S9 Vocabulary

Manipulated Variable

The variable that is intentionally changed in an experiment

Responding Variable

The variable that demonstrates (or doesn't demonstrate) an effect

Controlled Variables

Variables that need to be consistent for accurate results

Hypothesis

A possible explanation to the experiment prior to the experiment

Qualitative Data

Data observed by the five senses

Quantitative Data

Data that is numerically represented

Discrete Data

Data that can be easily categorized

Continuous Data

Data that can be measured using the real number system

Biodiversity

The number of species and number of different species living in an area

Biodiversity Index

A measure between 0 and 1 that determines the biodiversity in an area

Species

A group of living organisms with similar characteristics, capable of producing viable offspring

Adaptations

Variations for survival

Structural Adaptation

A physical feature of an organism that allows them to survive in an area successfully

Behavioural Adaptation

An inherited behaviour of an organism that allows them to survive in an area successfully

Polymorphism

Different adult forms within a species

Metamorphism

Different life stages within a species

Sexual Dimorphism

Different male and female forms within a species

Speciation

The process of the formation of a new species

Niche

Where an organism lives, what it eats, and how it interacts with its environment

Generalist

A species with a broad niche

Specialist

A species with a narrow niche

Predation

An interaction in which one organism kills another for food

Competition

An interaction in which two or more organisms compete for a resource

Symbiosis

A long-term relationship between two organisms

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other remains mostly unaffected

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other's wellbeing

Resource Partitioning

The act of dividing resources to avoid competition

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction performed with a single parent with identical genetic material

Binary Fission

A form of asexual reproduction where a parent cell divides itself into two identical daughter cells

Spores

A form of asexual reproduction performed with the release of unicellular cells containing the parent's genetic material

Budding

A form of asexual reproduction in which miniature forms of the plant grow from the parent as appendages, which eventually detach from the parent plant

Cloning

The process where humans trim appendages from the parent plant, which is then used to grow an identical plant

Artificial Cloning

The human creation of genetically identical organisms

Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction performed with two parents with genetic material from both parents

Gametes

Sex cells

Sperm

The male sex cell

Egg

The female sex cell

Zygote

The result when sperm and egg meet

Embryo

The result when a zygote undergoes cellular division

Stamen

The male reproductive organ of a flower

Pistil

The female reproductive organ of a flower

External Fertilization

Fertilization that occurs outside the mother's body

Internal Fertilization

Fertilization that occurs inside the mother's body

Bacterial Conjugation

The direct transfer of genetic material (DNA) from one bacterial cell to another

Heredity

The passing of traits from parents to offspring

Nature

Traits that are inherited solely through genes

Nurture

Traits that are inherited through the outside environment

Genetics

The study of heredity

Discrete Traits

Traits that are easily observable but difficult to quantify

Continuous Traits

Traits that are easily quantifiable

Dominant Genes

Genes whose phenotype will always appear regardless of what it is paired with

Recessive Genes

Genes whose phenotype will only appear when paired with another recessive gene

Genotype

An organism's genetic makeup

Homozygous Dominant

A genotype where both alleles are dominant

Homozygous Recessive

A genotype where both alleles are recessive

Heterozygous

A genotype where the two alleles are different (one dominant, one recessive)

Phenotype

An organism's visible traits

Genotypic Ratio

The ratio of the genotypes that appear in offspring

Phenotypic Ratio

The ratio of phenotypes that appear in offspring

Punnett Square

A chart displaying the genotypic and phenotypic ratios

Mutation

A change in the genetic material

Mutagen

A cause for a mutation

Cancer

A disease as the result of the uncontrolled division of cells

Cell Cycle

The stages of a cell’s life

Interphase

The stage in the cell cycle where cells grow, replicate, and carry out their life functions

Mitosis

A stage in the cell cycle where cell division for somatic cells occurs

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis where the cell duplicates its chromosomes and spindle fibres form

Spindle Fibres

Tiny tube-like structures made of proteins

Metaphase

The second phase of mitosis where the duplicated chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell

Anaphase

The third phase of mitosis where the duplicated chromosomes move towards opposite ends of the cell

Telophase

A nucleolus forms around the chromosomes at the opposite ends of the dividing cell

Cytokinesis

The final stage of the cell cycle where the cell divides itself after replicating its genetic material following mitosis

Meiosis

The process of cell division for sex cells

Diploid Cells

A cell with two complete sets of chromosomes

Haploid Cells

A cell that only contains one set of chromosomes

Genetic Engineering

The process of transferring DNA from one cell to another

Transgenic Organism

An organism with more than one species' DNA

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Organisms whose genetic material has been modified for increased agricultural output

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

The molecule containing genetic information; found in the nucleus of a cell

Nitrogen Bases

The chemicals that make up the "rungs" of the DNA double helix

Gene

A sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait

Chromatid

One half of a duplicated chromosome

Chromosome

A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus, consisting of two chromatids

Genome

All of the genetic information in an organism

Nucleus

The part of a cell that directs and controls the ability of a cell to grow, develop, and replicate itself

Nucleolus

A structure within the nucleus that creates ribosomes

Ribosomes

Cells responsible for the creation of proteins

Proteins

Macromolecules that all cells need to carry out bodily functions; consists of amino acids

Artificial Selection

Humans acting as the selective force for the breeding of organisms to develop desirable traits in offspring

Natural Selection

Nature acting as the selective force for the breeding of organisms; AKA "survival of the fittest"

Sexual Selection

A form of natural selection where females prefer to mate males with specific characteristics

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

A system responsible for the communication of hazards, precautions, and emergency procedures for hazardous materials in the workplace

The Periodic Table of Elements

A table that organizes the elements by the number of protons

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

An organization responsible for the universal system of element symbols and names

Metals

Elements that are solid at room temperature (excluding mercury), conductive, malleable, ductile, and lustrous.

Non-metals

Elements that exist in any of the three common states of matter, and are not conductive, malleable, ductile, or lustrous.

Metalloids

Elements with a combination of properties of metals and non-metals.

Chemical Family

A group of elements with similar properties

Group

A column of elements on the periodic table