Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
life science
vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| abiotic component | the non-living factors in an ecosystem |
| active transport | the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to low concentration; this movement requires energy |
| adaptation | a trait that is common in a population because it provides energy |
| allele | one of multiple versions of the gene |
| amino acid | a molecule that is the building block of proteins |
| ATP | adenosine triphosphate; a molecule that carries energy |
| behavior | the way in which one acts |
| biome | a community existing of many ecosystems |
| biotic component | the living factors in an ecosystem |
| bird | vertebrate animal that has feathers |
| carbon dioxide | a molecule that is a product of cellular respiration and a reactant in photosynthesis |
| cell membrane | the outer layer of an animal, fungus, bacteria, or protist cell, which determines what enters or leaves the cell |
| cell wall | a tough outer layer on an animal, fungus, bacteria, or protist cell, which determines what enters or leaves the cell |
| cellular respiration | a process that transfers the energy stored in glucose into molecules of ATP |
| chlorophyll | a substance within the chloroplasts of cells that gives plants their green color and absorbs light energy from the sun |
| chloroplast | an organelle found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that captures the energy from the sunlight and makes it into food for the cell |
| chromosome | a linear or circular strand of DNA that contains the genetic material of a cell, sometimes bonded to proteins |
| circulatory system | the body system responsible for the transport of materials |
| cladogram | a branching diagram that shows evolutionary relationships among organisms |
| cold blooded | a condition whereby the internal temperature of an animals body varies with that of the environment |
| common ancestor | an organism from which other species have descended |
| cytoplasm | the contents of a cell within the cell membrane and outside of the nucleus |
| decomposers | organisms that break down organic matter |
| diffusion | the process by which molecules mix as a result of there movement |
| digestive system | body system responsible for the breakdown of food |
| disease | a condition the negatively affects the body |
| diversity | variation of living things |
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries the carries the genetic instructions that living things use to develop, function, and reproduce |
| domain | the broadest grouping of organisms used by many taxonomists; can contain one or more kingdoms |
| ecosystem | a particular environment and all its living and non-living components |
| endocrine system | body system, made up of glands, that regulates conditions in the body |
| endoplasmic reticulum | a system of interconnected, folded sacs and tubes that produces materials, especially proteins, and transports them through the cell |
| environmental diseases | diseases that are the result of exposure to certain environmental conditions; for example, lead poisioning |
| enzymes | proteins that speed up chemical reactions but do not change themselves |
| esophagus | muscular tube through which food passes; extends from the mouth to the stomach |
| eukaryote | an organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other organelles that are contained within membranes; member of the domain Eukaryota |
| evolution | genetic change over time |
| excretory system | body system responsible for the removal of metabolic waste |
| fertilization | the union of male and female gametes to produce a new organism |
| food chain | the sequence in which matter and energy are transferred in an ecosystem |
| food web | a diagram that shows interconnections of all species in an ecosystem |
| fossil record | the use of fossils in sedimentary rock layers to describe the past |
| gametes | a reproductive cell that unites with another of the opposite sex to form offspring |
| gene | a section of DNA located at a specific point on the chromosome that determines a characteristic of an organism by providing instructions for building proteins |
| genetics | the study of how genes work and how they are transferred from parents to offspring |
| geneotype | the particular alleles carried by an individual organism |
| Golgi apparatus | an organelle that packages and sorts molecules for transport through the cell |
| heredity | the genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring |
| immunity | the body's ability to fight off disease |
| immunization | the process by which someone is made immune to a disease, generally through the use of a vaccine |
| immunodeficiency | the failure of the immune system to protect the body from disease |
| inflamation | swelling |
| instinct | a complex behavior that an animal is born knowing how to perform in response to a specific stimulus |
| kingdom | a taxonomic rank below domain than can contain one or more phyla; used by some taxonomists |
| leaves | the part of the plant were photosynthesis occurs |
| mammal | a warm-blooded vertebrate with hair that gives birth to live young; example, rabbit |
| meiosis | cell division that results in the formation of gametes |
| messenger RNA | a type of RNA molecule that carries the DNA message, or information |
| metabolism | interrelated chemical reactions within cells that allow organisms to carry out life processes |
| minerals | a class of substances occurring in nature |
| mitochondrion | a structure that provides energy to the cell by converting food to ATP, the cell's energy source |
| mitosis | cell division that results in the formation of new, identical cells |
| muscular system | the body system responsible for movement |
| mutation | a permanent change in the DNA sequence of an organism, usually caused by an error when DNA is copied |
| natural selection | the theory that nature will select for traits that are advantageous to the species |
| nervous system | the system of the body that regulates and responds to conditions inside and outside the body |
| nonvascular plant | a type of plant that does not contain real roots, stems, or leaves, or vascular tissue |
| nucleus | the control center of a eukaryotic cell; contains the genetic material (DNA) that directs the activities of the cell |
| nutrients | substances that provide nourishment |
| nutrition | the process by which living things get and process nutrients |
| order | a taxonomic rank below class that can contain one or more families |
| organelle | membrane-bound structures within eukaryotic cells that carry out specific functions for the cell |
| osmosis | the process by which water across the cell membrane from an area of high concentration to one of low concentration |
| oxygen | a molecule that is a product of photosynthesis and a reactant in cellular respiration |
| passive transport | the process by which molecules move from an area of high concentration to low concentration; no energy is required for this process |
| pathogen | a disease-causing organisim |
| phenotype | observable characteristic(s) of an organism that are expressed as a result of it's genotype |
| phloem vessel | a tissue found in plants responsible for transporting sugar and other products of metabolism |
| photosynthesis | a process in which plants convert light energy to chemical energy |
| pistil | the female reproductive organs of a plant |
| pollen | a powdery substance that contains the male gametes of a plant |
| pollenation | the process in plants in which pollen is moves from them anther to the pistil |
| prokaryote | a single-celled organism that does not contain a membrane-bound nucleus or other organelles and that is a member of wither the domain Archaea or the domain Bacteria |
| protein | substances that carries out cell functions such as breaking down nutrients |
| reflex | an action that is performed without conscious thought in response to a stimulus |
| replication | process in which the DNA of chromosomes is copied |
| respriatory system | the body system that controls gas exchange, including breathing |
| ribosome | a cell's organelle where protein synthesis takes place |
| reptile | cold-blooded vertebrate that has scaly skin and lays eggs; example, turtle |
| RNA | ribose nucleic acid, a molecule that carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of a cell |
| roots | the part of the plant that attaches to the ground and absorb water and minerals from the soil |
| seed | the object produced from the process of plant fertilization, from which plants grow |
| sense organs | organs of the nervous system that take in information from the environment; for example, the eyes and nose |
| skeletal system | the body system comprised of bones; it is responsible foe movement, support, and protection of vital organs |
| species | a group of organisms that can interbreed |
| stamen | the male reproductive organ found within a flower |
| stem | the main stalk of a plant |
| symbiosis | a relationship between two different species that have a close physical interaction with one another |
| symmetry | having identical parts or characteristics on all sides |
| taxonomy | the science of naming and classifying living organisms |
| traits | features |
| transcription | the process by which he information from a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of RNA |
| transfer RNA | a type of RNA molecule that carries amino acids |
| translation | the process by which the genetic code is decoded to produce a sequence of amino acids for a specific protein |
| trophic level | the position an organism occupies in a food chain |
| urine | a liquid comprised of the wastes of the body's metabolic reactions |
| vascular plant | a type of plant that has vascular tissue or vessels, as well as true roots, leaves, and a stem |
| voluntary muscles | muscles that are under conscious control |
| warm blooded | a condition whereby an animal's internal temperature is kept constant |
| white blood cells | blood cells that fight infection |
| xylem | tissue found in vascular plants that transports water and minerals from the roots to other parts of the plant |
Created by:
cmseymour
Popular Science sets