Village

Adhesion

Force of attraction between two different types of molecules, such as water and another plar molecule

Atom

Smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of tthat element

Buoyancy

The upward force exerted on an object immersed in or floating on a fluid, such as water, due to the displacement of fluid by the object’s volume

Capillary action

The movement of a liquid along the surface f a solid that is brought about by chesion, adhesion and surface tension

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance

Covalent bond

A chemical bond between two atms, formed by the sharing of one or more electrns

Dipolar

A molecule with a positively charged region and a negatively charged region, usually due to an unequal distribution of electrons

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atomic nucleus to attarct a bonding pair of electrons

Hydrogen bond

A weak electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom, covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, and another atom with a slight neegative charge

Hydrophilic

The property of polar molecules that associate easily with water molecules (water-loving)

Hydrophobic

The property of non-polar molecules that repel water molecules (water-hating)

Non-polar

Molecules compased of atoms with similar electronegativities, making them insoluble in water and typically hydrophobic

Polar molecule

A molecule with an uneven distribution of electrons, leading to an asymmetrical charge distribution and the ability to interact with other polar molecules through electrostatic forces

Solution

A homogenous mixture composed of two or moore substances, with the solute uniformly dissolved in the solvent

Solvent

A substance capable of dissolving other substances to form a solution

Specific heat capacity (of water)

The energy required to raise the temperature of 1g of water by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin), which is 4.18 J g^-1 °C^-1 for water.

Surface tension

A cohesuve force due to hydrorgen bonding that causes the molecules on the surface of a liquid to form a layer

Thermal conductivity

The ability of biological tissues or substances to conduct heat, influencing processes like body temperature regulation and heat exchange in organisms

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow, indicating how thick or thin the fluid is

Xylem

A specialised tissue of vascular plants that is used to transport water and minerals undirectionally

Asteroid

A rocky object found in space, ranging from a few meteres to hundreds of kilometers in diameter

Goldilocks zone

The region around a star, also known as the habitable zone, where liquid water can exist on the surface of a planet, potentially allowing for the development of life

Adenine

A purine nitrogenous base found in nucleic acids that forms a complementary pair with thymine in DNA, and with uracil in RNA

Allele

An alternative version of a gene or DNA sequence found at a specific locus on the chromosome

Complementary base pairing

The specific hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine, and between guanine and cytosine, in double-stranded DNA

Conservation

Maintenance of biodiversity, indcluding diversity between species, genetic diversity within species, and maintenance of a variety of habitats and ecosystems

Cytosine

A nitrogenous base found in nucleic acids which pairs with guanine in DNA and RNA

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar molecule that forms the backbone of DNA, lacking one oxygen atom compared to ribose

Deoxyribonucleic acid

A double-stranded molecule which stores hereditary information of organisms

DNA linker

A short segment of double-stranded DNA that connects nucleosomes in eukaryotic cells

Double helix

Describes the structure of DNA, which consists of a twisted helix of two strands held together by complementary base pairs

Falsification

The process of testing hypotheses by attempting to prove that they are false, through experimentation or observation

Guanine

A purine nitrogenous base found in nucleic acids that forms a complementary pair with cytosine, forming 3 hydrogen bonds with it

Histone proteins

Proteins associated with eukaryotiic DNA, that help package and organise it into structural units called nucleosomes, playing a key role in regulating gene expression and chromosome nature

Hydrogen bond

A weak electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen aton, covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, and another atom with a slight negative charge

Monomer

A small molecule that can covalently bond to other monomers to form a polymer

Nitrogenous bases

Nitrogen-containing molecules found in nucleotides, including adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil

Non-histone chromosal protein

Proteins associated with DNA in eukaryotic chromosomes that are not involved in forming the nucleosome structure (unlike histones), but instead are involved in other roles, including DNA packaging and gene regulation

Nucleic acid

A polymer of nucleotide molecules, such as DNA or RNA

Nucleosome

Structural unit of a eukaryotic chromosome, consisting of a length of DNA coiled around a core of eight histones

Nucleotide

A molecule made up of a nitrogenous base, a pentone sugar, and one or more phosphate groups; the monomer of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA

Paradigm shift

A fundamental change in the underlying assumptions, concepts, or approaches, often leading to a new perspective

Pentose

A monosaccharide composed of five carbon atoms

Sugar-phosphate (phosphodiester)

Covalent bonds linking the phosphate group and pentose sugar between adjacent nucleotides in a nucleic acid

Polymer

A large molecule made up of many repeating similar, smaller monomers covalently bonded together

Purine

Nitrogenous bases consisting of a double ring structure, such as adenine and guanine

Pyrimidine

Nitrogenous bases consisting of a single ring structure, such as thymine, cytosine, and uracil

Ribose

The 5-carbon pentose sugar found in RNA nucleotides

Ribonucleic acid

A single-stranded polyneocleotide molecule that exists in three forms that each play a part in the synthesis of proteins within cells

Scientific method

A systematic approach to research and experimentatoon involving observation, hypothesis, data collection, and analysis to develop theories

Thymine

A pyrimidine nitrogenous base found in nucleic acids that frms a complementary pair with adenine in DNA

Translation

Stage of protein synthesis occurring in the cytoplasm during which the amino acids are assembled into a polypeptide at the ribosome

Uracil

A pyrimidine nitrogenous base, found in RNA, which pairs with adenine

Virus

A non-living biological agent, composed of genetic material encased in a protein coat that can only replicate inside the living cells of a host organism, causing infection

alpha-glucose

Glucose molecule where the hydroxyl group on carbon 1 is oriented downwards

Adipose cell

Specialised cell of adipose tissue that stores lipid

Aldehydes

Organic compounds characterised by the presence ofo a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to a hydrogen atom and an R group, with the general formula R-CHO

Amphipathic

A molecule that has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions

Amylase

The enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch into maltose

Amylopectin

A branched polysaccharide that is part of a starch molecule, consisting of alpha-glucose molecules connected by both a-1,4 and a-1,6 glycosidic linkages

Amylose

A linear polysaccharide that is part of a starch molecule, consisting of alpha-glucose molecules, connected by a-1,4 glycosidic linkages

beta-glucose

Glucose molecule where the hydroxyl group on carbon 1 is oriented upwards

Benedict’s test

Test for reducing sugars where blue Benedict’s reagent is added amd the mixture is heated to 80°C. Positive result colour change to green (low concentrattion), through orange to brick red precipitate

Carbohydrate

Organic molecules with the general formula Cx(H₂​O)y, which include sugars, starch, glycogen, and cellulose

Carboxylic acids

Organic compounds characterised by the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH), which consists of a carboxyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (-OH), making them acidic

Cellulose

A polysaccharide composed of beta-glucose molecules that is the main structural component of plant cell walls

Colorimetry

A quantitive technique that measures the absorbance or transmittance of light by a substance in solution at specific wavelengths, to enable the substrate concentration to be calculated

Condensation reaction

A reaction where two molecules are joined together with a covalent bond to form a larger molecule, and a water molecule is released

Digestion

The process by which large insoluble foood molecules are broken down into smaller soluble ones, which can then be absorbed

Disaccharide

A molecule consisting of two monosaccharide sugars joined by a glycosidic bond

Endotherms

Organisms that regulate their body temperature internally through metabolic processes, maintaining a relatively constant body temperature regardless of external environmental conditions

Energy

The ability to do work

Ester bonds

Covalent bonds formed between a carboxyl group of fatty acids and a hydroxyl group of glycerol, in molecules such as triglycerides and phospholipids

Fat

A type of lipid, primarily composed of saturated fatty acids, that is solid, or semi-solid, at room temperature

Fatty acid

A long-chain organic molecule consisting of a carboxyl group at one end and a hydrocarbon tail

Fructose

A simple sugar (monosaccharide) found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose

Glucose

A hexose monosaccharide sugar which serves as the main respiratory substrate

Glycerol

A three-carbon alcohol with the chemical formula C₃H₈O₃ that forms the backbone for triglycerides and phospholipids

Glycogen

Glycogen is a branched polysaccharide composed of alpha-glucose units linked by a-1,4 glycosidic linkages with a-1,6 linkahes at the branching points, serving as a primary form of energy storage in animals and fungi, particulalry in liver and muscle cells

Glycosidic bonds or linkages

Covalent bonds formed when monosaccharides are joined together in condensation reactions to form larger carbohydrates

Hexose

A monosaccharide composed of six carbn atoms

Hydrogen bond

A weak electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom, covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, and another atom with a slight negative charge

Hydrolysis

Splitting of large molecules into smaller molecules with the addition of water

Hydrophilic

The property of polar molecules that associate easily with water molecules (water-loving)

Hydrophobic

The property of non-polar molecules that repel water molecules (water-hating)

Isomer

Molecules with the same chemical formula but different structural arrangements or spatial orientations, leading to distinct chemical and physical properties

Lipase

An enzyme that catalyses thhe breakdown of lipid molecules

Lipids

A diverse group of organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, including triglycerides, fatty acids, and cholestrol

Macromolecule

A large, complex molecule with a high molecular weight, typically composed of thousands of atoms covalently bonded together, that includes proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids

Maltose

A disaccharide molecule consisting of two alpha-glucose molecules covalently bonded together

Monomer

A small molecule that can covalently bond to other monomers to form a polymer

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrate, consisting of a single sugar molecule such as glucose, that is the monomer of larger, more complex polysaccharides

Monounsatured fatty acid

A type of fatty acid containing one double bond in its hydrocarbon chain

Non-polar

Molecules composed of atoms with similar electronegativities, making them insoluble in water and typically hydrophobic

Nucleic acid

A polymer of nucleotide molecules, such as DNA or RNA

Oestradiol

An estrogen hormone produced in the ovaries that regulates reproductive processes and secondary sexual characteristics in females

Oil (lipid)

A type of lipid, primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids, that are liquid at room temperature

Organic compound

A chemical compound primarily composed of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, but may also include other elements

Oxidation

Chemical reaction involving loss of electrons, gain of oxygen or loss of hydrogen atoms

Pentose

A monosaccharide composed of five carbon atoms