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Biology Vocab
ultimate vocab
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Abiotic factor | Any nonliving component of an ecosystem (e.g., sunlight, air, water, soil) |
| Activation energy | The kinetic energy required to initiate a chemical reaction |
| Active transport | The movement of a substance across a plasma (cell) membrane against a concentration gradient |
| Adhesion | The property of sticking to some other substance |
| Aerobic respiration | Growing or metabolizing only in the presence of molecular oxygen |
| Alcoholic fermentation | The process by which pyruvic acid is converted to ethyl alcohol |
| Alleles | Alternate forms of a gene or DNA sequence |
| Alternation of generation | Alternating sexual and asexual generation reproduction |
| Amino acid | Any of 20 basic building blocks of proteins--composed of a free amino (NH2) end, a free carboxyl (COOH) end, and a side group (R) |
| Anaerobic respiration | Growing or metabolizing only in the absence of molecular oxygen |
| Anaphase | Third phase of mitosis, beginning when sister chromatids separate from each other and ending when a complete set of daughter chromosomes have arrived at each of the two poles of the cell |
| Antibiotic resistance | The ability of a microorganism to produce a protein that disables an antibiotic or prevents transport of the antibiotic into the cell |
| Applied science | The practical use of scientific information to improve human life |
| Artificial selection | Breeding organisms by humans for specific phenotypic characteristics |
| Asexual reproduction | Nonsexual means of reproduction which can include grafting and budding |
| Autotroph | An organism that uses energy to synthesize organic molecules from inorganic substances |
| Bacteria | A single-celled, microscopic prokaryotic organism |
| Base pair (bp) | A pair of complementary nitrogenous bases in a DNA molecule |
| Biodiversity | The wide diversity and interrelatedness of earth organisms based on genetic and environmental factors |
| Biological evolution | Change in allele frequency of a species or population over time |
| Biome | A geographic area characterized by specific kinds of plants and animals |
| Biosphere | The area on and around Earth where life exists |
| Biotic factor | A living component of an ecosystem |
| Carbohydrates | Compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the approximate ratio of C:2H:O (e.g., sugars, starches, and cellulose) |
| Cell cycle | The events of cell division; includes interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis |
| Cellular respiration | The process by which cells generate ATP through a series of redox (chemical) reactions |
| Cell theory | The theory that all living things are made of cells, that cells are the basic units of organisms, and that cells come only from existing cells |
| Centromere | The central portion of the chromosome to which the spindle fibers attach during mitotic and meiotic division |
| Chloroplasts | A plastid containing chlorophyll; the site of photosynthesis |
| Chromatid | Each of the two daughter strands of a duplicated chromosome joined at the centromere during mitosis and meiosis.\ |
| Chromosome | A single DNA molecule, a tightly coiled strand of DNA |
| Chromosome theory of heredity | The theory that states that genes are located on chromosomes and that each gene occupies a specific place on a chromosome |
| Citric acid cycle (Kreb’s) | Series of chemical reactions in aerobic respiration in which a acetyl coenzyme A is completely degraded to carbon dioxide and water with the release of metabolic energy that is used to produce ATP; also known as Kreb’s cycle |
| Cladogram | A branching diagram that illustrates taxonomic relationships based on the principles of claudistics |
| Codominance | An inheritance relationship in which neither of two alleles of the same gene totally mask the other |
| Cohesion | The property of sticking together; like substances sticking together |
| Commensalism | The close association of two or more dissimilar organisms where the association is advantageous to one and doesn't affect the other(s) |
| Community | All the populations in one area |
| Cytokinesis | The division of cytoplasm of one cell into two new cells |
| Cytoskeleton | Framework of the cell composed of a variety of filaments and fibers that support cell structure and drive cell movement |
| Deletion | Chromosome abnormality in which part of the chromosome is missing; loss of one or more base pairs from DNA which can result in a frameshift |
| Dichotomous key (classification key) | Classification tool used in identifying organisms or materials |
| Diffusion | The process by which molecules move from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration |
| DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) | An organic acid and polymer composed of four nitrogenous bases--adenine |
| Domain | Taxonomic category that includes one or more kingdom (e.g., Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) |
| Dominance | A characteristic in which an allele that expresses its phenotype even in the presence of a recessive allele |
| Double helix | The DNA molecule |
| Ecology | The study of the interactions of organisms with their environment and with each other |
| Ecosystem | The organisms in a plant population and the biotic and abiotic factors which impact on them |
| Electron transport chain | Series of chemical reactions in the thylakoid membrane or inner mitochondrial membrane during which hydrogens or their electrons are passed along with the release of energy |
| Endergonic reaction | A reaction requiring a net input of free energy |
| Endocytosis | The process by which a cell surrounds and engulfs substances |
| Energetics | Use of energy |
| Energy pyramid | Summarizes interactions of matter and energy at each trophic level |
| Enzymes | Proteins that control the various steps in all chemical reactions |
| Epidemic | An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads widely and rapidly |
| Eukaryote | An organism whose cells possess a nucleus and other membrane-bound vesicles, including all members of the protist, fungi, plant and animal kingdoms; and excluding viruses, bacteria, and blue-green algae |
| Evolution | The long-term process through which a population of organisms accumulates genetic changes that enable its members to successfully adapt to environmental conditions and to better exploit food resources |
| Exergonic reaction | A reaction that gives off free energy |
| Exocytosis | The process in which a vesicle inside a cell fuses with a cell membrane and releases its contents to the external environment |
| Frameshift mutation | A mutation that results in the misreading of the code during translation because of the change in the reading frame |
| Fungi | Microorganisms that lacks chlorophyll |
| Gamete | A haploid sex cell, egg or sperm, that contains a single copy of each chromosome |
| Gene | The functional unit of heredity; a locus on a chromosome that encodes a specific protein or several related proteins |
| Genome | The complete genetic material contained in an individual; the genetic complement contained in the chromosomes of a given organism, usually the haploid chromosome state |
| Genotype | The structure of DNA that determines the expression of a trait |
| Genus | A category including closely related species; interbreeding between organisms within the same category can occur |
| Germ Theory of Disease (Koch’s Postulates) | A set of criteria used to establish that a particular infectious agent causes a disease |
| Glycolysis | A pathway in which glucose is oxidized to pyruvic acid |
| Heterotroph | An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating organisms or their by-products |
| Homeostasis | The stable internal conditions of a living thing |
| Host | Animal or plant on which or in which another organism lives |
| Human Genome Project | A project coordinated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to determine the entire nucleotide sequence of the human chromosomes |
| Hydrogen bond | A relatively weak bond formed between any hydrogen atom (which is covalently bound to a nitrogen or oxygen atom) and a nitrogen or oxygen with an unshared electron pair |
| Hypotheses | Statement or predictions that can be tested |
| Incomplete dominance | A condition where a heterozygous off- spring has a phenotype that is distinctly different from |
| Independent assortment | The law stating that pairs of genes separate independently of one another in meiosis |
| Interphase | Period of time where a cell carries on metabolism and replicates chromosomes prior to cell division |
| Inversion | A mutation that occurs when a chromosome piece breaks off and reattaches in reverse orientation |
| k-strategist | Species characterized by slow maturation |
| Karyotype | All of the chromosomes in a cell or an individual organism |
| Law | An observation that happens every time under a certain set of conditions |
| Lactic acid fermentation | The process by which pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid |
| Light dependent | Reaction of photosynthesis that requires light; light energy is absorbed converted to chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH |
| Light independent | The fixing of carbon dioxide in a 3 carbon compound for use in sugar production or other end products |
| Lipid | Any of a group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar solvents; serve as energy storage and are important components of cell membranes |
| Lysogenic cycle | A type or phase of the virus life cycle during which the virus integrates into the host chromosome of the infected cell, often remaining essentially dormant for some period of time |
| Lytic cycle | A phase of the virus life cycle during which the virus replicates within the host cell, releasing a new generation of viruses when the infected cell lyses |
| Mass extinction | One of the brief periods of time during which large numbers of species disappeared |
| Meiosis | The reduction division process by which haploid gametes and spores are formed consisting of a single duplication of the genetic material followed by two mitotic divisions |
| Metaphase | Second phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes line up across the equator of the cell |
| Microbe | A microorganism |
| Mitochondria | Organelles that are the sites of aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells |
| Mitosis | The replication of a cell to form two daughter cells with identical sets of chromosomes |
| Molecular biology | The study of the biochemical and molecular interactions within living cells |
| Molecular genetics | The branch of genetics that deals with the expression of genes by studying the DNA sequences of chromosomes |
| Multiple alleles | Three or more alleles of the same gene that code for a single trait |
| Mutation | An alteration in DNA structure or sequence of a gene |
| Mutualism | A form of symbiosis in which both organisms benefit from living together |
| Natural selection | The differential survival and reproduction of organisms with genetic characteristics that enable them to better utilize environmental resources |
| Nitrogenous bases | The purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine, cytosine, and uracil) that comprise DNA and RNA molecules |
| Nonvascular plant | A plant that lacks vascular tissue and true roots, stems, and leaves |
| Nucleic acids | The two nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, are made up of long chains of molecules called nucleotides |
| Nucleotide | A building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group |
| Nucleus | The membrane-bound region of a eukaryotic cell that contains the chromosomes |
| Organelle | A cell structure that carries out a specialized function in the life of a cell |
| Osmosis | The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane |
| Parasitism | The close association of two or more dissimilar organisms where the association is harmful to at least one |
| Passive transport | The movement of substances across a plasma (cell) membrane without the use of cell energy |
| Pandemic | An epidemic over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population |
| Pathogen | Organism which can cause disease in another organism |
| Pesticide | A substance that kills harmful organisms (e.g., an insecticide or fungicide) |
| pH | Indicates the relative concentration of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in a substance |
| Pinocytosis | A type of endocytosis in which a cell engulfs solutes of fluids |
| Phagocytosis | A type of endocytosis in which a cell engulfs large particles or whole cells |
| Phenotype | The observable characteristics of an organism, the expression of gene alleles (genotype) as an observable physical or biochemical trait |
| Phospholipids | A class of lipid molecules in which a phosphate group is linked to glycerol and two fatty acetyl groups; a chief component of biological membranes |
| Photosynthesis | The process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy stored in organic molecules |
| Plasma (cell) membrane | A selectively permeable surface that encloses the cell contents and through which all materials entering or leaving a cell must pass |
| Point mutation | A change in a single base pair of a DNA sequence in a gene |
| Polarity | Molecules having uneven distribution of charges |
| Population | A local group of organisms belonging to the same species and capable of interbreeding |
| Primary succession | Succession that occurs in a newly formed habitat that has never before sustained life |
| Prokaryote | A bacterial cell lacking a true nucleus; its DNA is usually in one long strand |
| Prophase | First phase of mitosis in which duplicated chromosomes condense and mitotic spindle fibers begin to form |
| Protein | An organic compound composed of one or chains of polypeptides which in turn are formed from amino acids |
| Protein synthesis | A formation of proteins using information coded on DNA and carried by RNA |
| Pure science | The gathering of new information or the discovery of a new relationship or fact for sake of knowledge |
| Punnett square | A type of grid used to show the gametes of each parent and their possible offspring; a type of grid that can indicate all the possible outcomes of a genetic cross |
| Radioactive dating | A method of determining the age of an object by measuring the amount of a specific radioactive isotope it contains |
| Recessive gene | Characterized as having a phenotype expressed only when both copies of the gene are mutated or missing |
| Relative dating | A method of determining the age of fossils by comparing them to other fossils in different layers of rock |
| Ribosome | A sub-cellular structure that is the site of protein synthesis during translation. |
| RNA (ribonucleic acid) | An organic acid composed of a single strand of nucleotide that acts as a messenger between DNA and the ribosomes and carries out the process of protein synthesis: composed units of adenine |
| Secondary succession | The sequential replacement of population in a disrupted habitat |
| Segregation | The law stating that pairs of genes separate in meiosis and each gamete receives one gene of a pair |
| Sex influenced | Description of a trait that is caused by a gene whose expression differs in male and females; (e.g., male patterned baldness) |
| Sex linkage | The presence of a gene on a sex chromosome; (e.g., hemophilia, color-blindness) |
| Sexual reproduction | The process where two cells (gametes) fuse to form one hybrid, fertilized cell |
| Species | A classification of related organisms that can freely interbreed |
| Spore | A form taken by certain microbes that enables them to exist in a dormant stage. It is an asexual reproductive cell |
| Symbiosis | The close association of two or more dissimilar organisms where both receive an advantage from the association |
| Taxonomic nomenclature | The procedure of assigning names to the kinds and groups of organisms according to their taxa |
| Technology | Practical use of scientific information to improve the quality of human life: see also applied science |
| Telophase | Final phase of mitosis during which chromosomes uncoil, a nuclear envelope returns around the chromatin, and a nucleolus becomes visible in each daughter cell |
| Theory | A well tested explanation of natural events |
| Thermoregulation | The maintenance of internal temperature within a range that allows cells to function efficiently |
| Translation | The process of converting the genetic code in RNA into the amino acid sequence that makes up a protein |
| Transcription | Process in which RNA is made from DNA |
| Vaccine | A preparation of dead or weakened pathogen that is used to induce formation of antibodies or immunity against the pathogen |
| Variation | Differences in the frequency of genes and traits among individual organisms within a population |
| Vascular plants | A plant that has phloem and xylem |
| Virus | An infectious particle composed of a protein capsule and a nucleic acid core |
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