Quarter 1 Vocabulary

Biology

the scientific study of life

Experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on an experimental group

Control Group

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Experimental Group

the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

Homeostasis

process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

dependent variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

Conclusion

a judgement based on the information obtained

Evolution

Change in a species over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

graph

A visual representation of data

line of best fit

a smooth line that reflects the general pattern in a graph

Hypothesis

A testable prediction

constant

something that stays the same during an experiment

Observation

The act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.

Anaylze

to look at something carefully by attention to its parts

Organism

any individual living thing

response

An action or change in behavior that occurs as a result of a stimulus.

cell

the basic unit of structure and function in living things

Biotic

Describes living factors in the environment

growth

the process of increasing in physical size

Unicellular

A single- celled organism

Abiotic

describes the nonliving part of the environment, including water, rocks, light and temperature.

development

the process of change that occurs during an organism's life to produce a more complex organism

Multicellular

An organism made up of more than one cell

Stimulus

A change in an organism's surroundings that causes the organism to react

Reproduction

the process of producing offspring

Macromolecules

A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules

Polysaccharides

large macromolecules formed from monosaccharides chemically bonded together

Proteins

An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells; contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and, sometimes, sulfur

hormone

Chemical messengers that are produced in one tissue and affect another; derived from steroids and/or proteins

Carbohydrates

the starches and sugars present in foods; main energy source of living things that is primarily made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

lipid

macromolecule made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, steroids, and waxes

Amino Acid

Building blocks of protein

Denaturation

A process in which a protein unravels, losing its specific structure and hence function; can be caused by changes in pH or salt concentration or by high temperature. Also refers to the separation of the two strands of the DNA double helix, caused by similar factors.

Monosaccharide

Single sugar molecules

fatty acid

chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms that make up most lipids

Enzymes

a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific

nucleic acid

macromolecule used to store/transmit genetic information, containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus; DNA and RNA

Disaccharide

A double sugar molecule made of two monosaccharides bonded together

Glycerol

A three-carbon alcohol to which fatty acids are covalently bonded to make fats and oils

Polypeptide

long chain of amino acids that makes proteins

Nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

Gap 1

The first part of interphase: the cell grows and functions. Also known as G1

Cytokinesis

division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells; occurs after nuclear division

Double Helix

two strands of nucleotides wound about each other; structure of DNA

Synthesis

phase of the cell cycle where the DNA copies itself (process known as DNA replication)

Cell Cycle

series of events in which a cell grows, prepares for division, and divides to form two daughter cells

Gap 2

additional growth and normal functions as the cell prepares to divide; occurs after DNA replication, but prior to cell division

Interphase

Cell grows, performs its normal functions, and prepares for division; consists of G1, S, and G2 phases

Mitosis

part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides

DNA replication

The process in which DNA makes a duplicate copy of itself.

Nucleus

The organelle in eukaryotes that contains the DNA and controls the processes of the cell

asexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

Fragmentation

A means of asexual reproduction whereby a single parent breaks into parts that regenerate into whole new individuals.

DNA polymerase

Enzyme involved in DNA replication that joins individual nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule

Chromosomes

a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

budding

Asexual reproduction in which a part of the parent organism pinches off and forms a new organism

Parthenogenesis

Asexual reproduction in which females produce offspring from unfertilized eggs.

Helicase

An enzyme that untwists the double helix of DNA at the replication forks.

Chromatin

Substance found in eukaryotic chromosomes that consists of DNA tightly coiled around proteins called histones

binary fission

A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size

Vegetative Propagation

A form of asexual reproduction in which plants produce genetically identical offshoots of themselves, which then develop into independent plants.

Ligase

An enzyme that connects two fragments of DNA to make a single fragment

Cancer

disorder in which some of the body's cells lose the ability to control growth and division

somatic cells

any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells.

Autosome

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome

Diploid

containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Karyotype

picture showing paired homologous chromosomes

Gamete

specialized cell involved in sexual reproduction

Fertilization

Process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form a new cell

Haploid

having a single set of unpaired chromosomes

homologous chromosomes

Chromosomes that have the same sequence of genes and the same structure

sex chromosomes

The pair of chromosomes (X & Y) responsible for determining the sex of an individual

sexual reproduction

type of reproduction in which gametes from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism

egg

typical female gamete

sperm

typical male gamete

polyploidy

A chromosomal alteration in which the organism possesses more than two complete chromosome sets.

Crossing over

Process in which homologous chromosomes exchange portions of their chromatids during meiosis

Monosomy

Chromosomal abnormality consisting of the absence of one chromosome from the normal diploid number; 1 copy of a chromosome

Sister Chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome; full sets of these are created during the S phase of interphase.

Trisomy

a condition in which an extra copy of a chromosome is present in the cell nuclei, causing developmental abnormalities.; 3 copies of a chromosome

Independent Assortment

 

random distribution of homologous chromosomes during meiosis

Zygote

a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of the egg and the sperm; a fertilized egg.

Gametogenesis

 

production of gametes

Nondisjunction

An error in meiosis or mitosis in which members of a pair of homologous chromosomes or a pair of sister chromatids fail to separate properly from each other.

Recombination

a combining of genes or characters different from what they were in the parents

Meiosis

 

Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms