Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AQA Biology GCSE > Glossary > Flashcards

Glossary Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards AP® Biology flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Acid rain

A

Rain that is acidic due to dissolved gases, such as sulfur dioxide, produced by the burning of fossil fuels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Active site

A

The site on an enzyme where the reactants bind.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Active transport

A

The movement of substances against a concentration gradient and/or across a cell membrane, using energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Adaption

A

Special feature that makes an organism particularly well suited to the environment where it lives.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Adult cell cloning

A

Process in which the nucleus of an adult cell of one animal is fused with an empty egg from another animal. The embryo which results is placed inside the uterus of a third animal to develop.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Aerobic respiration

A

Breaking down food using oxygen to release energy for the cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Agar

A

The nutrient jelly on which many microorganisms are cultured.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Algal cells

A

The cells of algae, single-celled or simple multi-cellular organisms, which can photosynthesise but are not plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Allele

A

A version of a particular gene.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Alveoli

A

The tiny air sacs in the lungs which increase the surface area for gaseous exchanges.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Amylase

A

The enzyme made in the salivary glands and the pancreas which speeds up the breakdown of starch into simple sugars.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Anaerobic respiration

A

Breaking down food without oxygen to release energy for the cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Anomalous result

A

Result that does not match the pattern seen in the other data collected or is well outside the range of other repeated readings. It should be retested and if necessary discarded.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Antibiotic

A

Drug that destroys bacteria inside the body without damaging human cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Antigen

A

The unique protein on the surface of a cell. It is recognised by the immune system as ‘self’ or ‘non-self’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Aorta

A

The main artery leaving the left ventricle carrying oxygenated blood to the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Artery

A

Blood vessel which carries blood away from the heart. It usually carries oxygenated blood and it has a pulse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Asexual budding

A

A form of asexual reproduction that where a complete new individual forms as a bud on the parent organism e.g. yeast, hydra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Asexual reproduction

A

Reproduction that involves only one individual with no fusing of gametes to produce the offspring. The offspring are identical to the parent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Atria

A

The small upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives blood from the body and the left atrium receives blood from the lungs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Auxin

A

A plant hormone that controls the responses of plants to light (phototrophism) and to gravity (gravitropism).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Bacteria

A

Single-celled microorganisms that can reproduce very rapidly. Many bacteria are useful (gut and decomposing bacteria) but some cause disease.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Biconcave disc

A

The shape of the red blood cells- a disc which is dimpled inwards on both sides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Bile

A

Yellowy-green liquid made in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. It is released into the small intestine and emulsifies fats.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Biodiversity

A

The number and variety of different organisms found in a specified area.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Biofuel

A

Fuel produced from biological material which is renewable and sustainable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Biogas

A

Methane produced by the fermentation of biological materials.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Biological detergent

A

Washing detergent that contains enzymes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Biomass

A

Biological material from living or recently living organisms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Blood contains

A

Blood cells, dissolved food, oxygen, waste products, mineral ions, hormones and other substances needed in the body or needing to be removed from the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Blood vessel

A

A tube which carries blood around the body. Arteries, veins, capillaries.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Breathing system

A

The stems involved in breathing: the ribs, intercostal muscles, diaphragm as well as the lungs and the tubes which bring air into the body from the outside.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Capillaries

A

The smallest blood vessels which run between individual cells. They have a wall which is only one cell thick.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Carbohydrase

A

Enzyme which speeds up the breakdown of carbohydrates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Carbon cycle

A

The cycling of carbon through the living and non-living world.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Carbon neutral

A

A process which uses as much carbon dioxide as it produces.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Carrier

A

Individual who is heterozygous for a faulty allele that causes a genetic disease in the homozygous form.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Catalyst

A

A substance which speeds up a chemical reaction. At the end of the reaction the catalyst remains chemically unchanged.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Cell membrane

A

The membrane around the contents of a cell which controls what moves in and out of the cell.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Cell wall

A

A rigid structure which surrounds the cells of living organisms apart from animals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Cellulose

A

A big carbohydrate molecule which makes up plant and algal cell walls.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Central nervous system CNS

A

The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord where information is processed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Chlorophyll

A

The green pigment contained in the chloroplasts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Chloroplasts

A

The organelles in which photosynthesis takes place.

45
Q

Chromosome

A

Thread-like structure carrying the genetic information found in the nucleus of a cell.

46
Q

Clone

A

Offspring produced by asexual reproduction which is identical to its parent organism.

47
Q

Combustion

A

Process of burning.

48
Q

Concentration gradient

A

The gradient between an area where a substance is at a high concentration and an area where it is at a low concentration.

49
Q

Coronary artery

A

An artery which carries oxygenated blood t the muscle of the heart.

50
Q

Culture medium

A

A substance containing the nutrients needed for microorganisms to grow.

51
Q

Cuticle

A

The waxy covering of a leaf (or an insect) which reduces water loss from the surface.

52
Q

Cystic fibrosis

A

A genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive and reproductive systems. It is inherited through a recessive allele.

53
Q

Cytoplasm

A

The water-based gel in which the organelles of all living cells are suspended.

54
Q

Decomposer

A

Microorganism that breaks down waste products and dead bodies.

55
Q

Denature

A

Change the shape of an enzyme so that it can no longer speed up a reaction.

56
Q

Detritus feeder

A

Microorganism that breaks down waste products and dead bodies.

57
Q

Removed during dialysis

A

Remove urea and excess mineral ions from the blood when the kidneys fail.

58
Q

Diaphragm

A

A strong sheet of muscle that separates the thorax from the digestive organs, used to change the volume of the chest during ventilation of the lungs.

59
Q

Differentiated

A

Specialised for a particular function.

60
Q

Diffusion

A

The net movement of articles of a gas or a solute from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration (along a concentration gradient).

61
Q

Digested

A

Broken down into small molecules by the digestive enzymes.

62
Q

Digestive juices

A

The mixture of enzymes and other chemicals produced by the digestive system.

63
Q

Digestive system

A

The organ system running from the mouth to the anus.

64
Q

Directly proportional

A

A relationship that, when drawn on a line graph, shows a positive linear relationship that crosses through the origin.

65
Q

Distillation

A

A process which separates the components of a mixture on the basis of their different boiling points.

66
Q

DNA

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the material of inheritance.

67
Q

DNA fingerprints

A

Patterns produced by analysing the DNA which can identify an individual.

68
Q

Dominant

A

The characteristic that will show up in the offspring even if only one of the alleles are inherited.

69
Q

Double circulation

A

The separate circulation of the blood from the heart to the lungs and then back to the heart and on to the body.

70
Q

Droplet infection

A

A way of spreading infectious diseases through the tiny droplets full of pathogens, which are expelled from your body when you cough, sneeze or talk.

71
Q

Ecology

A

The scientific study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment.

72
Q

Effector organs

A

Muscles and glands which respond to impulses from the nervous system.

73
Q

Element

A

A substance made up of only one type of atom. An atom cannot be broken down chemically into any simpler substance.

74
Q

Emulsifies

A

Breaks down into tiny droplets which will form an emulsion.

75
Q

Endemic

A

When a species evolves in isolation and is found in only one place in the world: it is said to be endemic to that area.

76
Q

Environmental isolation

A

This is when the climate changes in one area where an organism lives but not in others.

77
Q

Enzyme

A

Protein molecule which acts as a biological catalyst. It changes the rate of chemical reactions without being affected itself at the end of the reaction.

78
Q

Epidermal tissue

A

The tissue of the epidermis- the outer layer of an organism.

79
Q

Epithelial tissue

A

Tissue made up of relatively unspecialised cells which line the tubes and organs of the body.

80
Q

Eutrophication

A

The process by which excessive nutrients in water lead to very fast plant growth. When the plants die they are decomposed and this uses up a lot of oxygen so the water can no longer sustain animal life.

81
Q

Evaporation

A

The change of a liquid to a vapour at a temperature lower than its boiling point.

82
Q

Evolution

A

The process of slow change in living organisms over long periods of time as those best adapted to survive breed successfully.

83
Q

Evolutionary relationship

A

Model of the relationships between organisms, often based on DNA evidence, which suggests how long ago they evolved away from each other and how closely related they are in evolutionary terms.

84
Q

Exchange surface

A

A surface where materials are exchanged.

85
Q

Exothermic

A

Releases heat energy.

86
Q

Extremophile

A

Organisms which lives in environments that are very extreme, e.g. very high or very low temperatures, high salt levels or high pressures.

87
Q

Fair test

A

A fair test is one in which only the independent variable has been allowed to affect the dependent variable.

88
Q

Fatty acids

A

Building blocks of lipids.

89
Q

Fermentation

A

The reaction in which the enzymes in yeast turn glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

90
Q

Fertile

A

A fertile soil contains enough minerals e.g. nitrates, to supply the crop plant with all the nutrients needed for healthy growth.

91
Q

Fertilser

A

A substance provided for plants that supplies them with essential nutrients for healthy growth.

92
Q

Fossil fuel

A

Fuel obtained from long-dead biological material.

93
Q

FSH

A

Follicle stimulating hormone, a female hormone that stimulates the eggs to mature in the ovaries, and the ovaries to produce hormones, including oestrogen.

94
Q

Gamete

A

Sex cell which has half the chromosome number of an ordinary cell.

95
Q

Gaseous exchange

A

The exchange of gases, e.g. the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide which occurs between the air in the lungs and the blood.

96
Q

Gene

A

A short section of DNA carrying genetic information.

97
Q

Genetic disorder

A

A disease which is inherited.

98
Q

Genetic engineering/modification

A

A technique for changing the genetic information of a cell.

99
Q

Geographical isolation

A

This is when two populations become physically separated by a geological feature.

100
Q

Glandular tissue

A

The tissue which makes up the glands and secretes chemicals, e.g. enzymes, hormones.

101
Q

Global warming

A

Warming of the Earth due to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trapping infrared radiation from the surface.

102
Q

Glucagon

A

A hormone involved of blood sugar levels.

103
Q

Glucose

A

a simple sugar.

104
Q

Glycerol

A

The building block of lipids.

105
Q

Glycogen

A

Carbohydrate store in animals, including the muscles, liver and brain of the human body.

106
Q

Gravitropism

A

Response of a plant to the force of gravity controlled by auxin.

107
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

The trapping of infrared radiation from the Sun as a result of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse effect maintains the surface of the Earth at a temperature suitable for life.

108
Q

Greenhouse gas

A

Gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which absorb infrared radiated from the Earth, and result in warming up the atmosphere.

109
Q

Guard cells

A

The cells which surround stomata in the leaves of plants and control their opening and closing.

AQA Biology GCSE (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions