Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

Biology > Keywords > Flashcards

Keywords Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Abiotic condition

A

A non-living feature of an ecosystem

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

Abundance

A

The number of individuals of one species in a particular area (population size)

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

Accurate result

A

A result that is really close to the true answer

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

Acetylation

A

Attachment of an acetyl group to something (e.g. histones)

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

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

A type of neurotransmitter that binds to cholinergic receptors

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

Acetyl Coenzyme A (AcetylCoA)

A

A type of coenzyme involved in respiration. It transfers acetate from one molecule to another

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

Acquired mutation

A

A mutation you develop during your lifetime

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

Actin

A

The thin myofilament protein in muscle fibres

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

Actin-myosin cross bridge

A

The bond formed when a myosin head binds to an actin filament

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

Activation energy

A

The energy that needs to be supplied before a chemical reaction will start

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

Activator

A

A transcription factor that increases the rate of transpiration

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

Active site

A

The part of an enzyme where a substrate molecule binds

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

Active transport

A

Movement of molecules and ions across plasma membranes, usually against a concentration gradient. Requires energy

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

Adaptation

A

The characteristic that increases an organism’s chance of survival and reproduction (e.g. abiotic resistance)

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

ADP (adenosine diphosphate)

A

A molecule made up of adenine, a ribose sugar and two phosphate groups. ATP is synthesised from ADP and a phosphate group.

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

Adrenaline

A

A hormone secreted from adrenal glands that has many effects, including increasing the blood glucose concentration

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

Affinity for oxygen

A

The tendency a molecule has to bind with oxygen

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

Agglutination

A

The clumping together of cells, e.g. pathogens, red blood cells

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

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

A

A condition caused by HIV, in which the immune system deteriorates and eventually fails

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

Allele

A

One or more alternative versions of the same gene

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

Allele frequency

A

How often an allele occurs in a population

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

Allopatric speciation

A

Where speciation occurs as a result of geographic isolation

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

Alveolus

A

A microscopic air sac in the lungs where gas exchange occurs

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

Amino acid

A

A monomer of proteins

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

Ammonification

A

The process in which nitrogen compounds from dead organisms or waste material are turned into ammonium compounds by saprobionts

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

Anomalous result

A

A measurement that falls outside the range of values you’d expect or any pattern you already have

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

Antibiotic

A

A medicine that is designed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria (or sometimes fungi)

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

Antibiotic resistance

A

When bacteria are able to survive in the presence of antibiotics

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

Antibody

A

A protein produced by B-cells in response to the presence of a pathogen

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

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

A

A hormone that regulates the water potential of the blood by controlling the permeability of the cells of the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct in the kidney

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

Antigen

A

A molecule (usually a protein) that can trigger an immune response

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

Antigenic variation

A

Where pathogens change their antigen

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

Antigen-presenting cell

A

An immune system ell that processes and presents antigens on its surface to activate other immune system cells

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

Antimicrobial substance

A

A substance designed to kill microorganisms (e.g. an antibiotic, antiseptic or disinfectant)

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

Artefact (microscope)

A

Something you can see on a microscope slide that isn’t part of the specimen you’re looking at (e.g. an air bubble)

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

Arteriole

A

A blood vessel that branches off an artery

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

Aseptic technique

A

A technique used to prevent the unwanted growth or transfer of microorganisms

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

Atheroma

A

Fibrous plaque caused by the build up and hardening of white blood cells, lipids and connective tissue

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

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

A

A molecule made up of adenine, a ribose sugar and three phosphate groups. It is the immediate source of energy in a cell

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

ATP Hydrolase

A

An enzyme which catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP into ADP and Pi

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

ATP-phosphocreatine (PCr) system

A

A system that generates ATP very quickly by phosphorylating ADP using a phosphate group from phosphocreatine

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

ATP synthase

A

An enzyme which catalyses the synthesis of ATP from ADP and Pi

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

Atrioventricular node (AVN)

A

A group of cells in the heart wall that is responsible for passing waves of electrical activity from the SAN on to the bundle of His

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

Atrioventricular valve (AV)

A

A valve in the heart linking the atria to the ventricles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Attachment protein (virus)

A

A protein on the surface of a virus that lets the virus cling onto a suitable host cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

A division of the peripheral nervous system that controls unconscious activities (e.g. heart rate)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Autoradiography

A

A technique that reveals the location of radioactive tracers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Autosomal linkage

A

When two genes are located on the same autosome and are inherited by the offspring together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Autosome

A

A chromosome that isn’t a sex chromosome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Base

A

A nitrogen-containing molecule that forms part of a DNA molecule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

B-cell

A

A type of white blood cell involved in the immune response. It produces antibodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Benedict’s test

A

A biochemical test for the presence of sugars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Benign tumour

A

A non-cancerous tumour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Bias

A

When someone intentionally, or unintentionally, favours a particular result

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Bile salt

A

A type of salt produced by the liver to aid the digestion of lipids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Binary fission

A

The process by which prokaryotic cells replicate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Binomial system

A

The system used in classification for naming organisms using a two-part Latin name

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Biodiversity

A

The variety of living organisms in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Biomass

A

The mass of living material in an organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Biotic condition

A

A living feature of an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

Biuret test

A

A biochemical test for the presence of polypeptides and proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

Bohr effect

A

An effect by which an increase of carbon dioxide in the blood results in a reduction of haemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Bundle of His

A

A group of muscle fibres in the heart, responsible for conducting waves of electrical activity from the AVN to the Purkyne tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

Cancer

A

A tumour that invades surrounding tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

Capillary bed

A

A network of capillaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

Capsid

A

The protein coat surrounding a virus’ genetic material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

Capsule (cell)

A

A layer of secreted slime surrounding some prokaryotic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

Cardiac cycle

A

An ongoing sequence of contraction and relaxation of the atria and ventricles that keeps blood continuously circulating the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

Cardiac output

A

The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute (measured in cm^3 per minute)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

Cardiomyocyte

A

A heart muscle cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

Cardiovascular disease

A

Any disease associated with the heart and blood vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
72
Q

Carrier

A

A person carrying an allele that is not expressed in their phenotype, but that can be passed on to their offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
73
Q

Carrier protein

A

A protein in a cell membrane that allows the facilitated diffusion of large molecules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
74
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum stable population size of a species that an ecosystem can support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
75
Q

Catalyst

A

A chemical that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up itself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
76
Q

Causal relationship

A

Where a change in one variable causes a change in the other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
77
Q

cDNA (complementary DNA)

A

A DNA copy of mRNA made using reverse transcriptase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
78
Q

Cell cycle

A

The process that all body cells from multicellular organisms use to grow and divide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
79
Q

Cell fractionation

A

A method that separates the organelles in a cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
80
Q

Cell-surface membrane

A

The membrane found on the surface of animal cells (and just inside the cell wall of other cells). Regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
81
Q

Cellular immune response

A

The immune response that involves T-cells and the other immune system cells they interact with (e.g. phagocytes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
82
Q

Cellulose

A

A polysaccharide made of long, unbranched chains of beta glucose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
83
Q

Cell wall

A

The outermost cell layer found in plant, algal and fungal cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
84
Q

Centromere

A

The point at which two strands of a chromosome are joined together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
85
Q

Channel protein

A

A protein that forms a pore in a cell membrane and allows the facilitated diffusion of charged particles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
86
Q

Chemical mediator

A

A chemical messenger that acts locally (i.e. on nearby cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
87
Q

Chemiosmosis

A

The process of electrons flowing down the electron transport chain and creating a proton gradient across a membrane to drive ATP synthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
88
Q

Chlorophyll

A

A photosynthetic pigment found in chloroplast. There are different types of this pigment (e.g. chlorophyll a)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
89
Q

Chloroplast

A

An organelle present in plant and algal cells where photosynthesis occurs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
90
Q

Choice chamber

A

A container with different compartments that can be used to investigate how animals respond to different environmental conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
91
Q

Cholesterol

A

A type of lipid present in cell membranes (except bacterial cell membranes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
92
Q

Cholinergic synapse

A

A synapse that uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
93
Q

Chromatids

A

One ‘arm’ of a double stranded chromosome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
94
Q

Chromosome

A

A thread like structure made up of one long DNA molecule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
95
Q

Chromosome non-disjunction

A

Failure of the chromosomes to separate properly during meiosis or mitosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
96
Q

Classification

A

The act of arranging organisms into groups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
97
Q

Climax community

A

The largest and most complex community of plants and animals an ecosystem can support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
98
Q

Codominant allele

A

An allele whose characteristic appears together with another allele in the phenotype because neither allele is recessive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
99
Q

Codon

A

A base triplet (three nucleotides) in DNA or mRNA that codes for an amino acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
100
Q

Coenzyme

A

A molecule that aids the function of an enzyme. They work by transferring a chemical group from one molecule to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
101
Q

Community

A

All the populations of different species in a habitat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
102
Q

Compensation point

A

The point at which the rate of photosynthesis in a plant exactly matches its rate of respiration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
103
Q

Competitive inhibitor

A

A molecule that has a similar shape to a substrate and blocks an enzyme’s active site

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
104
Q

Complementary base pairing

A

Hydrogen bonding between specific pairs of bases on opposing polynucleotide strands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
105
Q

Condensation reaction

A

A reaction that releases a molecule of water when it links molecules together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
106
Q

Cone (eye)

A

A photoreceptor cell found in the eye that gives information in colour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
107
Q

Conservation

A

The protection and management of species and habitats (ecosystems) in a sustainable way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
108
Q

Continuous data

A

Data that can take any value in a range

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
109
Q

Control group

A

A group in a study that is treated exactly the same as the experimental group, apart from the factor you’re investigating

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
110
Q

Control variable

A

A variable you keep constant throughout an experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
111
Q

Coordinator

A

Part of the nervous system (e.g. the CNS) which formulates an appropriate response to a stimulus before sending impulses to an effector

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
112
Q

Coronary artery

A

An artery supplying the heart muscle with blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
113
Q

Coronary heart disease

A

When the coronary arteries have lots of atheromas in them, which restricts blood flow to the heart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
114
Q

Correlation

A

A relationship between two variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
115
Q

Co-transporter

A

A type of carrier protein that binds two molecules at the same time

116
Q

Counter-current system (fish)

A

The system in which blood flows in one direction and water flows in the opposite direction across the gills of a fish

117
Q

Courtship behaviour

A

Behaviour carried out by organisms to attract a mate of the right species

118
Q

Crossing over

A

When chromatids twist around each other and bits of them swap over during meiosis

119
Q

Cytokinesis

A

The division of the cytoplasm during eukaryotic cell division

120
Q

Cytoplasm

A

A gel-like substance where most of the chemical reactions in a cell happen

121
Q

Cytotoxic T-cell

A

A T-cell that kills abnormal or foreign cells

122
Q

Dehydrogenase

A

An enzyme that transfers hydrogen and electrons from one molecule to another

123
Q

Denatured

A

The point at which an enzyme no longer functions as a catalyst

124
Q

Denitrification

A

The process in which nitrates in the soil are converted into nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria

125
Q

Deoxyribose

A

The pentose sugar in DNA

126
Q

Dependent variable

A

The variable you measure in an experiment

127
Q

Depolarisation

A

A decrease in the potential difference across a cell’s membrane, making it less negative (i.e. more positive) than the resting potential

128
Q

Type 1 Diabetes

A

A condition in which blood glucose concentration can’t be controlled properly because the body can’t produce enough insulin

129
Q

Type 2 Diabetes

A

A condition in which blood glucose concentration can’t be controlled properly because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin

130
Q

Differential reproductive success

A

The fact that in any population, some individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce than others

131
Q

Diffusion (simple)

A

Net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

132
Q

Digestion

A

The process of breaking down food into substances that can be used by the body

133
Q

Dihybrid inheritance

A

The inheritance of two characteristics, which are controlled by different genes

134
Q

Dipeptidase

A

An endopeptidase enzyme that hydrolyses bonds within a protein

135
Q

Dipeptide

A

A molecule formed from two amino acids

136
Q

Diploid

A

When a cell contains two copies of each chromosome

137
Q

Directional selection

A

Where individuals with alleles for a single extreme phenotype are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on their alleles

138
Q

Disaccharide

A

A molecule formed from two monosaccharides

139
Q

Discrete data

A

Numerical data that can only take certain values in a range

140
Q

Disruptive selection

A

Where individuals with alleles for phenotypes at the extreme ends of a range are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on their alleles

141
Q

Distribution

A

Where a particular species is within an area being investigated

142
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

The molecule in cells that stores genetic information

143
Q

DNA helicase

A

An enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between two polynucleotide DNA strands during DNA replication

144
Q

DNA polymerase

A

Enzyme that joins together the nucleotides on a new strand of DNA during DNA replication

145
Q

DNA probe

A

A short single strand of DNA that has a complementary base sequence to part of a target gene

146
Q

DNA sequencing

A

A technique used to determine the order of bases in a section of DNA

147
Q

Dominant allele

A

Allele whose characteristic appears in the phenotype even when there’s only one copy

148
Q

Double-helix

A

Structure of a DNA molecule - two separate strands wound together in a spiral

149
Q

Ecosystem

A

All the organisms living in a community plus all the non-living (abiotic) conditions in the area in which they live

150
Q

Effector

A

A cell that brings about a response to a stimulus, to produce an effect

151
Q

Electrochemical gradient

A

Concentration gradient of ions

152
Q

Electron transport chain

A

Chain of proteins down which excited electrons flow

153
Q

Emulsion test

A

A biochemical test for the presence of lipids

154
Q

Endopeptidase

A

Enzyme that hydrolyses peptide bonds within a protein

155
Q

Endoplasmic reticulum

A

System of membranes enclosing a fluid-filled space. Involved with lipid and protein processing

156
Q

Endothelium

A

Inner lining of a blood vessel

157
Q

Enzyme

A

Protein that speeds up the rate of chemical reactions

158
Q

Enzyme-substrate complex

A

Intermediate formed when a substrate molecule binds to the active site of an enzyme

159
Q

Epigenetic control (of gene expression)

A

Attachment or removal of chemical groups to or from DNA or histone proteins, which determines whether a gene is switched on or off

160
Q

Epistasis

A

When an allele of one gene masks (blocks) the expression of the alleles of other genes

161
Q

Eukaryote

A

Organism made up of a cell (or cells) containing a nucleus (e.g. animals, plants, algae and fungi)

162
Q

Eutrophication

A

The process whereby nutrients build up in water, leading to the growth of large quantities of algae. This results in death of plants, and decomposition of dead plant matter causes the oxygen content of the water to fall, killing aquatic organisms

163
Q

Evolution

A

The gradual change in a species over time or the change in allele frequency in a population over time

164
Q

Exchange organ

A

An organ (e.g. the lungs) specialised to exchange substances

165
Q

Exocytosis

A

Process by which a cell secretes substances using vesicles

166
Q

Exon

A

Section of DNA within a gene that codes for amino acids

167
Q

Exopeptidase

A

An enzyme that hydrolyses the peptide bonds at the end of proteins to remove single amino acids

168
Q

Expiration

A

Breathing out

169
Q

Extracellular digestion

A

When food is broken down (digested) outside of a cell. Saprobionts feed using extracellular digestion

170
Q

Facilitated diffusion

A

Diffusion of particles through carrier proteins or channel proteins in the plasma membrane

171
Q

FAD

A

Type of coenzyme involved in respiration. It transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another

172
Q

Fast twitch muscle fibre

A

Muscle fibre that contracts very quickly but also gets tired quickly

173
Q

Fertilisation

A

When a haploid sperm fuses with a haploid egg to generate a diploid zygote

174
Q

Flagellum

A

A long, hair-like structure that rotates to move a cell

175
Q

Fluid mosaic model

A

Model describing the arrangement of molecules in a cell membrane

176
Q

Foreign antigen

A

An antigen not normally found in the body

177
Q

Founder effect

A

Reduction in genetic diversity that occurs when just a few organisms from a population start a new colony

178
Q

Frameshift mutation

A

Mutation that changes the number of bases in the DNA code, causing a shift in the base triplets that follow, so that the triplet code is read in a different way

179
Q

Functional RNA

A

RNA molecules that aren’t mRNA (e.g. tRNA or RNA found in ribosomes)

180
Q

Gametes

A

A sex cell (e.g. sperm cell in males or egg cell in females)

181
Q

Gas exchange

A

The process of taking in gases that are needed for life processes and getting rid of waste gases

182
Q

Gas exchange surface

A

A boundary between the outside environment and the internal environment of an organism, over which gas exchange occurs

183
Q

Gel electrophoresis

A

A technique that allows DNA fragments to be separated on a gel according to size

184
Q

Gene

A

Section of DNA that codes for a protein (polypeptide) which results in a characteristic

185
Q

Gene expression

A

The transcription of a gene into mRNA and translation of the mRNA into a protein

186
Q

Gene pool

A

The complete range of alleles present in a population

187
Q

Generator potential

A

The change in potential difference across a cell membrane due to the presence of a stimulus

188
Q

Gene technology

A

Techniques that allow the study and alteration of genes and their functions

189
Q

Gene therapy

A

Possible treatment option for genetic disorders and some cancers that involves altering defective genes inside cells

190
Q

Genetic bottleneck

A

An event that causes a big reduction in a population and reduces genetic diversity

191
Q

Genetic code

A

The sequence of base triplets (codons) in mRNA which code for specific amino acids

192
Q

Genetic disorder

A

An inherited disorder caused by an abnormal gene or chromosome

193
Q

Genetic diversity

A

The number of different alleles of genes in a species or population

194
Q

Genetic drift

A

Process whereby an allele becomes more common in a population due to chance

195
Q

Genetic fingerprint

A

A DNA gel that shows the number of times repetitive, non-coding base sequences are repeated at different loci in an individual

196
Q

Genetic pedigree diagram

A

A diagram that shows how an inherited trait (characteristic) runs in a group of related individuals

197
Q

Genome

A

All the genetic material in an organism (or cell)

198
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic constitution of an organism (the different alleles an organism has)

199
Q

Geographical isolation

A

When a physical barrier (e.g. a flood) divides a population of a species, causing some individuals to become separated from a main population

200
Q

Germ line therapy

A

Gene therapy that involves altering the alleles in sex cells

201
Q

Gill

A

The respiratory organ in a fish

202
Q

Gill filament

A

A thin plate in a fish’s gill

203
Q

Glomerular filtrate

A

The fluid present in the nephrons of the kidney, following ultrafiltration of the blood at the Bowman’s capsule

204
Q

Glomerulus

A

A bundle of capillaries looped inside the Bowman’s capsule of a nephron. Where ultrafiltration takes place

205
Q

Glucagon

A

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that has an important role in raising blood glucose concentration

206
Q

Glucogenesis

A

The conversion of glycerol or amino acids to glucose, activated by glucagon

207
Q

Glycogen

A

A polysaccharide made from a long, very branched chain of alpha glucose

208
Q

Glycogenesis

A

The conversion of glucose to glycogen, activated by insulin

209
Q

Glycogenolysis

A

The conversion of glycogen to glucose, activated by glucagon

210
Q

Glycolipid

A

A lipid that has a carbohydrate attached

211
Q

Glycolysis

A

The first stage of aerobic respiration, glucose is converted into pyruvate

212
Q

Glycoprotein

A

A protein that has a carbohydrate attached

213
Q

Glycosidic bond

A

A bond formed between monosaccharides

214
Q

Golgi apparatus

A

A group of fluid-filled flattened sacs. Involved with processing and packaging lipids and proteins, making lysosomes

215
Q

Golgi vesicle

A

A small, fluid-filled sac produced by the Golgi apparatus, which stores and transports lipids and proteins

216
Q

Granum

A

A structure in chloroplasts formed from the stacking of thylakoid membranes

217
Q

Gravitropism (geotropism)

A

Growth of a plant in response to gravity

218
Q

Gross primary production (GPP)

A

Total amount of chemical energy converted from light energy by plants in a given area

219
Q

Guard cell

A

A cell that controls the opening and closing of stomata

220
Q

Habitat

A

The place where an organism lives within an ecosystem

221
Q

Haemoglobin

A

An oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells

222
Q

Haploid

A

When a cell contains one copy of each chromosome

223
Q

Hardy-Weinberg principle

A

A mathematical model that predicts that the frequency of alleles in a population won’t change from one generation to the next provided that certain conditions are met

224
Q

Helper T-cell

A

A T-cell that releases chemical signals to activate other immune system cells

225
Q

Herd immunity

A

Where unvaccinated people are protected because the occurrence of the disease is reduced by the number of people who are vaccinated

226
Q

Hereditary mutation

A

A mutation that’s inherited from your parents

227
Q

Heterozygous

A

When an organism carries two different alleles at the same locus

228
Q

Histone

A

A protein that DNA wraps around to form chromatin, which makes up chromosomes

229
Q

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

A

A virus that affects the human immune system

230
Q

Homeostasis

A

The maintenance of a stable internal environment

231
Q

Homologous pair

A

A pair of matching chromosomes, each chromosome contains the same genes but could have different alleles

232
Q

Homozygous

A

When an organism carries two copies of the same allele at the same locus

233
Q

Host cell

A

A cell inside which a virus replicates or a cell that is used to carry recombinant DNA

234
Q

Humoral immune response

A

The immune response that involves B-cells, clonal selection and the production of antibodies

235
Q

Hydrolysis

A

A chemical reaction that uses a water molecule when it breaks bonds between molecules

236
Q

Hydrophilic

A

Attracts water

237
Q

Hydrophobic

A

Repels water

238
Q

Hydrostatic pressure

A

The pressure exerted by a liquid

239
Q

Hyperpolarisation

A

An increase in the potential difference across a cell’s membrane, making it more negative than the resting potential

240
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A part of the brain that controls body temperature and monitors the water potential of the blood

241
Q

Immunity

A

The ability to respond quickly to an infection

242
Q

Immunological comparison

A

Using antibodies to determine how similar proteins are

243
Q

Independent segregation

A

The random division of maternal and paternal chromosomes into daughter cells during meiosis

244
Q

Independent variable

A

The variable you change in an experiment

245
Q

Index of diversity

A

A measure of biodiversity that takes into account the number of species present in a community and the abundance of each species

246
Q

Indoleacetic acid (IAA)

A

An auxin produced in the tips of shoots and roots in flowering plants

247
Q

Inspiration

A

Breathing in

248
Q

Inorganic ion

A

An ion that doesn’t usually contain carbon

249
Q

Insulin

A

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that has an important role in lowering blood glucose concentration

250
Q

Interphase

A

A period of the cell cycle in which the cell grows and the DNA is replicated

251
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Competition between organisms of different species for the same resources

252
Q

Intron

A

A section of DNA within a gene that does not code for amino acids

253
Q

In vitro cloning

A

When gene copies are made outside of a living organism using PCR

254
Q

In vivo cloning

A

When gene copies are made within a living organism as it grows and divides

255
Q

Iodine test

A

A biochemical test for the presence of starch

256
Q

iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cell

A

A type of pluripotent stem cell made in the lab by reprogramming a specialised adult body cell to express certain transcription factors

257
Q

Kinesis (kinetic response)

A

Non-directional movement in response to a stimulus

258
Q

Krebs cycle

A

The third stage of aerobic respiration. It is a series of oxidation-reduction reactions that produces reduced coenzymes and ATP

259
Q

Lamella (chloroplasts)

A

A thin, flat piece of thylakoid membrane found in chloroplasts

260
Q

Lamella (fish)

A

A tiny structure found on the gill filament in a fish

261
Q

Leaching

A

The process in which water-soluble compounds in the soil are washed away (e.g. by rain)

262
Q

Ligase

A

An enzyme that joins together the sticky ends of DNA fragments

263
Q

Light-dependent reaction

A

The first stage of photosynthesis. Light energy is absorbed by photosynthetic pigments and converted to ATP and reduced NADP

264
Q

Light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle)

A

The second stage of photosynthesis. ATP and reduced NADP are used to make glucose from carbon dioxide

265
Q

Limiting factor

A

A variable that can slow down the rate of a reaction

266
Q

Link reaction

A

The second stage of aerobic respiration where pyruvate is converted into acetyl coenzyme A

267
Q

Lipase

A

An enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of lipids

268
Q

Loading of oxygen (onto haemoglobin)

A

The action of an oxygen molecule binding with a haemoglobin molecule

269
Q

Locus

A

The position on a chromosome where a particular allele is found

270
Q

Loop of Henle

A

Part of the kidney nephron responsible for establishing the water potential gradient, which allows water to be reabsorbed by the kidney

271
Q

Lymphatic system

A

A network of tubes which transports excess tissue fluid back into the circulatory system

272
Q

Lysosome

A

A round organelle that contains digestive enzymes called lysozymes

273
Q

Magnification

A

How much bigger an image from a microscope is compared to the specimen

274
Q

Malignant tumour (cancer)

A

A tumour that invades and destroys surrounding tissues

275
Q

Margin of error

A

The range in which the true value of a measurement lies

276
Q

Marker gene

A

A gene that can be inserted into transformed cells in order to identify them

277
Q

Mark-release-recapture

A

A method used to estimate the population size of organisms

278
Q

Mass transport system

A

A system (e.g. the circulatory system) that carries substances to and from individual cells

279
Q

Medulla (oblongata)

A

A part of the brain that controls heart rate

280
Q

Meiosis

A

A type of cell division where a parent cell divides to create four genetically different haploid cells

281
Q

Memory cell

A

A white blood cell that remains in the body and remembers how to respond to infections

282
Q

Meristem

A

A growing region of a plant (e.g. the shoots and roots) which contain totipotent stem cells

283
Q

Mesophyll cell

A

A type of plant cell present in a leaf and the main gas exchange surface in a plant

284
Q

Metabolic rate

A

The rate at which energy is used by an organism

285
Q

Methylation

A

Attachment of a methyl group to something (e.g. DNA)

286
Q
A

Biology (19 decks)

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