Q

Asepsis

A

Measures are taken to exclude unwanted micro-organisms

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37
Q

Sterile

A

All micro-organisms are destroyed

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38
Q

Venation

A

The pattern of veins in a leaf

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39
Q

Lignin

A

A strengthening material found in some plant cell walls

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40
Q

Transpiration

A

The loss (by evaporation) of water vapour from the leaves and other aerial parts of a plant

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41
Q

Cohesion

A

The sticking of similar molecules to each other

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42
Q

Adhesion

A

Adhesion occurs when different molecules stick together

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43
Q

Nutrient Medium

A

A nutrient medium is a material containing food used to grow micro-organisms

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44
Q

Phagocytosis

A

The way in which a cell ‘eats’ solid particles

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45
Q

Leukaemia

A

A form of cancer in which white blood cells are produced too rapidly and are immature

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46
Q

Anaemia

A

A condition where there is a lack of haemoglobin in the blood, causing a loss of energy and pale skin colour

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47
Q

Open circulatory system

A

Blood leaves blood vessels and flows around the cells of the animal’s body before re-entering blood vessels again
e.g. Crab

48
Q

Closed circulatory system

A

Blood remains in a continuous system of blood vessels

49
Q

Blood pressure

A

The force the blood exerts against the wall of a blood vessel

50
Q

Portal system

A

A portal system is a blood patheay that begins and ends in capillaries

51
Q

Pulse

A

The alternate expansion and contraction of the arteries.

The average pulse is 72 beats her minute.

52
Q

Digestion

A

Digestion is the physical and chemical breakdown of food to obtain the nutrients from food.

53
Q

Peristalsis

A

Peristalsis is a wave of muscular action in the walls of the alimentary canal that moves the contents along

54
Q

Balanced Diet

A

A balanced diet is a diet that contains all the necessary food types in the correct proportions for the needs of the body

55
Q

Mechanical Digestion

A

Takes place in the mouth by the chewing and grinding action of teeth on food

56
Q

Chemical digestion

A

The breakdown of food using enzymes

57
Q

Ingestion

A

The taking of food into the digestive system

58
Q

Absorption

A

Occurs when the digested food passes from the digestive system and enters into the blood

59
Q

Egestion

A

The removal of unabsorbed waste from the digestive system

60
Q

Physical digestion

A

The mechanical breakdown of food

61
Q

A vestigal organ

A

A vestigal organ has lost its former use

62
Q

Definition of pharynx

A

The pharynx is the throat

63
Q

Larynx

A

The voice box

64
Q

Excretion

A

Excretion is the removal of metabolic waste from the body

65
Q

Homeostasis

A

The maintenance of a constant internal environment in an organism

66
Q

Ectotherm

A

An ectotherm gains or loses heat from or to its external environment e.g. lizard

67
Q

Endotherm

A

An endotherm generates its own heat from metabolic reactions e.g. human

68
Q

Piloerection

A

This is when erector muscles contract, causing the hairs to stand up on the skin (goose bumps).
A layer of warm air is trapped close to the skin by the hairs, helping to reduce heat loss from the body.

69
Q

Vasoconstriction

A

Blood vessels in the skin contract when we are cold, reducing heat loss.

70
Q

Filtration (kidneys)

A

Filtration means that water and small molecules pass (under high pressure) from the blood into the nephron

71
Q

Reabsorption (kidneys)

A

Reabsorption means that molecules pass from the nephron back into the blood

72
Q

Active transport

A

Active transport means that energy (ATP) is used to move molecules, often from low concentrations to high concentrations

73
Q

Glomerular filtrate

A

Glomerular filtrate is a dilute solution of glucose, amino acids, urea, salts and water that have been forced out of the plasma

74
Q

Secretion

A

Secretion means that some substances pass from the blood into the nephron

75
Q

Symbiosis

A

Symbiosis occurs when two organisms of different species live in close association and at least one of them benefits

76
Q

Mutualism

A

A form of symbiosis where both organisms benefit from the association

77
Q

Trophic level

A

A trophic level is a feeding stage in a food chain

78
Q

Competition

A

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

79
Q

Intra-specific competition

A

Intra-specific competition takes place between members of the same species

80
Q

Inter-specific competition

A

Inter-specific competition takes place between members of different species

81
Q

Pyramid of Numbers

A

A pyramid of numbers represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain

82
Q

Contest competition

A

In contest competition, there is an active physical contest between two individual organisms

83
Q

Scramble competition

A

In scramble competition, all of the competing individuals get some of the resource

84
Q

Predation

A

Predation is the catching, killing and eating of another organism

85
Q

Predator

A

A predator is an organism that catches, kills and eats another organism

86
Q

Prey

A

The prey is the organism that is eaten by the predator

87
Q

Parasitism

A

Parasitism occurs when two organisms of different species live in close association where one organism benefits but the other is harmed

88
Q

Exoparasites

A

Live on the outside of the host

89
Q

Endoparasites

A

Live inside the host

90
Q

Ecology

A

The study of the interactions between living things and their environment

91
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the earth inhabited by living organisms

92
Q

Ecosystem

A

An ecosystem is a group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their environment as a unit

93
Q

Population

A

All the members of the same species in an area

94
Q

Community

A

All the different populations in an area

95
Q

Habitat

A

The place where an organism lives

96
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living factors

97
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living factors

98
Q

Edaphic factors

A

Factors that relate to soil

99
Q

Climatic factors

A

Factors that refer to weather over a long period of time

100
Q

Food chain

A

A food chain is a sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next member in the chain

101
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter

102
Q

Fauna

A

All the animals in an ecosystem

103
Q

Flora

A

All the plants in an ecosystem

104
Q

Producers

A

Organisms that carry out photosynthesis

105
Q

Detritus feeders

A

Organisms that feed on small pieces of dead organic matter

106
Q

Food web

A

A food web consists of two or more interlinked food chains

107
Q

Niche of an organism

A

The niche of an organism is the role it plays in the community

108
Q

Nutrient recycling

A

The way in which elements are exchanged between living and non-living components of an ecosystem

109
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

The conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia, ammonium or nitrate

110
Q

Nitrification

A

The conversion of ammonia and ammonium compounds to nitrite and then to nitrate

111
Q

Denitrification

A

The conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas

112
Q

Pollution

A

Pollution is any harmful addition to the environment

113
Q

Pollutant

A

A pollutant is a harmful addition to the environment

114
Q

Conservation

A

Conservation is the wise management of the existing natural resources in an ecosystem, in order to maintain a wide range of habitats and prevent the death and extinction of organisms

115
Q

Eutrophication

A

The addition of nutrients to fresh water. This leads to a lack of oxygen in the water.

Biology LC Revision (Mine) (6 decks)

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