SAT Biology Vocabulary Flashcards
Structures in grasshoppers for removal of the nitrogenous waste uric acid.
malpighian tubule
mitosis
Type of cell division for growth and repair that produces two genetically identical daughter cells with the same chromosome number as the parent cell. Consists of four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
dehydration synthesis
Also known as synthesis. Process by which molecules are bonded together to form a larger molecule with the removal of water.
Specialized region in the root of a plant for storage.
pith
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
(Also G3P or PGAL.) First sugar produced by photosynthesis.
introns
Intervening, noncoding sequences of DNA located between genes.
parallel evolution
Two related species that have made similar evolutionary adaptations after their divergence form a common ancestor.
Process by which ATP is produced as a special enzyme moves a phosphate from one molecule to ADP. How energy is produced during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.
substrate level phosphorylation
Myofilaments that make up the thick filaments in skeletal muscle.
myosin
The outermost layer of an embryo, which develops into skin and nervous system.
ectoderm
acoelomate
An animal that has no true coelom. Flatworms are an example.
anther
Male part of flower where sperm (pollen) is produced by meiosis. Sits atop the filament.
Part of the testes where sperm become mobile.
epididymis
electron transport chain
(Also ETC.) Consistes of a series of molecules within the crustal membrane of mitochondria that provides the energy to phosphorylate ADP into ATP during oxidative phosphorylation.
phenotype
The traits an organism expresses.
glycerol
Combines with fatty acids to make lipids.
Plant whose seed does not break into two parts. An example is corn.
monocotyledon
spermatogenesis
Formation of sperm by meiotic cell division.
Process by which cells continue to differentiate, producing organs from the three embryonic germ layers.
organogenesis
Pressure exerted when a plant cell sweats.
turgor pressure
An inherited disease characterized by the inability to break down the amino acid phenylalanine. Requires elimination of phenylalanine from diet, otherwise serious mental retardation will result.
Phenylketonuria
Type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that produces haploid (n) gametes.
meiosis
pathogen
Organism that causes disease.
Characteristic of proteins; a change in shape that stops the protein from functioning.
denature
vegetative propagation
Asexual reproduction in a plant where a piece of the root, stem, or leaf produces an entirely new plant genetically identical to the parent plant. Examples are grafting, cuttings, bulbs, and runners.
active transport
Movement of particles against a gradient, from low concentration to high concentration. This always requires the expenditure of energy.
Expressed sequences of DNA. DNA that codes for particular polypeptides.
exons
meristem tissue
Plant tissue that is always dividing. An example is cambium tissue.
Noncoding regions of DNA. Most of the human genome consists of noncoding regions.
junk
Incorporation of carbon dioxide into a sugar. It occurs during the cyclical process called the Calvin cycle.
carbon fixation
multiple alleles
When there are more than two allelic forms of a gene. For example in humans, there are more than 2 alleles for blood type. There are A, B, and O.
A degenerative inherited disease of the nervous system resulting in certain and early death. The gene that causes it is dominant.
Huntington’s disease
Cellular process of engulfing food and encapsulating it in a vacuole.
phagocytosis
An error that sometimes happens during meiosis in which homologous chromosomes fail to separate as they should.
nondisjunction
An organism’s genetic material.
genome
parasitism
Symbiotic relationship (+/-) where one organism, the parasite, benefits while the host is harmed.
A fragment of a chromosome becomes attached to a non homologous chromosome.
translocation
spliceosomes
Special molecules that assist in the editing of mRNA during RNA processing.
Extra embryonic membrane in bird’s egg. It exchanges respiratory gases to and from the embryo.
allantois
Symbiotic bacterium that lives in the nodules on roots of specific legumes and that fixes nitrogen gas from the air into a form of nitrogen the plant requires.
rhizobium
Sinuses. Cavities in the body of insects, like grasshoppers, for exchange of nutrients and wastes.
hemocoels
This type of natural selection eliminates the extremes and favors the more common intermediate forms.
stabilizing selection
adenosine triphosphate
(Also called ATP.) Special high-energy molecule that stores energy for immediate use in the cell.
Levels of organization in our system of classification: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Domain or kingdom includes the most different organism, while species includes the most similar organisms.
Taxon (Taxa, plural)
A small population, which is not representative of the larger population, breaks away from the larger one to colonize a new area. Rare alleles may be under- or overrepresented.
founder effect
Combines with fatty acids to make lipids.
glycerol
Anything that triggers an antibody response.
antigens
A normal process in which homologous chromatids exchange genetic material.
crossing-over
Carries messages directly from DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm during protein synthesis.
messenger RNA or mRNA
Symbiotic structures consisting of the plant’s roots intermingled with the hyphae (filaments) of a fungus, which greatly increase the quantity of nutrients that a plant can absorb.
mycorrhizae
Solutions containing equal concentrations of solute.
isotonic
ovule
The structure within the ovary of a flower where the ova (female gametophyte) are produced.
excited state
When an atom absorbs energy, its electrons move to a higher energy level.
Structure in birds, insects, and earthworms where mechanical digestion of food occurs.
gizzard
Cessation of the menstrual cycle.
menopause
The way in which DNA replicates itself.
semiconservative replication (The new DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.)
hydrophilic
Soluble in water. Hydrophilic substances are either polar or ionic.
Modification for dry environments. C-4 plants exhibit modified anatomy and biochemical pathways, which enable them to minimize excessive water loss and maximize sugar production.
C-4 photosynthesis
population
Group of individuals of one species living in one area that have the ability of interbreeding and interacting with each other.
homeotherm
Endotherm. Animals that maintain a consistent body temperature. Examples are birds, mammals, and some reptiles.
synapsis
The process in which homologous chromosomes pair up. This occurs during prophase I.
agonistic behavior
Aggressive behavior.
hermaphrodites
Organisms that contain both female and male sex organs.
anion
A Negative ION.
erythrocytes
Red blood cells.
translation
The process in which the DNA code is translated into an amino acid sequence and a polypeptide is formed. Occurs at the ribosome.
golgi apparatus
Cell organelle that packages and secretes substances for the cell.
polymerase chain reaction
A cell-free, automated technique by which a piece of DNA can be rapidly copied or amplified. Useful in genetic engineering.
bacterial transformation
The ability of bacteria alter their genetic makeup by up taking foreign DNA from another bacterial cell and incorporating it into their own. Discovered by the scientist named Griffith.
NAD
(Also nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.) Coenzyme that shuttles protons or electrons from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to the electron transport chain.
Animals that normally eat both meat and vegetables in their diet.
omnivores
secretin
Digestive hormone that stimulates the pancreas to release bicarbonate to neutralize acid in the duodenum.
A property of plant cells, swollen.
turgid
Intake and distribution of substances in cells or tissue.
transport
gel electrophoresis
Process that separates large molecules of DNA on the basis of their rate of movement through an agarose gel in an electric field.
Anthophyta or flowering plants.
angiosperms
sclerenchyma cells
Plant cells that have very thick primary and secondary cell walls fortified with lignin. Their function is purely support.
Coenzyme that shuttles protons and electrons from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to the electron transport chain.
flavin adenine dinucleotide or FAD
An error in the DNA in which the entire reading frame is altered. This can be caused by an insertion or deletion.
frameshift
Diffusion of water across a membrane.
osmosis
The sum total of all the life functions.
metabolism
grana
Membranes within chloroplasts that consist of thylakoid membranes and are the sites of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
Swollen part of pistil of a flower that contains the ovule, where one or more ova are produced.
ovary
microtubules
Thick hollow tubes that make up the cilia, flagella, and spindle fibers.
cystic fibrosis
The most common lethal genetic disease in the United States, 1 out of 25 Caucasians is a carrier. Characterized by build-up of extracellular fluid in the lungs and digestive tract.
chemiosmosis
This is how ATP is produced during oxidative phosphorylation. Protons only flow through the special ATP synthetase channels and transfer energy to molecules of ATP.
messenger RNA
(Also mRNA.) Carries messages directly from DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm during protein synthesis.
triploblastic
An animal consisting of three cell layers. This includes every animal more sophisticated than flatworms.
Extracted from bacteria; they cut DNA at specific recognition sequences or sites, such as GAATTC.
restriction enzymes
Lateral growth of a plant.
secondary growth
Chemicals that resist a change in pH.
buffers
hemocoels
Sinuses. Cavities in the body of insects, like grasshoppers, for exchange of nutrients and wastes.
convergent evolution
Type of evolution where unrelated species occupying the same environment and subjected to similar selective pressures show similar adaptations. The classic example is the whale (a mammal) and the fish.
peptidases
Enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids.
Family tree that indicates the phenotype of one trait being studied for every member of a family.
pedigree
mitochondrion
Cell organelle that produces ATP. Present in both plants and animals.
Special sites where replication begins in eukaryotic cells.
origins of replication
Millions of fingerlike projections that line the small intestine and absorb all nutrients that were previously released from digested food.
villus (villi, plural)
dipeptide
A molecule consisting of two amino acids.
The specific sites on DNA that restriction enzymes cut.
recognition sequences or recognition sites
Special high-energy molecule that stores energy for immediate use in the cell.
adenosine triphosphate or ATP
commensalism
Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and one is not affected by the other organism (+/o).
Outermost circle of leaves around a flower that are green and closely resemble ordinary leaves.
sepals
Consists of all the organisms living in one area.
community
net primary productivity
Gross primary productivity minus the energy used by the primary producers for respiration.
Chemical produced in the liver and released from the gallbladder that emulsifies fats. It is NOT an enzyme.
bile
reproduction
Ability to generate offspring.
Relaxation of the ventricles of the heart. Normal diastolic pressure is 120 mm Hg.
diastole
biological magnification
Organisms at higher trophic levels have a greater concentration of accumulated toxins stored in their bodies that those at lower trophic levels.
denature
Characteristic of proteins; a change in shape that stops the protein from functioning.
Organisms that obtain food from decaying organic matter.
saprobes
The branch of science that uses recombinant DNA techniques for practical purposes.
biotechnology or genetic engineering
CAM
(Also crassulacean acid metabolism.) A form of photosynthesis that is an adaptation for dry conditions. These plants keep their stomates closed during the day and open at night, the reverse of how most plants behave.
Where components of ribosomes are synthesized. This is a prominent region within the nucleus of a cell that is not dividing.
nucleolus
Openings in leaves to exchange photosynthetic gases; water vapor, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.
stomates
auxins
Growth hormones in plants that are responsible for phototropism and apical dominance, the preferential growth of a plant upward (toward the sun) rather than laterally.
System of taxonomy that we use today, developed by Carl von Linne. In this system, every organism has a two-part name, like Homo sapiens.
binomial nomenclature
In primitive plants, a protective jacket of cells in which gametes and zygotes develop and which prevents drying out.
gametangia
turgor pressure
Pressure exerted when a plant cell sweats.
Organisms that thrive in environments with high salt concentrations like Utah’s Great Salt Lake.
halophiles
ovary
Swollen part of pistil of a flower that contains the ovule, where one or more ova are produced.
digestion
Enzymatic breakdown, hydrolysis, of food so it is small enough to be assimilated into the body.
adventitious roots
Roots that arise above ground; examples are aerial roots and prop roots.
angiosperms
Anthophyta or flowering plants.
One type of organic molecule. It consists of one glycerol plus three fatty acids.
lipid
leucoplast
Type of plastid that stores starch.
Modified epithelium containing chloroplasts that control the opening and closing of the stomates by a change in shape.
guard cells
carrying capacity (K)
A limit to the number of individuals that can occupy one area at a particular time.
testes (testis, singular)
Male gonads; the site of sperm formation.
oogenesis
Formation of ova by meiotic cell division.
organogenesis
Process by which cells continue to differentiate, producing organs from the three embryonic germ layers.
sister chromatids
A replicated chromosome consists of two fo these, where one is an exact copy of the other.
crassulacean acid metabolism
(Also CAM.) A form of photosynthesis that is an adaptation for dry conditions. These plants keep their stomates closed during the day and open at night, the reverse of how most plants behave.
visible spectrum
Wavelengths of light that humans can see: 380 nm to 750 nm.
uterus
Where the blastula stage of the embryo implants and develops during the nine-month gestation if fertilization occurs.
Enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids.
peptidases
Amount of energy converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis per unit in an ecosystem.
gross primary productivity
Where the blastula stage of the embryo implants and develops during the nine-month gestation if fertilization occurs.
uterus
hemophilia
An inherited disease caused by the absence of one or more proteins necessary for normal blood clotting.
autonomic nervous system
Part of the nervous system that controls automatic functions, such as heart and breathing rate.
regulation
Ability to maintain internal stability, homeostasis.
symplast
System of transport within a plant consisting of openings in cell walls called plasmodesmata.
A phenomenon in bacteria. They have the ability to transform themselves by transferring genetic factors from one bacteria cell to another.
transformation
Sign stimuli exchanged between members of the same species.
releaser
Made of microtubules, these assist in cell division.
spindle fibers
Vertical growth of a plant.
primary growth
Structures located on the tips of a gametophyte plant that produces eggs.
archegonia
final transcript
The strand of mRNA that is sent to the ribosome after processing. The final transcript is much shorter than the initial transcript.
initial transcript
Strand of mRNA before it is processed. The initial transcript is much longer than the final transcript.
Procedure that analyzes the size, shape, and number of chromosomes.
karyotype
Rapid mitotic cell division of the zygote that begins immediately after fertilization.
cleavage
Published a treatise on population growth, disease, and famine in 1798 that influenced Darwin in the development on his theory of natural selection. Malthus stated that populations tend to grow exponentially, to overpopulate, and to exceed their resources.
Malthus
reabsorption
In the nephron of the kidneys, a process by which most of the water and solutes (glucose, amino acids, and vitamins) that initially entered the tubule during filtration are transported back into the capillaries and, thus, back to the body.
Condition of an electron when it is not excited. It is in its lowest energy level.
ground state
Specialized membranes that make up the grana in chloroplasts, the site of the light-dependent reactions.
thylakoids
Microscopic air sacs in the lung where diffusion of the respiratory gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide, occurs.
alveolus (alveoli, plural)
trichomes
Tiny, spikelike projections on some leaves for protection.
Cavities in the body for exchange of fluid. Called hemocoel in grasshoppers.
sinuses
thylakoids
Specialized membranes that make up the grana in chloroplasts, the site of the light-dependent reactions.
The structure within the ovary of a flower where the ova (female gametophyte) are produced.
ovule
cotyledon
Food for the growing embryo in a dicot seed. The cells that make up the cotyledon are triploid (3n).
Intervening, noncoding sequences of DNA located between genes.
introns
The heritable material, passed from parent to offspring.
deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA
A negative ion.
anion
Vascular cylinder in a plant root.
stele
photosynthetic pigments
Chemicals that absorb light energy and use it to carry out photosynthesis. Examples are chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and phycobilins.
DNA in the nucleus that is wrapped with special proteins called histones into a visible network.
chromatin network
leukocyte
White blood cells.
accurate
Correct; not in error
Proteins that play a key role in electron transport chains in mitochondria and chloroplasts.
cytochromes
Membrane that encloses the yolk of an egg; food for the growing embryo.
yolk sac
photolysis
The process that occurs during the light-dependent reactions in which water is ripped apart to provide electrons to replace those lost by chlorophyll a. Oxygen is released.
prions
Misfolded proteins that cause mad cow disease.
gastrin
Digestive hormone that stimulates sustained secretion of gastric juice from the stomach.
Taxon (Taxa, plural)
Levels of organization in our system of classification: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Domain or kingdom includes the most different organism, while species includes the most similar organisms.
Ability to generate offspring.
reproduction
villus (villi, plural)
Millions of fingerlike projections that line the small intestine and absorb all nutrients that were previously released from digested food.
molecule
The name given to two or more atoms joined by a covalent bond.
Male part of flower where sperm (pollen) is produced by meiosis. Sits atop the filament.
anther
Any change in a gene or chromosome.
mutation
Semiliquid portion of the cytoplasm.
cytosol
macroevolution
Refers to speciation, the formation of an entirely new species.
Coenzyme that shuttles protons or electrons from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to the electron transport chain.
NAD or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
diffusion
The flow of molecules from a higher concentration to a lower concentration. There are two types: simple and facilitated.
An animal with a false coelom.
pseudocoelomate (An example is a roundworm.)
Also known as the citric acid cycle; the first stage of the aerobic phase of cellular respiration. It occurs in the inner matrix of mitochondria.
Krebs cycle
Structure in birds, insects, and earthworms, among others, for temporary storage of food.
crop
Cell organelle that packages and secretes substances for the cell.
golgi apparatus
Food for the growing embryo in a dicot seed. The cells that make up the cotyledon are triploid (3n).
cotyledon
chitin
A polysaccharide that makes up the exoskeleton of insects and the cell walls of fungi.
The middle layer of an embryo that develops into blood, bones, and muscle.
mesoderm
Duct that carries sperm during ejaculation from the testes to the penis.
vas deferens
A Y-shaped region where the new strands of DNA are elongating during DNA replication.
replication fork
gametangia
In primitive plants, a protective jacket of cells in which gametes and zygotes develop and which prevents drying out.
Hormone released by the pancreas that lowers blood sugar.
insulin
polarized
The condition of an axon of a nerve when it is at rest, also known as resting potential. Sodium and potassium are pumped to opposite sides of the membrane.
epididymis
Part of the testes where sperm become mobile.
saprobes
Organisms that obtain food from decaying organic matter.
An intermolecular attraction between molecules that exert a strong pull on their electrons. This attraction keeps the two strands of a DNA molecule together.
hydrogen bonding
reduction
Gain of electrons.
lysosome
Cell organelle that consists of digestive (hydrolytic) enzymes and is the principal site of intracellular digestion in the cell.
Any abnormal condition of the chromosomes.
aneuploidy
Organisms that play a vital role in the ecosystem and that recycle dead organic mater. Examples are bacteria and fungi.
decomposer
Movement of cytoplasm around the cell.
cyclosis
territory
Area an organism defends and from which other members of the community are excluded.
polymers
Molecules that are chains of repeating units; proteins and DNA are examples.
genetic drift
Change in the gene pool due chance. Two examples are the bottleneck effect and the founder effect.
When an atom absorbs energy, its electrons move to a higher energy level.
excited state
sex-influenced trait
Inheritance is influenced by the sex of the individual carrying the trait.
Moving from place to place.
locomotion
The ability of bacteria alter their genetic makeup by up taking foreign DNA from another bacterial cell and incorporating it into their own. Discovered by the scientist named Griffith.
bacterial transformation
An animal that has a true coelom, or body cavity. All chordates are coelomates.
coelomate
redox
A combination of reduction and oxidation reactions.
endoplasmic reticulum
System of transport channels within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell.
polyploid
An organism with extra sets of chromosomes (3n, 4n, etc.) Commonly occurs in plants.
tRNA
(Also transfer RNA.) Shaped like a cloverleaf and carries amino acids to the mRNA at the ribosome as proteins are synthesized.
fragmentation
A single parent organism breaks into parts that regenerate into new individuals. Reproduction in sponges, planaria, and sea stars.
endoderm
The innermost layer of an embryo, which develops into the viscera or the digestive system.
A single parent organism breaks into parts that regenerate into new individuals. Reproduction in sponges, planaria, and sea stars.
fragmentation
phagocytosis
Cellular process of engulfing food and encapsulating it in a vacuole.
cleavage
Rapid mitotic cell division of the zygote that begins immediately after fertilization.
ionic bonds
Bonds between atoms that form by transferring electrons.
tracheids
Cells that, along with vessel elements, make up xylem.
The release of substances from a cell.
exocytosis
Correct; not in error
accurate
directional selection
Changing environmental conditions give rise to the type of natural selection. One phenotype replaces another in the gene pool.
The anaerobic phase of aerobic respiration. One molecule of glucose breaks apart into two molecules of pyruvate.
glycolysis
Radioactive substance that can be used to track a substance as it moves through an organism or through a metabolic pathway. They can be used research or as a diagnostic tool in medicine.
tracer
exocytosis
The release of substances from a cell.
nematocysts
Stingers found in cnidocytes of cnidarians.
Band of muscle at the top of the stomach that keeps acidified food in the stomach from backing up into the esophagus and burning it.
cardiac sphincter
geographic isolation
Separation by mountain ranges, canyons, rivers, lakes, or glaciers, may cause significant isolation.
cytokinesis
Division of the cytoplasm. In animal cells, a cleavage furrow forms down the middle of the cell as the cytoplasm pinches inward and the two daughter cells separate from each other. In plant cells, a cell plate from down the middle of the cell.
Specialized region in a plant root or stem for storage and support.
cortex
Structures within the villi that line the small intestine and that absorb fatty acids and glycerol into the lymphatic system.
lacteal
sieve tube elements
Make up phloem, along with companion cells.
Combining of small molecules or substances into larger, more complex ones.
synthesis
Refers to speciation, the formation of an entirely new species.
macroevolution
Includes all the organisms with which an organism might react in an ecosystem.
biotic factor
In the newest system of classification, all organisms are classified in one of three domains, which are further divided into kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
domain
centrioles
Responsible for division of the cytoplasm in animal cells; they are not present in plant cells. They consist of 9 triplets of microtubules arranged in a circle.
Plant whose seed easily breaks in two.
dicotyledon
Having two different alleles. Example: B/b.
heterozygous hybrid
gymnosperms
Confers or cone-bearing trees.
A molecule consisting of two amino acids.
dipeptide
lacteal
Structures within the villi that line the small intestine and that absorb fatty acids and glycerol into the lymphatic system.
One of the simplest forms of learning in which an animal comes to ignore a persistent stimulus so it can go about its business.
habituation
FAD
(Also flavin adenine dinucleotide.) Coenzyme that shuttles protons and electrons from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to the electron transport chain.
serum
Plasma without the clotting factors.
Organelles found only in plant cells; chloroplast is one example.
plastids
Throat.
pharynx
Traits carried on the X chromosome.
sex-linked
Amount of heat that must be absorbed in order for 1 gram of a substance to change its temperature by 1 degree Celsius.
specific heat
somatic cells
Body cells.
puberty
Onset of the menstrual cycle in girls and sperm production in boys.
Internal stability.
homeostasis
Also known as synthesis. Process by which molecules are bonded together to form a larger molecule with the removal of water.
dehydration synthesis
sign stimuli
Initiate a fixed action pattern.
heterozygous hybrid
Having two different alleles. Example: B/b.
Krebs cycle
Also known as the citric acid cycle; the first stage of the aerobic phase of cellular respiration. It occurs in the inner matrix of mitochondria.
Flap of cartilage in the back of the throat that directs food to the esophagus.
epiglottis
cyclosis
Movement of cytoplasm around the cell.
Loss of electrons.
oxidation
Make up phloem, along with companion cells.
sieve tube elements
Body cells.
somatic cells
hypothalamus
Major gland in the brain that is the bridge between the endocrine and nervous system.
Huntington’s disease
A degenerative inherited disease of the nervous system resulting in certain and early death. The gene that causes it is dominant.
Traditional-looking plant cell. Have a primary cell wall that is thin and flexible but lack a secondary cell wall.
parenchyma cells
semiconservative replication
The way in which DNA replicates itself. The new DNA molecule consists of one old strand and one new strand.
genome
An organism’s genetic material. The human genome consists of 3 billion base pairs of DNA and about 30,000 genes.
taxonomy
System by which we name and classify all organisms, living and extinct.
stabilizing selection
This type of natural selection eliminates the extremes and favors the more common intermediate forms.
incomplete dominance
An inheritance pattern characterized by blending of traits. An example is crossing an animal with black fur with one with white fur, producing offspring with gray fur.
Major gland in the brain that is the bridge between the endocrine and nervous system.
hypothalamus
Organisms that must take in all their nutrients.
heterotrophs
Initiate a fixed action pattern.
sign stimuli
flavin adenine dinucleotide
(Also FAD.) Coenzyme that shuttles protons and electrons from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to the electron transport chain.
insertion
A mutation where one nucleotide inserts itself into an existing strand. This mutation can cause a frameshift.
A polysaccharide that makes up the exoskeleton of insects and the cell walls of fungi.
chitin
Long, usually thin stalk of the pistil of a flower.
style
medusa
Upside-down bowl-shaped body type.
Area an organism defends and from which other members of the community are excluded.
territory
Class of nucleotides, includes thymine and cytosine.
pyrimidines
Special molecules that assist in the editing of mRNA during RNA processing.
spliceosomes
xylem
Vessels in plants that carry water and nutrients from the soil to the rest of the plant.
polysaccharides
Molecules that consist of many monosaccharides joined together. Starch and chitin are examples.
A measure of clarity of an image seen under a microscope.
resolution
budding
Splitting off of new individuals from existing ones. How reproduction occurs in hydra.
Ability to maintain internal stability, homeostasis.
regulation
chromatin network
DNA in the nucleus that is wrapped with special proteins called histones into a visible network.
founder effect
A small population, which is not representative of the larger population, breaks away from the larger one to colonize a new area. Rare alleles may be under- or overrepresented.
Part of the chloroplasts that holds the grana.
stroma
imprinting
Learning that occurs during a sensitive or critical period in the early life of an individual and is irreversible for the length of that period.
Increase in average temperature of Earth. It is due to the greenhouse effect.
global warming
genotype
The kind of genes an organism has.
cortex
Specialized region in a plant root or stem for storage and support.
The strand of mRNA that is sent to the ribosome after processing.
final transcript
ATP
(Also called adenosine triphosphate.) Special high-energy molecule that stores energy for immediate use in the cell.
Cell shrinking, occurs when a cell is in a hypertonic environment.
plasmolysis
sinoatrial (SA) node
Pacemaker of the heart.
Type of plastid that stores pigments that are responsible for the bright colors in fruit and flowers.
chromoplasts
The process in which the DNA code is translated into an amino acid sequence and a polypeptide is formed. Occurs at the ribosome.
translation
alcohol fermentation
The process by which certain cells convert pyretic acid or pyruvate from glycolysis into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide in the absence of oxygen.
The theory that organisms descended from a common ancestor gradually, over a long period of time, in a linear of branching fashion.
gradualism
stamen
Male part of the flower, consists of anther and filament.
antheridia
Structures located on the tips of a gametophyte plant and that produce sperm.
Elaborate molecule that sits within neuron membranes and pumps sodium and potassium ions across the membrane.
sodium-potassium pump
Amount of time it takes for a radioactive isotope to decay to half its mass.
half-life
classical conditioning
Type of associative learning. Pavlov trained dogs to associate the sound of a bell with food. The result of this conditioning was that dogs would salivate upon merely hearing the sound of the bell even though no food was present.
nephridia
Structure in earthworms for excretion of the nitrogen waste urea.
tropic hormones
Hormones that stimulate other glands to release their hormones.
greenhouse effect
Carbon dioxide and water vapor in the air absorb much of the infrared radiation reflecting off Earth, causing the average temperature on Earth to rise.
plasma
Liquid portion of the blood.
Eohippus
A transition fossil that demonstrates that the ancient horse is an ancestor of the modern horse, Equus.
Structures that are remnants of an earlier active structure, such as the appendix. They are evidence that animals have evolved.
vestigial structures
vessel elements
Structures that, along with tracheas, make up xylem.
Platelets.
thrombocytes
isotonic
Solutions containing equal concentrations of solute.
gradualism
The theory that organisms descended from a common ancestor gradually, over a long period of time, in a linear of branching fashion.
Special proteins that wrap around DNA, forming chromatin network.
histones
osmosis
Diffusion of water across a membrane.
Plant hormones that promote stem and leaf elongation.
gibberellins
Insoluble in water.
hydrophobic (Hydrophobic substances are non polar.)
conjugation
A primitive form of sexual reproduction where individuals exchange genetic material.
thermophiles
Organisms that thrive in very high temperatures, like in the hot springs in Yellowstone Park or in deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
companion cells
Make up phloem vessels, along with sieve tube elements.
cytosol
Semiliquid portion of the cytoplasm.
The diploid (2n) generation of a plant.
sporophyte
buffers
Chemicals that resist a change in pH.
A mutation where one nucleotide is substituted for a correct one in the DNA strand.
base-pair substitution
biotic potential
The maximum rate at which a population could increase under ideal conditions.
An inheritance pattern characterized by blending of traits. An example is crossing an animal with black fur with one with white fur, producing offspring with gray fur.
incomplete dominance
Single, large root.
taproot (Like a carrot.)
Symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit (+/+). An example is the bacteria that live in the human intestine and that produce vitamins.
mutualism
Band of muscle at the bottom of the stomach that keeps food in the stomach long enough to be digested.
pyloric sphincter
G3P
(Also glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate or PGAL.) First sugar produced by photosynthesis.
vacuoles
Organelles in cells whose function is storage.
A chromosomal fragment breaks off and reattaches to its original chromosome but in the reverse orientation.
inversion
sinuses
Cavities in the body for exchange of fluid. Called hemocoel in grasshoppers.
Phenylketonuria
An inherited disease characterized by the inability to break down the amino acid phenylalanine. Requires elimination of phenylalanine from diet, otherwise serious mental retardation will result.
