Life Sciences: Life Processes, Cell Biology, Environmental Studies, and Biodiversity

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering life processes, cellular structure, transport mechanisms, cell division, ecology, and biological classification.

Life processes

The basic activities that living organisms carry out to stay alive, including nutrition, respiration, excretion, growth, reproduction, movement, and sensitivity.

Nutrition

The process of obtaining or making food, or obtaining and using nutrients for energy, growth and repair.

Excretion

The life process of removing metabolic waste from the body.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use light energy to make glucose from carbon dioxide and water.

Chlorophyll

The pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy from the Sun.

Limiting factor

Something in short supply that prevents a process from happening at its maximum rate.

Cellular respiration

The process in which cells break down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP.

Aerobic respiration

Respiration that takes place in the presence of oxygen and releases a large amount of energy.

Anaerobic respiration

Respiration that takes place without sufficient oxygen and releases less energy.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot make their own food and must obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms.

Peristalsis

Muscular contractions of the oesophagus that transport food to the stomach.

Mechanical digestion

The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces, such as chewing and stomach churning.

Chemical digestion

The breakdown of large food molecules into smaller soluble molecules using enzymes.

Amylase

A digestive enzyme that breaks down starch into smaller sugars.

Protease

A digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Lipase

A digestive enzyme that breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.

Villi

Tiny structures in the small intestine that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.

Assimilation

The process where absorbed nutrients are used by body cells for energy, growth and repair.

Egestion

The removal of undigested food through the anus.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gaseous exchange occurs.

Organic compounds

Chemical substances that generally contain carbon and hydrogen.

Monomer

A small building-block molecule.

Polymer

A large molecule made from smaller units.

Substrate

The specific substance an enzyme acts on.

Prokaryotic cells

Cells that do not have a true nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, with DNA found in the cytoplasm.

Eukaryotic cells

Cells that have a true nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane and contain membrane-bound organelles.

Ribosomes

Cell organelles responsible for protein production.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle that modifies, sorts and packages substances.

Lysosomes

Organelles containing enzymes that break down waste materials.

Cell theory

The theory stating that all living organisms are made up of one or more cells, the cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells through cell division.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of higher water concentration to lower water concentration.

Active transport

The movement of substances from a low concentration to a high concentration, against the concentration gradient, using energy in the form of ATP.

Mitosis

A type of cell division in which one parent cell divides to form two genetically identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes.

Interphase

The phase before mitosis during which the cell grows, performs normal activities, and copies its DNA.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm during cell division, forming two separate daughter cells.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area.

Community

All the different populations living and interacting in one area.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their non-living environment.

Biome

A large geographical area with a particular climate and characteristic plants and animals.

Biosphere

All the parts of Earth where life exists, including parts of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

Trophic level

The feeding position of an organism in a food chain.

Food web

A network of interconnected food chains showing feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

The 10% rule

The ecological principle that approximately $10\%$ of the energy at one trophic level is transferred to the next level.

Mutualism

An ecological relationship in which both interacting organisms benefit.

Commensalism

An ecological relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

An ecological relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Biodiversity

The variety of living organisms found on Earth or in a particular ecosystem, spanning genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

In situ conservation

Protecting organisms in their natural habitats, such as within national parks.

Ex situ conservation

Protecting organisms outside their natural habitats, such as in zoos, botanical gardens and seed banks.

Taxonomy

The scientific study of naming and classifying organisms.

Species

A group of organisms that can naturally interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Binomial nomenclature

The scientific system of naming organisms using two names: the genus (capitalized) and the species (lowercase).

Evolution

The gradual change in inherited characteristics of populations over many generations.

Natural selection

The process in which organisms with favourable inherited characteristics are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those traits to their offspring.

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Extinction

The event that occurs when all members of a species die out.