Life Science: Biology Regents Exam - January 2026

Vocabulary flashcards covering key biological concepts, invasive species, ecology, genetics, and human health based on the January 2026 Regents High School Examination in Life Science: Biology.

Identical twins

Two offspring produced by the same pregnancy who share the same DNA.

Fraternal twins

Twins whose genes may vary as much as non-twin siblings.

Epigenetic changes

Occur when chemical groups, such as methyl groups, attach to a cell’s DNA and influence the expression of particular genes.

Electrophoresis

A process used to compare DNA segment migration through a gel.

Hydrilla

An invasive aquatic plant with an extremely high growth rate of up to $2.5\,cm$ per day that forms thick mats in waterways.

Keystone species

Organisms that play a disproportionately large role in an ecosystem, having a very large impact on the rest of the ecosystem and how it functions.

Trophic cascade

The impact of population changes that can occur from the top-down or bottom-up within the trophic levels of a food chain.

Fel d 1

An allergen protein produced by cat salivary glands and oil glands that causes allergic reactions in humans.

Histamine

A signal molecule released by mast cells during an allergic response that results in symptoms like rashes or difficulty breathing.

CRISPR-cas9

A genetic technology that enables researchers to edit DNA by removing, adding, or altering sections of the DNA sequence.

Butane-fipronil

A chemical pesticide used to control agricultural pests such as the diamondback moth.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

A type of bacteria that produces proteins toxic to specific insect species used as an alternative to chemical pesticides.

Type 1 diabetes

A chronic health condition characterized by the reduced ability of the pancreas to produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes

A chronic health condition where the cells of the body do not respond properly to insulin that is produced normally.

Glucose tolerance test

A diagnostic procedure involving the consumption of $75\,g$ of glucose to assess the body’s regulation of blood plasma glucose levels.

Waggle dance

A figure-eight pattern movement performed by worker bees to communicate the speed and direction of a food source location.

Varroa mite

An invasive parasite of western honeybees that feeds on adults and larvae and can cause population collapse.

Oxalic acid

A chemical treatment used by beekeepers to kill Varroa mites in infested honeybee colonies.

mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA)

DNA located in the mitochondria that is inherited only from the mother.

Grooming

A social behavior in African baboons involving the removal of parasites, such as ticks, to strengthen social bonds and maintain health.

Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

A photosynthetic carnivorous plant that digests insects to obtain nutrients like nitrogen in nutrient-poor wetland soils.

Melanin

A pigment produced by specialized skin cells called melanocytes that determines coloration in mammal fur and skin.

Wildlife Corridors

Protected pathways between habitats created to mitigate the effects of habitat fragmentation on populations like the plains zebra.