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Z: GCSE Biology > Glossary of Key Words > Flashcards

Glossary of Key Words Flashcards

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1
Q

Adult stem cell

A

A cell able to differentiate, originating from an adult cell

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2
Q

Aerobic respiration

A

Respiration using oxygen; releases energy and produces carbon dioxide and water

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3
Q

Allele

A

An alternative form of a particular gene

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4
Q

Anaerobic respiration

A

The process of releasing energy from glucose in living cells in the absence of oxygen to produce a small amount of energy very quickly

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5
Q

Antagonistic pair

A

A pair of muscles that work together to create movement: when one contract, the other relaxes

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6
Q

Antibiotic

A

A type of antimicrobial that kills bacteria and fungi but not viruses

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7
Q

Antibody

A

Produced by white blood cells to inactivate disease-causing microorganisms

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8
Q

Antigen

A

A marker on the surface of a disease-causing microorganisms

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9
Q

Anitmicrobial

A

A chemical that kills bacteria, fungi and viruses

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10
Q

Artery

A

A muscular blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

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11
Q

Asexual reproduction

A

New offspring are reproduced that are identical to the parent

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12
Q

Atrium

A

One of the upper chambers of the heart, which receives blood coming back to the heart

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13
Q

Autotroph

A

An organism that makes its own food

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14
Q

Axon

A

The thread-like extension of a nerve cell

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15
Q

Bacteria

A

Single-celled microorganisms with no nucleus

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16
Q

Biodegradable

A

A material that decomposes naturally

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17
Q

Biodiversity

A

The range of species in an environment

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18
Q

Biomedical engineering

A

Using artificial devices to replace natural parts of an organism

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19
Q

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A

A measure of fitness

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20
Q

Bone

A

rigid connective tissue that makes up the human skeleton

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21
Q

Capillary

A

A blood vessel that connects arteries to veins; where the exchange of materials takes place

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22
Q

Carnivore

A

An organism that eats other animals; a secondary or tertiary consumer

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23
Q

Central nervous system

A

The brain and spinal cord; allows an organism to react to its surroundings and coordinates its responses

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24
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The part of the human brain most concerned with intelligence, memory, language and consciousness

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25
Q

Chlorophyll

A

The green pigment found in most plants; responsible for photosynthesis

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26
Q

Chromosome

A

A long molecule found in the nucleus of all cells containing DNA

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27
Q

Clinical trial

A

The process of testing a medical treatment or medicine on human volunteers for safety and effectiveness

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28
Q

Clone

A

An organism genetically identical to the parent

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29
Q

Closed loop system

A

An ecosystem where waste from one part is used by another

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30
Q

Combustion

A

Burning in oxygen/air

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31
Q

Common ancestor

A

The most recent individual from which all organisms in a group are directly descended

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32
Q

Conditioned reflex

A

A reflex action brought about by a learned stimulus

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33
Q

Cystic fibrosis

A

A recessive hereditary disorder that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system

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34
Q

Decomposer

A

An organism that breaks down dead materials and waste products

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35
Q

Deoxygenated

A

A substance low in oxygen

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36
Q

Desertification

A

Turning land to desert conditions

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37
Q

Diabetes

A

A medical condition where blood sugar levels are too high

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38
Q

Diagnosis

A

The decision reached regarding the identification of a condition

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39
Q

Diffusion

A

The net movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

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40
Q

Dislocation

A

The displacement of a part, especially the displacement of a bone at the joint

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41
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

Molecules that code for genetic information and make up chromosomes

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42
Q

Double circulation system

A

Blood returns to the heart twice on each circuit of the body

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43
Q

Ecosytem

A

A term that refers to a physical environment, including the conditions there and the organisms that live there

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44
Q

Effector

A

The part of the body, e.g. a muscle or a gland, which produces a response to a stimulus

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45
Q

Embryo

A

A ball of cells that will develop into a human/animal baby

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46
Q

Embryonic stem cell

A

A cell able to differentiate, originating from an embryo cell

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47
Q

Energy

A

The ability to do work; measured in joules (J).

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48
Q

Environmental variation

A

variation that occurs as a result of a certain factor in the surroundings

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49
Q

Enzyme

A

A protein that speeds up the rate of reaction in living organisms (a catalyst in living things)

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50
Q

Epidemiological study

A

A study of the factors affecting the health and illness of populations

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51
Q

Evolution

A

The gradual process of adaptation of a species over generations

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52
Q

Excretion

A

The removal of waste products of cell reactions

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53
Q

Extinction

A

The process by which groups of organisms die out

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54
Q

Fermenter

A

A controlled environment that maintains ideal conditions for microorganims to carry out fermentation

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55
Q

Fertilisation

A

the fusion of the male gamete to the female gamete

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56
Q

Fetus

A

An unborn human/animal baby

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57
Q

Food chain

A

A simple chain showing the feeding relationship between organisms in an ecosystem

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58
Q

Food web

A

Interlinked food chains in an ecosystem

59
Q

Fossil

A

Animal/plant remains preserved in rock

60
Q

Fungi

A

A group of organisms including mushrooms, toadstools and yeasts

61
Q

Gamete

A

A specialised sex cell formed by meiosis

62
Q

Gene

A

A small section of DNA of a chromosome that determines a particular characteristic

63
Q

Genetic modification

A

The change in the genetic make-up of an organism

64
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

Climate change/global warming due to pollution

65
Q

Herbivore

A

An organism that only eats plants, grass, etc; a primary consumer

66
Q

Heterotroph

A

An organism that is unable to make its own food; consumes other organisms

67
Q

Homeostatis

A

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

68
Q

Hormone

A

A regulatory substance that stimulates cells or tissues into action

69
Q

Huntington’s disease

A

A hereditary, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system

70
Q

Immune system

A

The body’s defence system against infections and diseases (consists of white blood cells and antibodies)

71
Q

Indicator organism

A

An organism that is only found in certain conditions

72
Q

Insulin

A

A hormone that causes sugar to be taken from blood

73
Q

Kingdom

A

A classification of a group of organisms with a small number of features in common

74
Q

Ligament

A

The tissue that connects a bone to a joint

75
Q

Meiosis

A

The cell division that forms daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell

76
Q

Memory

A

The ability to store and retrieve information

77
Q

Meristem

A

An area where unspecialised cells divide, producing plant growth

78
Q

Mitosis

A

The cell division that forms two daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell

79
Q

Muscle

A

Tissue that can contract and relax to produce movement

80
Q

Mutation

A

A spontaneous change in the genetic code of a cell

81
Q

Nanotechnology

A

The science of working with structures that are extremely small

82
Q

Natural immunity

A

To remain resistant to or be unaffected by a specific disease

83
Q

Natural selection

A

A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment

84
Q

Neuron

A

A specialised cell that transmits electrical messages or nerve impulses when stimulated

85
Q

Nucleus

A

The control centre of a cell, containing DNA.

86
Q

Organ

A

A collection of tissues to carry out a function

87
Q

Organelles

A

The different parts of a cell’s structure

88
Q

Osmosis

A

The movement of water from a dilute to a more concentrated solution across a partially permeable membrane

89
Q

Oxygenated

A

A substance rich in oxygen

90
Q

Oxyhaemoglobin

A

Haemoglobin with oxygen bound on

91
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The chemical process that takes place in green plants where water combines with carbon dioxide to produce glucose using light

92
Q

Phototropism

A

A plant’s response to light

93
Q

Pollution

A

Harmful additions to the environment

94
Q

Polymer

A

A large molecule made up from many similar units (monomers)

95
Q

Protein

A

Large organic compounds made of amino acids

96
Q

Quadrat

A

A defined area used to sample a location

97
Q

Receptor

A

The part of the nervous system that detects a stimulus

98
Q

Reflex action

A

A fast, automatic response

99
Q

Selective breeding

A

The production of new varieties of animals and plants by artificial selection

100
Q

Side effect

A

A condition caused by taking medication, e.g. headache, nausea

101
Q

Species

A

Similar organisms capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring

102
Q

Sprain

A

A stretch or tear in a ligament

103
Q

Stem cell

A

A cell of human embryo or adult bone marrow that has the ability to differentiate

104
Q

Stimulus

A

A change in an organism’s environment

105
Q

Sustainable

A

Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment

106
Q

Symptom

A

A visible or noticeable effect of a disease, illness or injury

107
Q

Synapse

A

A small gap between adjacent neurons

108
Q

Tendon

A

Tissue that connects a muscle to a bone

109
Q

Theory of evolution

A

The most likely scientific explanation, based on evidence, as to why organisms are the way they are

110
Q

Tissue

A

A collection of similar cells to carry out a function

111
Q

Transect

A

A fixed path across an area of study

112
Q

Valce

A

A device that ensures the flow of a liquid (e.g. blood) in the right direction

113
Q

Variation

A

Differences between individuals of the same species

114
Q

Vector

A

An organism (often a microorganism) used to transfer a gene, or genes, from one organism to another

115
Q

Vein

A

A blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart

116
Q

Ventricle

A

One of the lower chambers of the heart, which pumps blood out of the heart

117
Q

Vertebrate

A

An organism with an internal skeleton

118
Q

Virus

A

A tiny microorganism with a very simple structure that is reliant on using a cell’s machinery to reproduce

119
Q

White blood cell

A

A type of cell in blood that fights infection

120
Q

Zygote

A

A cell formed by the fusion of the nuclei of a male sex cell and a female sex cell (gametes)

121
Q

Active site (HT)

A

The place where the molecule fits into the enzyme

122
Q

Active transport (HT)

A

THe movement of substance against a concentration gradient

123
Q

ADH/Anti-diuretic hormone (HT)

A

A hormone that controls the concentration of urine

124
Q

Auxin (HT)

A

A plant hormone that affects the growth and development of a plant

125
Q

Bioaccumulation (HT)

A

The build-up of toxic materials inside living cells

126
Q

Denatured enzyme (HT)

A

An enzyme that has had its shape destroyed and can no longer catalyse reactions

127
Q

Denitrification (HT)

A

Taking nitrogen from materials

128
Q

Detritivore (HT)

A

An animal that feeds on dead materials

129
Q

Eutrophication (HT)

A

The process that leads to stagnation of fresh water

130
Q

Genotype (HT)

A

The genetic make-up of an organism

131
Q

Heterozygous (HT)

A

When a pair of alleles for a characteristic are different

132
Q

Homozygous (HT)

A

When a pair of alleles for a characteristic are the same

133
Q

Hypothalamus (HT)

A

The part of the brain responsible for maintaining homeostatis

134
Q

IVF/In vitro fertilisation (HT)

A

A technique in which egg cells are fertilised outside the female body

135
Q

mRNA/Messenger RNA (HT)

A

The molecule that carries the genetic code out of the nucleus

136
Q

Nitrogen fixing (HT)

A

The removal of nitrogen from the air

137
Q

Phenotype (HT)

A

The characteristics shown by an individual

138
Q

Pituitary gland (HT)

A

The small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones

139
Q

PGD/Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (HT)

A

Includes removing a cell from an embryo at an early stage of development and testing it for genetic disorders

140
Q

Sex-determining region Y (HT)

A

A sex-determining gene on the Y chromosome in humans and other primates

141
Q

Therapeutic cloning (HT)

A

Cloning a cell to make a healthy tissue to replace a damaged one

142
Q

Vasoconstriction (HT)

A

The narrowing of the blood vessels to decrease heat loss from the surface of the skin

143
Q

Vasodilation (HT)

A

The widening of the blood vessels to increase heat loss from the surface of the skin

Z: GCSE Biology (11 decks)

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