Exploring Creation with Biology: Quarter 1

2nd Edition. Terms & Definitions. Study for the Quarter 1 Test.

Metabolism

The sum total of all processes in an organism which convert energy and matter from outside sources and use that energy and matter to sustain the organism's life functions.

Anabolism

The sum total of all processes in an organism which use energy and simple chemical building blocks to produce large chemicals and structures necessary for life.

Catabolism

The sum total of all processes in an organism which break down chemicals to produce energy and simple chemical building blocks.

Photosynthesis

the process by which green plants and some other organisms use the energy of sunlight and simple chemicals to produce their own food.

Herbivores

Organisms that eat only plants.

Carnivores

Organisms that eat only organisms other than plants.

Omnivores

Organisms that eat both plants and other organisms.

Producers

Organisms that produce their own food.

Consumers

Organisms that eat living producers and/or other consumers for food.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms.

Autotrophs

Organisms that are able to make their own food.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that depend on other organisms for their food.

Receptors

Special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment.

Asexual reproduction

Reproduction accomplished by a single organism.

Sexual reproduction

Reproduction that requires two organisms.

Inheritance

The process by which physical and biological characteristics are transmitted from the parent (or parents) to the offspring.

Mutation

An abrupt and marked change in the DNA of an organism compared to that of its parents.

Hypothesis

An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question.

Theory

A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data.

Scientific law

A theory that has been tested by and is consistent with generations of data.

Microorganisms

Living creatures that are too small to see with the naked eye.

Abiogenesis

The idea that long ago, very simple life forms spontaneously appeared through chemical reactions.

Prokaryotic cell

A cell that has no distinct, membrane-bounded organelles.

Eukaryotic cell

A cell with distinct, membrane-bounded organelles.

Species

A unit of one or more populations of individuals that can reproduce under normal conditions, produce fertile offspring, and are reproductively isolated from other such units.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying organisms.

Binomial nomenclature

Naming an organism with its genus and species name.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease.

Saprophyte

An organism that feeds on dead matter.

Parasite

An organism that feeds on a living host.

Aerobic organism

An organism that requires oxygen.

Anaerobic organism

An organism that does not require oxygen.

Steady state

A state in which members of a population die as quickly as new members are born.

Exponential growth

Population growth that is unhindered because of the abundance of resources for an ever-increasing population.

Logistic growth

Population growth that is controlled by limited resources.

Conjugation

A temporary union of two organisms for the purpose of DNA transfer.

Plasmid

A small circular section of extra DNA that confers one or more traits to a bacterium and can be reproduced separately from the main bacterial genetic code.

Transformation

The transfer of a DNA segment from a nonfunctional donor cell to that of a functional recipient cell.

Transduction

The process in which infection by a virus results in DNA being transferred from one bacterium to another.

Endospore

The DNA and other essential parts of a bacterium coated with several hard layers.

Strains

Organisms from the same species that have markedly different traits.

Pseudopod

A temporary, foot-like extension of a cell, used for locomotion or engulfing food.

Nucleus

The region of a eukaryotic cell that contains the cell’s main DNA.

Vacuole

A membrane-bounded “sac” within a cell.

Ectoplasm

The thin, watery cytoplasm near the plasma membrane of some cells.

Endoplasm

The dense cytoplasm found in the interior of many cells.

Flagellate

A protozoan that propels itself with a flagellum.

Pellicle

A firm, flexible coating outside the plasma membrane.

Chloroplast

An organelle containing chlorophyll for photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

A pigment necessary for photosynthesis.

Eyespot

A light-sensitive region in certain protozoa.

Symbiosis

A close relationship between two or more species where at least one benefits.

Mutualism

A relationship between two or more organisms of different species where all benefit from the association.

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited.

Parasitism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed.

Cilia

Hairlike projections that extend from the plasma membrane and are used for locomotion.

Spore

A reproductive cell with a hard, protective coating.

Plankton

Tiny organisms that float in the water.

Zooplankton

Tiny floating organisms that are either small animals or protozoa.

Phytoplankton

Tiny floating photosynthetic organisms, primarily algae.

Thallus

The body of a plant-like organism that is not divided into leaves, roots, or stems.

Cellulose

A substance (made of sugars) that is common in the cell walls of many organisms.

Holdfast

A special structure used by an organism to anchor itself.

Sessile colony

A colony that uses holdfasts to anchor itself to an object.

Extracellular digestion

Digestion that takes place outside the cell.

Mycelium (plural is mycelia)

The part of the fungus responsible for extracellular digestion and absorption of the digested food.

Hypha (plural is hyphae)

A filament of fungal cells.

Rhizoid hypha

A hypha that is imbedded in the material on which the fungus grows.

Aerial hypha

A hypha that is not imbedded in the material upon which the fungus grows.

Sporophore

Specialized aerial hypha that produces spores.

Stolon

An aerial hypha that asexually reproduces to make more filaments.

Haustorium

A hypha of a parasitic fungus that enters the host’s cells, absorbing nutrition directly from the cytoplasm.

Chitin

A chemical that provides both toughness and flexibility.

Membrane

A thin covering of tissue.

Fermentation

The anaerobic breakdown of sugars into smaller molecules.

Zygospore

A zygote surrounded by a hard, protective covering.

Zygote

The result of sexual reproduction when each parent contributes half of the DNA necessary for the offspring.

Antibiotic

A chemical secreted by a living organism that kills or reduces the reproduction rate of other organisms.