TExES #136 Flashcards
Science terminology
Radiation
The transfer of energy through waves and particles; emission and propagation of energy in the form of rays or waves without the requirement of a connective medium.
The sum of two or more vectors.
Resultant Vector
Barometer
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting.
Weathering
The process of disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through direct, or indirect contact with the atmosphere. Weathering occurs ‘in situ’, or ‘without movement’, and thus should not to be confused with erosion, which involves the movement and disintegration of rocks and minerals by processes such as water, wind, ice or gravity.
A fundamental principle in physics which states that every action will create a reverse, or opposite, but equal reaction.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. It was created, in 1812, by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs and is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science.
Moh’s Hardness Scale
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated.
The genetic identity of an individual that does not show as outward characteristics.
Genotype
Measurement of the amount of heat evolved or absorbed in chemical reaction, change of state, or formation of a solution.
Calorimetry
The amount of heat released per unit mass or unit volume of a substance when the substance is completely burned.
Heat of Combustion
Not dissolving in, absorbing, or mixing easily with water.
Hydrophobic
Heat of Formation
The increase in enthalpy resulting from the formation of 1 mole of a substance from its elements at constant pressure.
Diploid Cell
A cell that contains both sets of homologous chromosomes.
Frameshift Mutation
A genetic mutation that inserts or deletes a number of nucleotides that is not evenly divisible by three from a DNA sequence. Due to the triplet nature of gene expression by codons, the insertion or deletion can disrupt the reading frame, or the grouping of the codons, resulting in a completely different translation from the original. Frameshift mutations frequently result in severe genetic diseases.
Convection
The process by which large amounts of energy are transferred through the movement of gas and liquid.
Alpha Decay
The radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus accompanied by emission of an alpha particle.
Intramolecular Bonds
Forces which keep atoms held together in molecules and in solids, such as covalent, ionic, and aromatic bonds.
Holds that different strata contain particular types of fossilized flora and fauna, and that these fossil forms succeed each other in a specific and predictable order that can be identified over wide distances. This allows for any period of time in the history of the Earth to be identified by the fossils found in a particular stratum.
Faunal Succession Theory
Gradualism
A slow, steady change in a particular line of decent, rather than rapid change over a relatively short period of time.
The normal cycle of infection of a cell by a virus or bacteriophage, in which mature virus or phage particles are produced and the cell is then lysed.
Lytic Infection
The series of metabolic processes by which living cells produce energy through the oxidation of organic substances.
Cellular Respiration
A fundamental principle in physics which states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion, moving at the same velocity, unless an unbalanced force is applied to it.
Newton’s First Law of Motion
Describes the process whereby organisms not closely related independently acquire similar characteristics while evolving in separate and sometimes varying ecosystems.
Convergent Evolution
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic Number
A chemical similar to a single strand of DNA. In RNA, the letter U, which stands for uracil, is substituted for T in the genetic code. RNA delivers DNA’s genetic message to the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made.
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Any of the aspects or appearances presented by the Moon as seen from Earth, determined by the portion of the Moon that is visibly illuminated by the Sun.
Lunar Phase
Hydrosphere
Describes the collective mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion
A fundamental principle in physics which states that every action will create a reverse, or opposite, but equal reaction.
A genetic mutation that inserts or deletes a number of nucleotides that is not evenly divisible by three from a DNA sequence. Due to the triplet nature of gene expression by codons, the insertion or deletion can disrupt the reading frame, or the grouping of the codons, resulting in a completely different translation from the original. Frameshift mutations frequently result in severe genetic diseases.
Frameshift Mutation
A systematically arranged collection of computer data, structured so that it can be automatically retrieved or manipulated.
Database Software
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA)
The chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms. All known cellular life and some viruses have DNA. DNA is a long polymer of nucleotides (a polynucleotide) that encodes the sequence of amino acid residues in proteins, using the genetic code: each amino acid is represented by three consecutive nucleotides (a triplet code).
A process whereby over time one species evolves into a different species (anagenesis) or whereby one species diverges to become two or more species (cladogenesis).
Speciation
A double layer of regularly arranged phospholipid molecules that is widely accepted as forming the basic structure of cell membranes and other biological membranes.
Lipid Bi-layer
Third Harmonic
A sine wave having three times the frequency of the fundamental wave.
Mutualism
Any interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.
A specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into direct current.
Photovoltaic Cell
A chemical compound nucleotide found in all living organisms that releases energy for cellular reactions when it converts to ADP.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
Scientific Method
A systematic process of learning that includes observations, stating the problem, hypothesizing, experimentation, gathering and analyzing data, and stating a conclusion.
Fossil Fuels
Hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. A general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years.
Photovoltaic Cell
A specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into direct current.
Heat Capacity
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one mole or one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius without change of phase.
Faunal Succession Theory
Holds that different strata contain particular types of fossilized flora and fauna, and that these fossil forms succeed each other in a specific and predictable order that can be identified over wide distances. This allows for any period of time in the history of the Earth to be identified by the fossils found in a particular stratum.
Waves in which the disturbance takes place in the direction of propagation.
Compression Wave
The outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus, also called the capsid.
Protein Coat
Specific Heat
The amount of heat, measured in calories, required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one Celsius degree. Also known as heat capacity.
Cellular Respiration
The series of metabolic processes by which living cells produce energy through the oxidation of organic substances.
Conduction
The transfer of energy that occurs when a body of high temperature transfers its heat through a connecting medium to one of lower temperature.
Conservation of Mass
A fundamental thermodynamics principle which states that reactions and interactions which change the properties of substances leave their total masses unchanged.
The association between two organisms of different species in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected.
Commensalism
Parasitism
Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
Also known as the fundamental frequency; has two nodes at each end and one antinode in the middle, forming a single hill or trough.
First Harmonic
The amount of heat, measured in calories, required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one Celsius degree. Also known as heat capacity.
Specific Heat
Gamma Decay
A radioactive process in which an atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting a gamma ray without a change in its atomic or mass numbers.
Protein Coat
The outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus, also called the capsid.
Second Harmonic
A sine wave having two times the frequency of the fundamental wave.
Cephalization
In humans the concentration of nervous tissues at one end of the human embryo to produce the brain and head is called cephalization.
The combining of the nuclei of small atoms to form the nuclei of larger ones, with a resulting release of large quantities of energy; the process that makes the sun shine, and hydrogen bomb explode.
Nuclear Fusion
Mitochondrial Membrane
The membrane surrounding the mitochondrion, containing proteins having ATP synthase, which make ATP in the mitochondrial matrix.
Also known as sedimentation, is the geological process whereby material is added to a landform. This is the process by which wind, water or ice create a sediment deposit, through the laying down of granular material that has been eroded and transported from another geographical location.
Deposition
The opening up of the capillaries of the skin in response to warm temperatures, thus increasing the flow of blood to the surface of the body.
Vasodilation
Heat of Combustion
The amount of heat released per unit mass or unit volume of a substance when the substance is completely burned.
Cretaceous Period
From 135 million to 63 million years ago marked by the end of the age of reptiles and the appearance of modern insects and flowering plants.
Describes an evolutionary pattern marked by long stable periods that are interrupted by rapid changes, and involving many lines of descent.
Punctuated Equilibrium
A computer program that displays numerical data in cells in a simulated accountant’s worksheet of rows and columns in which hidden formulas can perform calculations on the visible data. Changing the contents of one cell can cause automatic recalculation of other cells.
Spreadsheet Software
Describes a process by which a population of a species becomes geographically isolated from the remainder, and over time evolves characteristics different from the parent population (due to natural selection).
Geographical Isolation
Homeostasis
The ability of a living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a stable equilibrium; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a constant temperature.
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting.
Barometer
The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about September 22.
Fall Equinox
Eukaryote
Any organism with one or more cells that have visible nuclei and organelles. The group contains all living and fossil cellular organisms except bacteria and cyanobacteria.
Word Processing Software
An application that provides the user with tools needed to write and edit and format text and to send it to a printer.
Primary Phases
A term used to categorize phases consisting of the new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and last quarter.
A cell that contains both sets of homologous chromosomes.
Diploid Cell
Compression Wave
Waves in which the disturbance takes place in the direction of propagation.
Lipid Bi-layer
A double layer of regularly arranged phospholipid molecules that is widely accepted as forming the basic structure of cell membranes and other biological membranes.
The transfer of energy through waves and particles; emission and propagation of energy in the form of rays or waves without the requirement of a connective medium.
Radiation
Any interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.
Mutualism
Wavelength
The distance (measured in the direction of propagation) between two points in the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave.
The force one surface exerts on another surface. It is perpendicular to the surface of contact.
Normal Force
Ionization Constant
Analog of the dissociation constant, where k = [H+][A-]/[HA]; used for the application of the law of mass action to ionization; in the equation HA represents the acid, such as acetic acid.
First Harmonic
Also known as the fundamental frequency; has two nodes at each end and one antinode in the middle, forming a single hill or trough.
Ionic Bond
A chemical bond between two ions with opposite charges, characterized by the unequal sharing of electrons.
Precision
Describes the degree of reproducibility of a measurement.
A radioactive process in which an atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting a gamma ray without a change in its atomic or mass numbers.
Gamma Decay
Normal Force
The force one surface exerts on another surface. It is perpendicular to the surface of contact.
Density-dependent Limiting Factor
A limiting factor is one that controls a species population size or distribution. A density-dependent limiting factor is dependent on population density (example: the availability of food limiting the size of a local deer population).
Conservation of Energy
A fundamental thermodynamics principle which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, although it can be changed from one form to another.
Molarity
The molar concentration of a solution, usually expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.
Manometer
A pressure gauge for comparing pressures of a gas.
Occurs when one object is moving with respect to the surface with which it is in contact. It has magnitude given by FK = uKN. (uK is the coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the magnitude of the Normal Force).
Kinetic Friction
Forces which keep atoms held together in molecules and in solids, such as covalent, ionic, and aromatic bonds.
Intramolecular Bonds
An inborn sequence of behavior in which variations do not normally occur.
Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)
A chemical bond between two ions with opposite charges, characterized by the unequal sharing of electrons.
Ionic Bond
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one mole or one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius without change of phase.
Heat Capacity
A limiting factor is one that controls a species population size or distribution. A density-dependent limiting factor is dependent on population density (example: the availability of food limiting the size of a local deer population).
Density-dependent Limiting Factor
The molar concentration of a solution, usually expressed as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.
Molarity
Comet
A diffuse body of gas and solid particles (such as CN, C2, NH3, and OH), which orbits the Sun. The orbit is usually highly elliptical or even parabolic.
The distance between the pole of a lens or mirror to the principal focus and is always equal to half of the radius of curvature of lens or mirror. f = R/2.
Focal Length
Wave Amplitude
The magnitude of the greatest departure from equilibrium of the wave disturbance.
In humans the concentration of nervous tissues at one end of the human embryo to produce the brain and head is called cephalization.
Cephalization
Any organism which brings energy into an ecosystem from inorganic sources. Most plants and many protists are producers.
Producers
A region of space-time which cannot be seen by distant observers because light is trapped by a strong gravitational field.
Black Hole
Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)
An inborn sequence of behavior in which variations do not normally occur.
Accuracy
The correctness of a single measurement, assessed by comparing the measurement with the true or accepted value, based on evidence independent of the measurement.
Pulsar
An object discovered at Cambridge University in 1967 which has the mass of a star and a radius no larger than that of Earth and which emits radio pulses with a very high degree of regularity.
A small circular DNA molecule found in the mitochondria of a cell. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother.
Mitochondrial DNA
Evaporation
The process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid state (or solid state if the substance sublimes) gain sufficient energy to enter the gaseous state. It is the opposite process of condensation.
An application that provides the user with tools needed to write and edit and format text and to send it to a printer.
Word Processing Software
The position that an organism occupies in the energy pyramid or in the food chain. The trophic level describes what an organism consumes, as well as what consumes the organism.
Trophic Level
Meiosis
Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number.
The radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus accompanied by emission of a beta particle.
Beta Decay
The world’s major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment.
Biome
The evaporation of water from aerial parts of plants, especially leaves but also stems, flowers and fruits. Transpiration is a side effect of the plant needing to open its stomata in order to obtain carbon dioxide gas from the air for photosynthesis. Transpiration also cools plants and enables mass flow of mineral nutrients from roots to shoots.
Transpiration
Any organism with one or more cells that have visible nuclei and organelles. The group contains all living and fossil cellular organisms except bacteria and cyanobacteria.
Eukaryote
The behavior of a single frequency wave traveling through a medium or field that comes into contact with an object and is bent before passing into a second medium.
Refraction
Spontaneous Process
A chemical reaction in which a system releases free energy (most often as heat) and moves to a lower, more thermodynamically stable, energy state. The sign convention of changes in free energy follows the general convention for thermodynamic measurements, in which a release of free energy from the system corresponds to a negative change in free energy, but a positive change for the surroundings.
Electromagnetic forces which act between molecules or between widely separated regions of a macromolecule. Listed in order of decreasing strength, these forces are: ionic interactions, hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces (Van der Waals forces).
Intermolecular Forces
Allele
One of the variant forms of a gene at a particular locus, or location, on a chromosome. Different alleles produce variation in inherited characteristics such as hair color or blood type. In an individual, one form of the allele (the dominant one) may be expressed more than another form (the recessive one).
Black Hole
A region of space-time which cannot be seen by distant observers because light is trapped by a strong gravitational field.
The process of copying the double-stranded DNA prior to cell division.
DNA Replication (DNA synthesis)
A pressure gauge for comparing pressures of a gas.
Manometer
Heterotroph
An organism which requires an external supply of energy in the form of food as it cannot synthesize its own. A heterotroph is known as a consumer in the food chain.
Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number.
Meiosis
Mitochondrial DNA
A small circular DNA molecule found in the mitochondria of a cell. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother.
Rock Cycle
A fundamental concept in geology that describes the dynamic transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous.
A wave that moves in a direction perpendicular to that of its medium.
Transverse Wave
A tree showing the evolutionary interrelationships among various species or other entities that are believed to have a common ancestor. In a phylogenetic tree, each node with descendants represents the most recent common ancestor of the descendants, and edge lengths correspond to time estimates.
Phylogenetic Tree
A wave characteristic referring to the number of cycles occurring per second.
Wave Frequency
Hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. A general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years.
Fossil Fuels
Bilateral Symmetry
The characteristic, in animals, of being symmetric about a plane running from head to tail.
The radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus accompanied by emission of an alpha particle.
Alpha Decay
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
A fundamental principle in physics which states that unbalanced forces acting on an object will produce a reaction, or acceleration, that is directly proportional to the amount of the force applied, and inversely proportional to the object’s mass.
Punctuated Equilibrium
Describes an evolutionary pattern marked by long stable periods that are interrupted by rapid changes, and involving many lines of descent.
A sine wave having three times the frequency of the fundamental wave.
Third Harmonic
Lysogenic Infection
An infective process characterized by the incorporation of the DNA of the infecting phage into the host cell chromosome. Once incorporated, the phage DNA replicates along with the host DNA. The incorporated phage DNA is relatively inactive, thus permitting the host cell to continue fairly normal life processes.
A fundamental thermodynamics principle which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, although it can be changed from one form to another.
Conservation of Energy
Harmonic Oscillator
Any object that oscillates about a stable equilibrium position and experiences a restoring force approximately described by Hooke’s law.
DNA Replication (DNA synthesis)
The process of copying the double-stranded DNA prior to cell division.
Equilibrium Constant
A constant, characteristic for each chemical reaction; relates the specific concentrations of all reactants and products at equilibrium at a given temperature and pressure.
An object discovered at Cambridge University in 1967 which has the mass of a star and a radius no larger than that of Earth and which emits radio pulses with a very high degree of regularity.
Pulsar
Kinetic Friction
Occurs when one object is moving with respect to the surface with which it is in contact. It has magnitude given by FK = uKN. (uK is the coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the magnitude of the Normal Force).
Active Immunity
An organisms resistance to disease or infection, developed because the organisms immune system has produced antibodies after an infection or inoculation.
The mass of an atom expressed in atomic mass units (amu).
Atomic Mass
Used to describe organisms (especially of different species) living together but not necessarily in a relationship beneficial to each other.
Symbiotic Relationships
Consumers
Any organism which must consume other organisms (living or dead) to satisfy its energy needs. Opposite of autotroph.
A constant, characteristic for each chemical reaction; relates the specific concentrations of all reactants and products at equilibrium at a given temperature and pressure.
Equilibrium Constant
Gibb’s Energy
A mathematical expression, developed in the 1870s by the American mathematical physicist Willard Gibbs, defined as the energy portion of a thermodynamic system available to do work.
Newton’s First Law of Motion
A fundamental principle in physics which states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion, moving at the same velocity, unless an unbalanced force is applied to it.
A sine wave having two times the frequency of the fundamental wave.
Second Harmonic
An organism which requires an external supply of energy in the form of food as it cannot synthesize its own. A heterotroph is known as a consumer in the food chain.
Heterotroph
The process by which large amounts of energy are transferred through the movement of gas and liquid.
Convection
Convergent Evolution
Describes the process whereby organisms not closely related independently acquire similar characteristics while evolving in separate and sometimes varying ecosystems.
Autotroph
An organism that produces organic compounds from carbon dioxide as a carbon source, using either light or reactions of inorganic chemical compounds, as a source of energy. An autotroph is known as a producer in a food chain.
Metamorphic Rock
The result of the transformation of a pre-existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means “change in form”. The protolith is subjected to heat (greater than 150 degrees Celsius) and extreme pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change. The protolith may be sedimentary rock, igneous rock or another older metamorphic rock.
Density-independent Limiting Factor
A limiting factor is one that controls a species population size or distribution. A density-independent limiting factor is independent of population size or density(example: a forest fire destroys a local deer population).
Organisms (often fungi or bacteria) that break down organic materials to gain nutrients and energy.
Decomposers
From 135 million to 63 million years ago marked by the end of the age of reptiles and the appearance of modern insects and flowering plants.
Cretaceous Period
The rhythmic, wave-like contraction of the digestive track that forces food through it.
Peristalsis
Summer Solstice
The moment when the Earth is in that point of its orbit where the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined toward the sun.
Kinetic Energy
In physics, the energy of an object in motion.
Biome
The world’s major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment.
Water Cycle (hydrological cycle)
The cycle in which water evaporates from the oceans and the land surface, is carried over the earth in atmospheric circulation as water vapor, precipitates again as rain or snow, is intercepted by trees and vegetation, provides runoff on the land surface, infiltrates into soils, recharges groundwater, discharges into streams, and ultimately, flows out into the oceans, from which it will eventually evaporate again.
Spreadsheet Software
A computer program that displays numerical data in cells in a simulated accountant’s worksheet of rows and columns in which hidden formulas can perform calculations on the visible data. Changing the contents of one cell can cause automatic recalculation of other cells.
Database Software
A systematically arranged collection of computer data, structured so that it can be automatically retrieved or manipulated.
Any organism which must consume other organisms (living or dead) to satisfy its energy needs. Opposite of autotroph.
Consumers
Immune system defenses that do not differentiate between different pathogens, but act as barriers to pathogens. Examples include the skin, mucus, sweat, and tears.
Non-specific Defense Mechanism
Nuclear Fusion
The combining of the nuclei of small atoms to form the nuclei of larger ones, with a resulting release of large quantities of energy; the process that makes the sun shine, and hydrogen bomb explode.
Haploid Cell
A cell that contains only a single set of chromosomes and therefore only a single set of genes.
The displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) by the agents of wind, water or ice, by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity or by living organisms (in the case of bioerosion). Erosion is distinguished from weathering, which is the decomposition of rock and particles through processes where no movement is involved, although the two processes may be concurrent.
Erosion
The branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth’s crust.
Plate Tectonics
A diffuse body of gas and solid particles (such as CN, C2, NH3, and OH), which orbits the Sun. The orbit is usually highly elliptical or even parabolic.
Comet
The process of bone formation, in which connective tissues, such as cartilage are turned to bone or bone-like tissue. It is thought that this process led to bone as a structural element in vertebrates.
Ossification
Atomic Number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic Mass
The mass of an atom expressed in atomic mass units (amu).
Having a strong affinity for water; tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water.
Hydrophilic
Specific defense mechanism
An immune response to an antigen in which specific antibodies are created or employed to attack and destroy the antigen.
A limiting factor is one that controls a species population size or distribution. A density-independent limiting factor is independent of population size or density(example: a forest fire destroys a local deer population).
Density-independent Limiting Factor
Transverse Wave
A wave that moves in a direction perpendicular to that of its medium.
The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about March 21.
Spring Equinox
The moment when the Earth is in that point of its orbit where the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun.
Winter Solstice
Genotype
The genetic identity of an individual that does not show as outward characteristics.
Intermolecular Forces
Electromagnetic forces which act between molecules or between widely separated regions of a macromolecule. Listed in order of decreasing strength, these forces are: ionic interactions, hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces (Van der Waals forces).
The membrane surrounding the mitochondrion, containing proteins having ATP synthase, which make ATP in the mitochondrial matrix.
Mitochondrial Membrane
Geographical Isolation
Describes a process by which a population of a species becomes geographically isolated from the remainder, and over time evolves characteristics different from the parent population (due to natural selection).
Ossification
The process of bone formation, in which connective tissues, such as cartilage are turned to bone or bone-like tissue. It is thought that this process led to bone as a structural element in vertebrates.
Potential Energy
The capacity a resting object has to do work from a particular position; stored energy.
Template for protein synthesis. Each set of three bases, called codons, specifies a certain protein in the sequence of amino acids that comprise the protein. The sequence of a strand of mRNA is based on the sequence of a complementary strand of DNA.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Moh’s Hardness Scale
Characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. It was created, in 1812, by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs and is one of several definitions of hardness in materials science.
Phenotype
The observable traits or characteristics of an organism, for example hair color, weight, or the presence or absence of a disease.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Template for protein synthesis. Each set of three bases, called codons, specifies a certain protein in the sequence of amino acids that comprise the protein. The sequence of a strand of mRNA is based on the sequence of a complementary strand of DNA.
Immunity acquired by the transfer of antibodies from another organism. Passive transfer of antibody from mother to offspring is important for immune defense during the perinatal period.
Passive Immunity
A chemical reaction in which a system releases free energy (most often as heat) and moves to a lower, more thermodynamically stable, energy state. The sign convention of changes in free energy follows the general convention for thermodynamic measurements, in which a release of free energy from the system corresponds to a negative change in free energy, but a positive change for the surroundings.
Spontaneous Process
Vasodilation
The opening up of the capillaries of the skin in response to warm temperatures, thus increasing the flow of blood to the surface of the body.
Hydrophilic
Having a strong affinity for water; tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water.
A cell that contains only a single set of chromosomes and therefore only a single set of genes.
Haploid Cell
The cycle in which water evaporates from the oceans and the land surface, is carried over the earth in atmospheric circulation as water vapor, precipitates again as rain or snow, is intercepted by trees and vegetation, provides runoff on the land surface, infiltrates into soils, recharges groundwater, discharges into streams, and ultimately, flows out into the oceans, from which it will eventually evaporate again.
Water Cycle (hydrological cycle)
Describes the degree of reproducibility of a measurement.
Precision
Plate Tectonics
The branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth’s crust.
The result of the transformation of a pre-existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means “change in form”. The protolith is subjected to heat (greater than 150 degrees Celsius) and extreme pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change. The protolith may be sedimentary rock, igneous rock or another older metamorphic rock.
Metamorphic Rock
Refraction
The behavior of a single frequency wave traveling through a medium or field that comes into contact with an object and is bent before passing into a second medium.
A unicellular organism having cells lacking membrane-bound nuclei; bacteria are the prime example but also included are blue-green algae and actinomycetes and mycoplasma.
Prokaryote
The process by which a cell separates its duplicated genome into two identical halves. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis which divides the cytoplasm and cell membrane.
Mitosis
The chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms. All known cellular life and some viruses have DNA. DNA is a long polymer of nucleotides (a polynucleotide) that encodes the sequence of amino acid residues in proteins, using the genetic code: each amino acid is represented by three consecutive nucleotides (a triplet code).
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA)
Phylogenetic Tree
A tree showing the evolutionary interrelationships among various species or other entities that are believed to have a common ancestor. In a phylogenetic tree, each node with descendants represents the most recent common ancestor of the descendants, and edge lengths correspond to time estimates.
Lytic Infection
The normal cycle of infection of a cell by a virus or bacteriophage, in which mature virus or phage particles are produced and the cell is then lysed.
Decomposers
Organisms (often fungi or bacteria) that break down organic materials to gain nutrients and energy.
The ability of a living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a stable equilibrium; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a constant temperature.
Homeostasis
Passive Immunity
Immunity acquired by the transfer of antibodies from another organism. Passive transfer of antibody from mother to offspring is important for immune defense during the perinatal period.
An infective process characterized by the incorporation of the DNA of the infecting phage into the host cell chromosome. Once incorporated, the phage DNA replicates along with the host DNA. The incorporated phage DNA is relatively inactive, thus permitting the host cell to continue fairly normal life processes.
Lysogenic Infection
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
A chemical compound nucleotide found in all living organisms that releases energy for cellular reactions when it converts to ADP.
Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
Parasitism
Describes the collective mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet.
Hydrosphere
A virus that infects bacteria and may integrate into the genetic material of its host cell.
Bacteriophage
Deposition
Also known as sedimentation, is the geological process whereby material is added to a landform. This is the process by which wind, water or ice create a sediment deposit, through the laying down of granular material that has been eroded and transported from another geographical location.
Hydrophobic
Not dissolving in, absorbing, or mixing easily with water.
A fundamental thermodynamics principle which states that reactions and interactions which change the properties of substances leave their total masses unchanged.
Conservation of Mass
One of the variant forms of a gene at a particular locus, or location, on a chromosome. Different alleles produce variation in inherited characteristics such as hair color or blood type. In an individual, one form of the allele (the dominant one) may be expressed more than another form (the recessive one).
Allele
Peristalsis
The rhythmic, wave-like contraction of the digestive track that forces food through it.
The distance (measured in the direction of propagation) between two points in the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave.
Wavelength
Speciation
A process whereby over time one species evolves into a different species (anagenesis) or whereby one species diverges to become two or more species (cladogenesis).
Igneous Rock
Formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks.
Occurs when an object is in contact with the surface it is resting on. It has a magnitude given by Fs = usN (us is the coefficient of static friction, N is the magnitude of the Normal Force).
Static Friction
A term used to categorize phases consisting of the new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and last quarter.
Primary Phases
The capacity a resting object has to do work from a particular position; stored energy.
Potential Energy
Trophic Level
The position that an organism occupies in the energy pyramid or in the food chain. The trophic level describes what an organism consumes, as well as what consumes the organism.
Commensalism
The association between two organisms of different species in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected.
Fall Equinox
The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about September 22.
The moment when the Earth is in that point of its orbit where the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined toward the sun.
Summer Solstice
A systematic process of learning that includes observations, stating the problem, hypothesizing, experimentation, gathering and analyzing data, and stating a conclusion.
Scientific Method
Wave Frequency
A wave characteristic referring to the number of cycles occurring per second.
The transfer of energy that occurs when a body of high temperature transfers its heat through a connecting medium to one of lower temperature.
Conduction
Coma
The spherical region of diffuse gas, about 150,000 km in diameter, which surrounds the nucleus of a comet. Together, the coma and the nucleus form the comet’s head.
Formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks.
Igneous Rock
Spring Equinox
The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about March 21.
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A chemical similar to a single strand of DNA. In RNA, the letter U, which stands for uracil, is substituted for T in the genetic code. RNA delivers DNA’s genetic message to the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made.
Vasoconstriction
The constriction of the capillaries in the skin in response to cold temperatures.
The spherical region of diffuse gas, about 150,000 km in diameter, which surrounds the nucleus of a comet. Together, the coma and the nucleus form the comet’s head.
Coma
Any object that oscillates about a stable equilibrium position and experiences a restoring force approximately described by Hooke’s law.
Harmonic Oscillator
An organisms resistance to disease or infection, developed because the organisms immune system has produced antibodies after an infection or inoculation.
Active Immunity
A measure of the amount of matter contained by a given volume.
Density
Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria and may integrate into the genetic material of its host cell.
Erosion
The displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) by the agents of wind, water or ice, by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity or by living organisms (in the case of bioerosion). Erosion is distinguished from weathering, which is the decomposition of rock and particles through processes where no movement is involved, although the two processes may be concurrent.
The constriction of the capillaries in the skin in response to cold temperatures.
Vasoconstriction
Winter Solstice
The moment when the Earth is in that point of its orbit where the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun.
Prokaryote
A unicellular organism having cells lacking membrane-bound nuclei; bacteria are the prime example but also included are blue-green algae and actinomycetes and mycoplasma.
The magnitude of the greatest departure from equilibrium of the wave disturbance.
Wave Amplitude
A fundamental concept in geology that describes the dynamic transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous.
Rock Cycle
Non-specific Defense Mechanism
Immune system defenses that do not differentiate between different pathogens, but act as barriers to pathogens. Examples include the skin, mucus, sweat, and tears.
Static Friction
Occurs when an object is in contact with the surface it is resting on. It has a magnitude given by Fs = usN (us is the coefficient of static friction, N is the magnitude of the Normal Force).
Density
A measure of the amount of matter contained by a given volume.
A mathematical expression, developed in the 1870s by the American mathematical physicist Willard Gibbs, defined as the energy portion of a thermodynamic system available to do work.
Gibb’s Energy
Resultant Vector
The sum of two or more vectors.
The observable traits or characteristics of an organism, for example hair color, weight, or the presence or absence of a disease.
Phenotype
Producers
Any organism which brings energy into an ecosystem from inorganic sources. Most plants and many protists are producers.
The process of disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through direct, or indirect contact with the atmosphere. Weathering occurs ‘in situ’, or ‘without movement’, and thus should not to be confused with erosion, which involves the movement and disintegration of rocks and minerals by processes such as water, wind, ice or gravity.
Weathering
The correctness of a single measurement, assessed by comparing the measurement with the true or accepted value, based on evidence independent of the measurement.
Accuracy
Calorimetry
Measurement of the amount of heat evolved or absorbed in chemical reaction, change of state, or formation of a solution.
Mitosis
The process by which a cell separates its duplicated genome into two identical halves. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis which divides the cytoplasm and cell membrane.
The increase in enthalpy resulting from the formation of 1 mole of a substance from its elements at constant pressure.
Heat of Formation
Transpiration
The evaporation of water from aerial parts of plants, especially leaves but also stems, flowers and fruits. Transpiration is a side effect of the plant needing to open its stomata in order to obtain carbon dioxide gas from the air for photosynthesis. Transpiration also cools plants and enables mass flow of mineral nutrients from roots to shoots.
Focal Length
The distance between the pole of a lens or mirror to the principal focus and is always equal to half of the radius of curvature of lens or mirror. f = R/2.
Beta Decay
The radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus accompanied by emission of a beta particle.
The characteristic, in animals, of being symmetric about a plane running from head to tail.
Bilateral Symmetry
Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated.
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
An immune response to an antigen in which specific antibodies are created or employed to attack and destroy the antigen.
Specific defense mechanism
An organism that produces organic compounds from carbon dioxide as a carbon source, using either light or reactions of inorganic chemical compounds, as a source of energy. An autotroph is known as a producer in a food chain.
Autotroph
Analog of the dissociation constant, where k = [H+][A-]/[HA]; used for the application of the law of mass action to ionization; in the equation HA represents the acid, such as acetic acid.
Ionization Constant
The process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid state (or solid state if the substance sublimes) gain sufficient energy to enter the gaseous state. It is the opposite process of condensation.
Evaporation
Symbiotic Relationships
Used to describe organisms (especially of different species) living together but not necessarily in a relationship beneficial to each other.
A fundamental principle in physics which states that unbalanced forces acting on an object will produce a reaction, or acceleration, that is directly proportional to the amount of the force applied, and inversely proportional to the object’s mass.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
Lunar Phase
Any of the aspects or appearances presented by the Moon as seen from Earth, determined by the portion of the Moon that is visibly illuminated by the Sun.
A slow, steady change in a particular line of decent, rather than rapid change over a relatively short period of time.
Gradualism
In physics, the energy of an object in motion.
Kinetic Energy
