Spec Definitions

Question 1

Antigen

Answer 1

A molecule that triggers an immune response by lymphocytes.

Question 2

Antibody

Answer 2

A protein produced by lymphocytes in response to the presence of the appropriate antigen.

Question 3

Gene

Answer 3

Section of DNA on a chromosome coding for one or more polypeptides.

Question 4

Genome

Answer 4

Complete set of genes in a cell.

Question 5

Proteome

Answer 5

Full range of proteins that a cell is able to produce.

Question 6

Genetic Diversity

Answer 6

Number of different alleles of genes in a population.

Question 7

Species

Answer 7

A group of similar organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring.

Question 8

Species Richness

Answer 8

Measure of the number of different species in a community.

Question 9

Biomass

Answer 9

The total (dry) mass of living material, normally measured in a specific area over a given period of time.

Question 10

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Answer 10

Chemical store in plant biomass, in a given area or volume, in a given time.

Question 11

Net Primary Production (NPP)

Answer 11

Gross Primary Production (GPP) - Respiration (R).

Chemical energy store in plant biomass after respiratory losses to the environment have been taken into account.

Question 12

Net Production of Consumers (N)

Answer 12

Chemical energy store in indigested food (I) - (Lost in faeces (F) + Respiratory Loss (R) )

Question 13

Genotype

Answer 13

Genetic constitution of an organism.

Question 14

Phenotype

Answer 14

Expression of genetic constitution and its interaction with the environment.

Question 15

Population

Answer 15

A group of individuals of the same species that occupy the same habitat at the same time.

Question 16

Gene Pool

Answer 16

The total number of alleles in a particular population at a specific time.

Question 17

Allele Frequency

Answer 17

Number of times an allele occurs in a gene pool.

Question 18

Evolution

Answer 18

Change in the allele frequencies in a population.

Question 19

Ecosystem

Answer 19

All the living and nonliving components of a particular area.

Question 20

Habitat

Answer 20

The place where an organism normally lives and which is characterised by physical conditions and the type of other organisms present.

Question 21

Gene mutation

Answer 21

A change to one or more nucleotide bases in DNA resulting in a change in genotype which may be inherited.

Question 22

Transcription

Answer 22

Formation of mRNA molecules from the DNA that makes up a particular gene.

Question 23

Epigenetics

Answer 23

Environmental factors cause heritable changes in gene function without changing the base sequence of DNA.

Question 24

Tumour Suppressor Gene

Answer 24

A gene that maintains normal rates of cell division and prevents the development of tumours.