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Biology Basic Terms
STAAR Review Basic Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| virus | tiny, nonliving particle that contains DNA but lacks other characteristics of living cells |
| Bacteria | domain of prokaryotes, some of which cause human diseases |
| commensalism | symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other species is not affected |
| mutualism | type of symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit |
| parasitism | symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other species is harmed |
| predation | relationship in which members of one species consume members of another species |
| consumer | organism that consumes other organisms for food |
| decomposer | organism that breaks down the remains of dead organisms and other organic wastes |
| producer | organism that produces food for itself and other organisms |
| trophic level | feeding position in a food chain or food web, such as producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer |
| primary succession | change in the numbers and types of species that live in a community that occurs in an area that has never before been colonized |
| secondary succession | change in the numbers and types of species that live in a community that occurs in an area that was previously colonized but has been disturbed |
| carbohydrate | organic compound such as sugar or starch |
| lipid | organic compound such as fat or oil |
| nucleic acid | organic compound such as DNA or RNA |
| protein | organic compound made up of amino acids |
| enzyme | protein that speeds up biochemical reactions |
| chloroplast | organelle in the cells of plants and algae where photosynthesis takes place |
| cytoplasm | all of the material inside the plasma membrane of a cell (excluding organelles) |
| eukaryote | organism that has cells containing a nucleus and other organelles |
| mitochondria | organelle in eukaryotic cells that makes energy available to the cell in the form of ATP molecules |
| nucleus | organelle inside eukaryotic cells that contains most of the cell’s DNA and acts as the control center of the cell |
| plasma membrane | thin coat of lipids (phospholipids) that surrounds and encloses a cell |
| prokaryote | single-celled organism that lacks a nucleus |
| ribosome | organelle inside all cells where proteins are made |
| homeostasis | process of maintaining a stable environment inside a cell or an entire organism |
| osmosis | diffusion of water molecules across a membrane |
| ATP | energy-carrying molecule that cells use to power their metabolic processes |
| cellular respiration | process in which cells break down glucose and make ATP for energy |
| photosynthesis | process of using the energy in sunlight to make food (glucose) |
| DNA | double-stranded nucleic acid that makes up genes and chromosomes |
| nucleotide | small molecule containing a sugar, phosphate group, and base that is a building block of nucleic acids |
| cell cycle | repeating series of events that a cell goes through during its life, including growth, DNA, synthesis, and cell division |
| protein synthesis | process in which cells make proteins that includes transcription of DNA and translation of mRNA |
| transcription | process in which genetic instructions in DNA are copied to form a complementary strand of mRNA |
| translation | process in which genetic instructions in mRNA are “read” to synthesize a protein |
| mutation | change in the sequence of bases in DNA or RNA |
| gene | unit of DNA on a chromosome that is encoded with the instructions for a single protein |
| genotype | alleles an individual inherits at a particular genetic locus |
| heterozygote | organism that inherits two different alleles for a given gene |
| homozygote | organism that inherits two alleles of the same type for a given gene |
| meiosis | type of cell division in which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half and four haploid cells result |
| phenotype | characteristics of an organism that depend on how the organism’s genotype is expressed |
| adaptation | characteristic that helps living things survive and reproduce in a given environment |
| natural selection | evolutionary process in which some living things produce more offspring than others so the characteristics of organisms change over time |
| eukaryotic cell | cell that contains a nucleus and other organelles |
| gamete | reproductive cell produced during meiosis that has the haploid number of chromosomes |
| organelle | structure within the cytoplasm of a cell that is enclosed within a membrane and performs a specific job |
| prokaryotic cell | cell without a nucleus that is found in single-celled organisms |
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