Glossary Flashcards
abiotic factors
Non living factors
Accuired variations
are not inherited but are learned or developed during life
Active immunity
the production of a persons own anitbodies in response to foreign antigens that enter the body
Active site
the part of an enzyme that combines with the substrate
Active transport
Energy (in the form of ATP) is used to move molecules, often against a concentration gradient, i.e from low concentrations to high concentrations
Adaption
any alteration that improves an organisms chances of survival and reproduction
Adhesion
occurs when different molecules stick together
Aerobic respiration
the controlled release of energy from food using oxygen
pg133
Alleles
Different (or alternative) forms of the same gene
pg191
All or nothing law
states that if the threshold is reached an impulse is carried, but if the threshold is not reached no impulse is carried.
pg378
Anabolic reactions
use energy to convert smaller molecules into larger molecules
pg24
Anaerobic respiration
The controlled release of energy from food without the use of oxygen
pg135
Antagonistic pair
two muscles that have opposite effects to each other
pg415
Antibiotics
chemicals produced by micro-organisms that stop the growth of, or kill, other micro-organisms without damaging human tissue
pg244
Antibody
a protein produced by white blood cells(called lymphocytes) in response to a specific antigen
pg423
anticodon
a sequence of three bases (a triplet) on tRNA that are complementary to a sequence of three bases on mRNA
pg182
Antigen
A foreign molecule that stimulates the production of antibodies
pg 423
Appendicular skeleton
composed of the limbs(arms and legs),the pectoral (shoulder) girdle and the pelvic (hip) girdle
pg 409
artificial active immunity
occurs when a pathogen is medically introduced into the body
pg 424
artificial passive immunity
occurs when a person is given an injection containing antibodies made by another organism
pg 425
Aseptic or asepsis
means that measures are taken to exclude unwanted micro-organisms
pg256
asexual reproduction
involves only one parent
pg14, 438
autotrophic (organism)
one that makes its own food
pg241
axial skeleton
consists of the skull,spine,ribs,and sternum (breastbone)
pg408
Bacteriophage or phage
a virus that infects bacteria
pg433
balanced diet
contains all the necessary food types in the correct proportions
pg239
batch culture
the growth of cells in a sealed container (or bioreactor) over a short period of time and under ideal conditions until all the nutrients are used up
pg246
biogenesis
living things arise from other living things of the same type. Also called continuity of life
pg11
biology
study of all living things
pg2
Biomolecules
chemicals that are made inside a living thing
pg16
bioprocessing
the use of enzyme controlled reactions to produce a product
pg105
bioreactor
a vessel or container in whhich living cells or their products are used to make a product
pg105, 247
biosphere
the part of the planet containing living organisms
pg32
biotechnology
the use of living things or their components (especially cells and enzymes) to mamufacture useful products or to carry out useful reactions
pg136
biotic factors
living factors
pg34
birth control
methods taken to limit the number of children that are born
pg482
blastocyst or blastula
a hollow ball of cells formed from a morula
pg479
Blood pressure
the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels (mainly the arteries).
pages 302, 308
Bud
a potential growth point that may develop into a shoot, a leaf or a flower.
page 267
Bulb
a modified bud.
page 461
Cancer
a group of disorders in which certain cells lose their ability to control both the rate of mitosis and the number of times mitosis takes place.
page 160
Carnivores
animals that feed mainly on animals.
Examples are dogs, cats and ladybirds.
page 320
Carpels
the female parts of the flower.
page 439
Catabolic reactions
release energy when a complex molecule is broken down to a simpler form.
page 24
Catalyst
a substance that speeds up a reaction, without itself being used up in the reaction.
page 103
Cell continuity
all cells develop from pre-existing cells.
page 155
Cell cycle
the changes that take place in a cell during the period between one cell division and the next.
page 157
Cellular energy
the energy stored in the bonds of biomolecules.
page 102
Centromere
the point at which the chromosomes are attached in a double-stranded chromosome.
page 162
Characteristics
characteristics traits or features that are inherited genetically.
page 170
Chemosynthesis
the production of food using energy released from chemical reactions.
page 241
chemotropism
a change in growth of a plant in response to chemicals.
page 365
Chromatin
the name given to chromosomes when they are elongated and not dividing,
page 87
Chromosomes
coiled threads of DNA (which forms genes) and protein that become visible in the nucleus at cell division.
page 155
Chromosome mutation
a large change in the structure or number of one or more chromosomes.
page 215
Classification
placing objects into groups based on similar characteristics.
page 212
Climatic factors
refer to weather over a long period of time.
page 34
Cloning
the production of identical copies of the bacterium (containing the target gene).
page 226
Closed circulatory system
blood remains in a continuous system of blood vessels.
page 300
Codon or Triplet
) a sequence of three bases in
DNA (or RNA) that act as a code for an amino acid.
page 172
Cohesion
the sticking of similar molecules to each other.
page 285
Community
all the different populations in an area.
page 33
Competition
occurs when organisms actively struggle for a resource that is in short supply.
page 51
Conclusion
a summary of the results of an experiment.
page 3
Conservation
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.
page 42
Consumers
organisms that take in food from another organism.
page 36
Contest competition
an active physical contest between two individual organisms.
page 52
Continuity of life/biogenesis
living things arise from other living things of the same type. This is also called biogenesis.
page 11
Continous flow
(food processing) the growth of cells in an open container (or 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.
page 247
Contraception
the deliberate prevention of fertilisation or pregnancy.
page 482
Control
used to provide a comparison (or standard) against which the actual experiment can be judged.
page 5
Copulation
the act of sexual intercourse.
page 475
Cotyledon
a seed leaf.
pages 272, 445
cross-pollination
the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma on a different plant.
page 443
Cutting
a portion of a plant that is removed from the parent plant and grown into a new, independent plant.
page 462
Cytoplasm
the living material in a cell outside the nucleus.
page 85
Data
the measurements, observations or information gathered from experiments.
page 3
Decomposers
organisms that feed on dead organic matter
pg 36
Denatured enxzyme
one that has lost its shape and can no longer carry out its function.
pages 104, 115
Denitrification
the conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas.
page 40
Detrius feeders
organisms that feed on small pieces of dead organic matter.
page 36
Diastole
when the heart chambers relax.
page 307
Diffusion
the spreading out of molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration.
page 147
Dihybrid cross
dihybrid cross involves the study of two characteristics.
page 197
Diploid cell
one that has two sets of chromosomes, i.e. it has two of each type of chromosome in the nucleus.
page 156
Dispersal
the transfer of a seed or fruit away from the parent plant.
page 447
DNA profile
DNA profile (also called a DNA or genetic fingerprint) 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.
page 174
Dominant
the allele that prevents the recessive allele from being expressed.
page 191
Dormancy
a resting period when seeds undergo no growth and have reduced cell activity or metabolism.
page 449
Double blind
both the investigator and the participant are unaware of the nature of the treatment the participant is receiving. page 6
Ecological niche
(of an organism) the functional role it plays in the community.
page 38
Ecology
the study of the interactions between living things (organisms) and between organisms and their environment.
page 32
Ecosystem
a group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their environment as a unit.
page 32
Ectotherms
gain or lose heat from or to their external environment.
page 349
Edaphic factors
edaphic factors relate to soil.
page 34
Ejaculation
the release of semen from the penis.
page 475
Endocrine gland
a ductless gland that produces hormones, which are released directly into the bloodstream.
page 398
Endospermic seed
contains some endosperm when fully formed.
page 445
Endotherms
generate their own heat from metabolic reactions.
page 349
Enzymes
proteins that speed up a reaction without being used up in the reaction.
page 103
Enzyme specificity
each enzyme will react with only one particular substrate.
page 115
Ethics
Relate to whether conduct is right or wrong
Eukaryotic cells
eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and cell organelles, all of which are enclosed by membranes.
page 89
Evolution
the way in which living things change genetically to produce new forms of life over long periods of time.
page 216
Excretion
the removal of waste products of metabolism from the body.
page 13
Exhalation
breathing out.
page 342
Exocrine glands
release their product into ducts or tubes.
page 398
Experiment
a test for a hypothesis.
pages 3, 4
Expression
expression the formation of the product by the organism with the recombinant DNA.
page 226
Facultative parasite
facultative parasite can get its food from a live or a dead host.
page 251
Fauna
fauna all the animals in an ecosystem. page 36
Fermentation
fermentation another name for anaerobic respiration.
page 135
Fertilisation
the union of the male and female gametes to form a diploid zygote.
pages 190, 444, 475
Filtration
water and small molecules pass (under high pressure) from the blood into the nephron.
page 355
Flora
all the plants in an ecosystem.
page 36
Food chain, Grazing food chain
) a sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next member in the chain.
page 36
Food web
food web two or more interlinked food chains.
page 37
Forensic medicine
the way in which medical knowledge is used in legal situations.
page 175
Fossil
the remains of something that lived a long time ago (or some indication of something that lived a long time ago).
page 218
Frequency
the chance of finding a named species with any one throw of a quadrat.
page 73
Fruit
a developed ovary. page 446
Gametes
haploid cells capable of fusion.
pages 190,
439
Ganglion (plural ganglia)
(plural: ganglia) a group of cell bodies located outside the CNS.
page 377
Gene
a section of DNA that contains the instructions for the formation of a protein.
pages 156, 169
Gene expression
the way in which the genetic information in a gene is decoded in the cell and used to make a protein.
page 169
Gene or Point Mutation
a change in a single gene.
page 215
General Defence systen
acts as a barrier to all pathogens attempting to gain entry to the human body.
page 420
Genetic Code
the sequence of bases in DNA that provide the instruction for a cell (using RNA) to form a protein.
page 172
Genetic engineering
the artificial manipulation or alteration of genes.
page 223
Genetic screening
testing DNA for the presence or absence of a particular gene or an altered gene.
page 177
Genotype
the genetic make-up of an organism, i.e. the genes that are present
page 191
Geotropism
(or gravitropism) the change in growth of a plant in response to gravity.
page 365
Germination
the regrowth of the embryo, after a period of dormancy, if the environmental conditions are suitable.
page 449
Germ Layers
basic layers of cells in the blastocyst from which all adult tissues and organs will form.
page 479