Final vocab list 2023

adaptation

anything that increases your chances of survival

organic evolution

change in organisms over long periods of time

extinction

when all members of a species cease to exist

fossil record

examining any trace of organisms that once lived

genetic variation

maintained by sex and mutation

geologic time

an amount of time so great it is impossible to understand

mutation

any change in genetic material - they are the raw material for evolution

natural selection

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution

overproduction and survival of the fittest

Darwin's observation that organisms produce many offspring. Only the best fit survive

theory

an idea that has been tested and confirmed over time - it can be used by scientists to make predictions about the natural world

carrying capacity

Largest number of humans that an environment can support

deforestation

The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.

energy flow

The passage of energy through the components of an ecosystem

direct harvesting

the destruction or loss of a species by over hunting

fossil fuels

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.

global warming

a gradual increase in global temperatures due to the combustion of fossil fuels.

Solutions - seek other forms of energy sources, solar for example

Industrialization

the process of developing machine production of goods

nonrenewable resource

a resource that cannot be replaced

nuclear fuel

substance used in nuclear reactors that releases energy due to nuclear fission

ozone shield

ozone layer that absorbs ultraviolet radiation

pollution

Release of harmful materials into the environment

renewable resource

A natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed

Trade-off

an alternative that we sacrifice when we make a decision

water cycle

The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back

nucleus

hard drive - stores all the hereditary information of the cell. (genes)

endoplasmic reticulum

transportation network of the cell. like the isles in a grocery store

mitochondria

cellular furnace - site of cellular respiration

GO -> WAC

chloroplast

site of photosynthesis WAC -> GO

ribosome

site of protein synthesis

vacuole

storage of food, water or waste (closet)

lysosome

contains digestive enzymes the break up food or old worn out cell parts.

cytoplasm

watery, jello like substance in which the organelles are suspended.

cell membrane

Regulates what enters and leaves the cell. It is semi-permeable

Abiotic

non-living

Autotroph

producer/plant/photosynthetic

Biosphere

where life exists on earth / all the ecosystems combined

Biotic

living

Carnivore

meat eater/animal eater

Carrying capacity

the maximum number of a certain species the environment can support / based on limiting factors

Community

all the populations in the ecosystem / Biotic portion of ecosystem

Competition

struggle between organisms for limiting factors (food,water,mates and shelter)

Consumer

heterotroph/they must find their food and eat it

Decomposer

breaks down dead stuff and returns nutrients to the environment

Ecological Niche

the role/job of an organism in the environment

Ecological succession

when one community makes the environment suitable for a new community

Ecology

study of ecosystems / study of organisms (Biotic) interactions with each other and their environment (Abiotic)

Ecosystem

any part of an organisms environment

Energy pyramid

shows the flow of energy through the ecosystem

Environment

surroundings

Finite

limited

Food chain

mouse eats corn , snake eats mouse

Food web

a diagram showing many food chains in an ecosystem

Habitat

where an organism lives

Herbivore

heterotroph that eats autotrophs

Heterotroph

consumer/eater

Host

organism infected by a parasite

Limiting factors

anything that controls the size of a population / carrying capacity

Parasite

heterotroph that eats its host

Population

all the members of the same species

Predator

hunter

Prey

hunted

Producer

plants / autotrophs (produce their own sugar)

Scavenger

eats dead animals (turkey vulture)

species

group of similar organisms that can mate and produce offspring that can also mate.

interdependence

Every single organism relies on other organisms (food web)

interrelationships

All organisms have relationships with other organisms in an ecosystem

biodiversity

a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem. The more species the healthier the ecosystem

Asexual Reproduction

name the type of reproduction that consists of one parent / produces clones (identical genetic copies)

Biotechnology

the use of technology in the study of bio (ex. genetic engineering)

Body cell

Somatic cell

Bond

force that holds two atoms together

Chromosome

made of DNA / contain the genes

Clone

identical genetic copy (identical twins for example)

DNA

Chemical that chromosomes are made of

Egg

female sex cell / female gamete

Expressed

the way a gene is revealed (shown)

Genes

the instructions to make a protein

Genetic Engineering

transplanting a gene from one organism to another

Genetic recombination

when DNA from different sources is combined

Heredity

the passing of traits from one generation to the next generation

Mutation

any change of the genetic material (DNA, chromosomes or genes)

Replicate

copy/transcribe

Selective breeding

breeding organisms for desired traits

Sexual reproduction

reproduction that requires two parents / produces variation

Sperm

male sex cell / male gamete

Subunit

another name for a nucleotide, the building block of DNA

Template

pattern

Traits

an organisms characteristics

genetics

study of heredity

Primary structure of DNA

looks like a ladder leaning up against a house

Secondary structure of DNA

looks like a spiral staircase

This is how DNA actually appears

It is referred to commonly as the "Double Helix"

Transcription

the process by which a DNA template is used to synthesize messenger RNA

Translation

Process by which mRNA is decoded and a protein is produced

Active transport

protein pumps use energy (ATP) to move things across the cell membrane from "little to lots"

Cell

the fundamental building block of all organisms / smallest thing considered alive

Cell membrane

the boundary between the cell and its environment / Regulates what gets in and out

Cell respiration

the burning of sugar in the mitochondria to produce ATP

Chloroplast

where photosynthesis occurs in a plant cell

Circulation

the movement of material throughout a cell or throughout an organism

Cytoplasm

the watery "jelly like" substance inside the cell