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IGCSE Biology > Definitions IGCSE Biology > Flashcards

Definitions IGCSE Biology Flashcards

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1
Q

movement

A

an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change in position or place

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2
Q

respiration

A

the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism

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3
Q

sensitivity

A

the ability to detect or sense stimuli in the internal or external environment and to make appropriate responses

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4
Q

growth

A

a permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both

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5
Q

reproduction

A

the processes that make more of the same kind of organism

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6
Q

excretion

A

removal from organisms of the waste products of metabolism (chemical reactions in cells including respiration), toxic materials and substances in excess of requirements

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7
Q

nutrition

A

taking in of materials for energy, growth and development; plants require light, carbon dioxide, water and ions; animals need organic compounds and ions and usually need water

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8
Q

species

A

a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring

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9
Q

binomial system (of naming species)

A

an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species

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10
Q

tissue

A

a group of cells with similar structures, working together to perform a shared function

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11
Q

organ

A

a structure made up of a group of tissues, working together to perform specific functions

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12
Q

organ system

A

a group of organs with related functions, working together to perform body functions

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13
Q

diffusion

A

the net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration of a region of their lower concentration down a concentration gradient, as a result of their random movement

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14
Q

osmosis

A

the net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential, through a partially permeable membrane

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15
Q

active transport

A

the movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration using energy from respiration

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16
Q

catalyst

A

a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not changed by the reaction

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17
Q

enzymes

A

proteins that function as biological catalysts

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18
Q

photosynthesis

A

the process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light

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19
Q

limiting factor

A

something present in the environment in such short supply that it restricts life processes

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20
Q

ingestion

A

the taking of substances into the body through the mouth

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21
Q

mechanical digestion

A

the breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules

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22
Q

chemical digestion

A

the breakdown of large, insoluble molecules into small. soluble molecules

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23
Q

absorption

A

the movement of small food molecules and ions through the wall of the intestine into the blood

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24
Q

assimilation

A

the movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where they are used, becoming part of the cells

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25
Q

egestion

A

the passing out of food that has not been digested or absorbed, as faeces, through the anus

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26
Q

transpiration

A

loss of water vapour from plant leaves by evaporation of water at the surfaces of mesophyll cells followed by diffusion of water vapour through the stomata

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27
Q

translocation

A

the movement of sucrose and amino acids from regions of productions (source- leaves) to regions of storage or regions where they are used in respiration or growth (sink)

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28
Q

pathogen

A

a disease causing organism

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29
Q

transmissible disease

A

a disease in which the pathogen can be passed from one host to another

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30
Q

active immunity

A

defence against a pathogen by antibody production in the body

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31
Q

aerobic respiration

A

the chemical reactions in cells that use oxygen to break down nutrient molecules to release energy

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32
Q

anaerobic respiration

A

the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release energy without using oxygen

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33
Q

deamination

A

the removal of the nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form urea

34
Q

synapse

A

a junction between two neurones

35
Q

sense organs

A

groups of receptor cells responding to specific stimuli: light, sound, touch, temperature and chemicals

36
Q

hormone

A

a chemical substances, produced by a gland and carried by the blood, which alters the activity of one or more specific target organs

37
Q

homeostasis

A

the maintenance of a constant internal environment

38
Q

gravitropism

A

a response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from gravity

39
Q

phototropism

A

a response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from the direction from which light is coming

40
Q

drug

A

any substances taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body

41
Q

asexual reproduction

A

a process resulting in the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent

42
Q

sexual reproduction

A

a process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of offspring that are genetically different from each other

43
Q

fertilisation

A

the fusion of gamete nuclei

44
Q

pollination

A

the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma

45
Q

self-pollination

A

the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower or different flower on the same plant

46
Q

cross-pollination

A

the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species

47
Q

sexually transmitted infection

A

an infection that is transmitted via body fluids through sexual contact

48
Q

inheritance

A

the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation

49
Q

chromosome

A

a thread-like structure of DNA, carrying genetic information in the form of genes

50
Q

gene

A

a length of DNA that codes for a protein

51
Q

allele

A

a version of a gene

52
Q

haploid nucleus

A

a nucleus containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes e.g in gametes

53
Q

diploid nucleus

A

a nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes e.g in body cells

54
Q

mitosis

A

nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells

55
Q

meiosis

A

reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid resulting in genetically different cells

56
Q

genotype

A

the genetic make-up of an organism in terms of the alleles present

57
Q

phenotype

A

the observable features of an organism

58
Q

homozygous

A

having two identical alleles of a particular gene

59
Q

heterozygous

A

having two different alleles of a particular gene

60
Q

dominant

A

an allele that is expressed if it is present

61
Q

recessive

A

an allele that is only expressed when there is no dominant allele of the gene present

62
Q

sex-linked characteristic

A

a characteristic in which the gene responsible is located on a sex chromosome and that this makes it more common in one sex than in the other

63
Q

variation

A

differences between individuals of the same species

64
Q

gene mutation

A

a change in the base sequence of DNA

65
Q

adaptive feature

A

the inherited functional features of an organism that increase its fitness

66
Q

fitness

A

the probability of an organism surviving and reproducing in the environment in which it is found

67
Q

process of adaptation

A

the process, resulting from natural selection, by which populations become more suited to their environment over many generations

68
Q

food chain

A

showing the transfer of energy from one organism to the next, beginning with a producer

69
Q

trophic level

A

the position of an organism in a food chain, food web, pyramid of numbers of pyramid or biomass

70
Q

food web

A

a network of interconnected food chains

71
Q

producer

A

an organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis

72
Q

consumer

A

an organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms

73
Q

herbivore

A

an animal that gets its energy by eating plants

74
Q

carnivore

A

an animal that gets it energy by eating other animals

75
Q

decomposer

A

an organism that gets its energy from dead or waste organic material

76
Q

population

A

a group of organisms of one species, living in the same area, at the same time

77
Q

community

A

all of the populations of different species in an ecosystem

78
Q

ecosystem

A

a unit containing the community of organisms and their environment, interacting together, e.g a decomposing log or a lake

79
Q

genetic engineering

A

changing the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing or inserting individual genes

80
Q

sustainable resource

A

one which is produced as rapidly as it is removed from the environment so that it does not run out

81
Q

sustainable development

A

development providing for the needs of an increasing human population without harming the environment

IGCSE Biology (1 decks)

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