Term 3 Science Glossaries Flashcards
Antibiotic
A medicine that weakens or destroys microbes such as bacteria and fungi; antibiotics have no effect on viruses
Bacteria
Microscopic organisms forming one of the six kingdoms of living things; some types of bacteria are pathogens
Cell
the smallest functional unit of life; every cell in the body needs to obtain nutrients and energy, and get rid of wastes, to stay alive
Commensalism
A type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism neither benefits nor is harmed
Mutualism
A type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit
Parasitism
A type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed
Archaea
Microscopic organisms forming one of the six kingdoms of living things
Electron Microscope
A type of microscope that uses beams of electrons instead of light; electron microscopes are much more powerful than traditional light microscopes – for example, giving us detailed images of the inner structure of cells
Fungus
One of the six kingdoms of living things, including mushrooms, moulds and yeasts
Genetic Material
The material within a cell that determines how it functions
Genetics
The features of an organism that are inherited from its parents
Hormone
A substance produced by the body to control a particular function, such as hunger, sleep or growth
Immune System
The body system that defends the body against infections
Infection
The presence of a pathogen inside the body
Inflammation
The process in which an infected area of the body becomes red, swollen and hot
Metabolism
The chemical reactions that take place in cells to keep them alive
Metabolic Disease
A medical condition that disrupts the conversion of food into energy within cells
Anus
The opening at the end of the digestive tract through which wastes are expelled as faeces
Bowels
Another name for the large intestine
Diet
The types of food that a person or animal usually eats
Digestion
The process of breaking down complex foods into simple nutrients that the body can absorb
Digestive System
The body system that breaks down food and absorbs the nutrients it contains; includes the mouth, stomach, liver, intestines and other organs
Digestive Tract
The series of tubes and cavities that food passes through as it is broken down
DNA
The chemical that makes up the genetic material in most organisms; deoxyribonucleic acid
Faeces
Solid waste that remains after food is digested, expelled out of the body through the anus
Gall Bladder
A small pouch-like organ between the liver and the small intestine, where bile is stored
Gut Microbiome
The community of microbes living in the intestines; this is the largest part of the body’s total microbiome
Large Intestine
The part of the digestive tract between the small intestine and the anus; its main function is to absorb water from digested food and provide a home for bacteria that break down complex carbohydrates
Liver
A large organ located next to the stomach that has many important functions; produces bile and releases it into the small intestine to help digest fats
Microbe
A living thing that can only be seen with the help of a microscope
Microbiology
The scientific study of microbes
Microbiome
A population of microbes living in a particular environment, such as on and inside a person’s body
Micrometre
A unit of length, one millionth of a metre; 1,000,000 micrometres (μm) are equal to 1 metre (m)
Micro-organism
A living thing that can only be seen with the help of a microscope
Nutrient
A substance that the body needs to be healthy, usually obtained from food; some nutrients are provided by “friendly” microbes living in the gut
Oesophagus
A long muscular tube, the part of the digestive tract that connects the throat to the stomach
Organ
A part of the body that performs a particular role, such as the heart, liver or brain
Organism
A living thing; something that is made up of one or more cells, and typically can grow, reproduce, take in nutrients, get rid of wastes and respond to its environment
Pancreas
An organ behind the stomach that produces enzymes to help break down food in the small intestine
Parasite
An organism that benefits from another organism (its host) while causing it harm
Pathogen
A microscopic organism that can cause disease
Prebiotic
A substance that passes undigested through the stomach and small intestine but is broken down in the large intestine and provides fuel for the friendly bacteria living there
Probiotics
Live bacteria that are thought to help promote health by reducing the number of harmful bacteria in our guts
Protists
One of the six kingdoms of living things
Protozoa
Single-celled organisms belonging to the kingdom of protists, including amoebas
Resilient
Able to recover quickly from damage or difficulties
Regulate
To control
Scientific notation
A way of writing very large or very small numbers using powers; for example, 6500 would be written as 6.5 x 10^3