Integrated Science Final Revision 2025-2026

Comprehensive practice flashcards formulated from the Integrated Science Final Revision 2026 notes, covering biological spheres, cellular energy, human systems, mineral properties, and advanced technologies of the 1st Secondary level.

Biosphere

The layer of Earth where life exists, encompassing living organisms and their habitats from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountain peaks.

Integrated System

A characteristic of the biosphere where the survival of organisms depends on complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors.

Transpiration

The process representing the only pathway for water to move from the biosphere to the atmosphere according to the plant life cycle.

Biotic Factor

Living organisms that affect the environment and are affected by it, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.

Abiotic Factor

Non-living environmental components, such as sunlight, temperature, and rocks, that determine the types of organisms that can inhabit an area.

Biological Population

A group of individuals belonging to the same species that share the same place and time and interact for food.

Biological Community

A collection of multiple species living and interacting together in one area.

Biome

A level of organization where several ecosystems share similar climatic characteristics and dominant organisms, such as major deserts or rainforests.

Autotrophic Organisms

Organisms like plants and some bacteria that produce their own food from inorganic substances through processes like photosynthesis.

Heterotrophic Organisms

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms, categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary consumers.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A continuous and renewable energy molecule representing active energy in cells, storing energy in the bond between the second and third phosphate groups.

CGM device

A medical tool used to help patients by monitoring blood sugar levels and carbohydrate availability.

Enzymes

Proteins that accelerate biological reactions and are involved in the structure and vital processes of the body.

CRISPR-Cas9

A high-precision molecular scissor technology used for genetic editing.

Xylem

Plant vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and minerals upward from the roots to the leaves.

Phloem

Plant vascular tissue that transports products of photosynthesis, like glucose and amino acids, from the leaves to all parts of the plant in a bidirectional manner.

Cohesion-Adhesion Theory

A physical explanation for how water ascends in tall trees, relying on attraction between water molecules and the walls of xylem vessels.

Blood Viscosity

A physical property of blood mainly determined by the concentration of protein and red blood cells, affecting the effort needed for the heart to pump.

Aerobic Cellular Respiration

An efficient process where glucose is oxidized in mitochondria in the presence of oxygen, producing approximately $36\,ATP$ molecules.

Anaerobic Respiration

A process occurring in the cytoplasm without oxygen that yields limited energy, producing products like lactic acid in muscles or ethanol in yeast.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical process that releases heat to the surrounding medium, moving from the system to the surrounding, with a negative sign for $\Delta H$.

Endothermic Reaction

A chemical process that absorbs heat from the surrounding medium, characterized by a positive sign for $\Delta H$.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood to eliminate excess water, salts, and urea while returning useful substances via reabsorption.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a biological balance or stable internal state within a living organism.

Urea

A less toxic waste product converted from ammonia by the liver, which is then transported to the kidneys to be excreted in urine.

Bilirubin

A waste substance resulting from the destruction of old red blood cells, which can lead to jaundice if it accumulates in the body.

Bioartificial Kidney

A medical technology using cell engineering to simulate the biochemical functions of a kidney, reducing dependence on traditional dialysis.

Dendrites

Extensions from the nerve cell body that increase surface area to receive nerve signals from other cells.

Synaptic Cleft

The minute space separating two neurons across which neurotransmitters diffuse to transmit signals.

Refractory Period

The period following a nerve impulse during which a new impulse cannot be generated as sodium channels are unable to respond.

Nanotechnology

The practical application of knowledge to observe and control matter at the nanoscale, specifically at the level of atoms and molecules.

Buckyballs

Nanoscale structures useful in medicine because of their ability to carry drugs directly inside them to infected cells.

Sial Rocks

Continental crustal rocks rich in silica and aluminum, characterized by a lower density than oceanic crust.

Sima Rocks

Oceanic crustal rocks rich in silica, magnesium, and iron, which are denser than continental rocks.

Asthenosphere

The upper part of the mantle where convection currents originate, driving tectonic plate movement.

Mohs Scale

A scale used to measure mineral hardness, ranging from talc (softest) to diamond (degree 10).

Cleavage

The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness, appearing as thin sheets or regular geometric patterns.

Fractional Distillation

The industrial process of heating crude oil in furnaces to separate compounds based on their different boiling points.

Uranium-235

A specific isotope of uranium used as nuclear fuel in reactors to release massive energy through nuclear fission.

Piezoelectricity

The generation of electric charges on the surface of materials when they are subjected to mechanical pressure, bending, or vibration.