General-Biology.docx

Asexual reproduction

A mode of reproduction that does not involve the union of sex cells.

Growth

Stage of development characterized by an increase in size of an individual.

Sexual reproduction

A mode of reproduction that involves the union of sex cells.

Fertilization

The union of egg cell and sperm cell.

Stamen

The male reproductive structure of a flower.

Haploid

A cell that contains only half the chromosome number.

Diploid

A cell that contains the full chromosome number or two sets of chromosomes.

Contraception

The process that blocks fertilization, implantation, and actual completion of development of fetus in humans.

Seed

A reproductive structure where a plant embryo and a food source are contained within a testa.

Budding

An outgrowth arises forming a bud from the body of a parent.

Testis

A male reproductive organ where sperm is produced.

Fragmentation

The body breaks into two or more parts and each fragment is capable of becoming a complete individual.

Petals

The outermost whorl of a flower collectively known as corolla.

Reproduction

An essential characteristic of organisms to perpetuate their kind.

Plant reproduction

Every structure in the body and physiological processes exist for only one reason and it is to maximize its chances to produce offspring.

Asexual Reproduction in plants

Many of the plants on earth are produced through asexual means. This type of plants is advantageous when they are adapted to a particular environment and the genetic variation among plant members is not a necessity.

Artificial plant propagation

A little help from the human, it is very useful because plants can grow faster than plants grown from the seeds.

Stock

The result of combining it to a root-bearing stem host.

Scion

The grafted stem part.

Sexual reproduction in plants

Angiosperms or flowering plants-widely distributed in the world.

Double Fertilization

Plants that bear fruits which may contain one or many seeds.

Monocot

One cotyledon inside its seed.

Dicot

Two cotyledons inside its seed.

Animal Reproduction

Part of a life cycle in which individuals grow, develop, and reproduce according to instructions encoded in DNA.

Asexual Reproduction (clonal reproduction)

The type of reproduction in animals that reproduce asexually are commonly found among lower forms of organisms such as protists, cnidarians, hydra, amoeba, and some complex animals. The resulting offspring are identical to the parent in terms of characteristics.

Fission

Involves the division of the body into two or more equal parts.

Budding

A new individual arises as an outgrowth (bud) from its parent.

Fragmentation

The body breaks into two or more parts, with each fragment capable of becoming a complete individual.

Sexual Reproduction

Most animals, particularly the higher forms, reproduce sexually (a process in which new individuals are formed from sex cells or gametes) produced by the parents in their sexual organs.

Hermaphrodites

The process wherein an animal contains both ovaries and testes and can thus produce both eggs and sperms.

Hermaphroditism or sex reversal

In response to social or environmental challenges.

Human Reproduction

Consists of two components (main reproductive organs and accessory organs) both have a pair of gonads (testis and ovaries).

Male reproductive system

Testis, Scrotum, Penis, Vas deferens, Glands.

Female Reproductive system

Ovary, Oviduct, Uterus, Vagina.

Fertilization

Begins with the fusion of sperm and egg cell to form a fertilized egg called a zygote.

Nutrient

Any substance required for the growth and maintenance of an organism.

Autotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from sunlight and chemicals to produce their own food.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot make their own food and obtain their energy from other organisms.

Symplast route

Route for absorption of water and minerals across plant roots through plasmodesmata.

Apoplast route

Route for absorption of water and minerals across plant roots along cell walls.

Calorie

Unit of energy.

Carbohydrates

Major energy source for the cells in the body.

Proteins

Mainly used as building materials for cell structures.

Fats

Build cell membranes.

Essential nutrients

Substances that animals can only get from the foods they eat.

Essential amino acids

Needed for the synthesis of proteins and enzymes.

Essential fatty acids

Used for making special membrane lipids.

Vitamins

Organic molecules required in small amounts for normal metabolism.

Ingestion

The act of eating or feeding.

Digestion

Breakdown of food into particles.

Absorption

Passage of digested nutrients and fluid across the tube wall and into the body fluids.

Elimination

Expulsion of the undigested and unabsorbed materials from the end of the gut.

Oral Cavity

Where food is initially chewed into shreds by the teeth.

Pharynx

The region in the back of the throat that serves as the entrance to the esophagus.

Esophagus

The tube that connects the pharynx with the stomach.

Chyme

The mixture of food and gastric juice in the stomach.

Small intestine

Approximately 6 meters long and composed of three regions (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), where most enzymatic hydrolysis of macromolecules from food occurs.

Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder

Organs that secrete enzymes to aid in digestion.

Large intestine or colon

A shorter tube than the small intestine, about 1 meter long, that concentrates and stores undigested matter by absorbing mineral ions and water.

Rectum

The final segment of the digestive tract, a short extension of the large intestine.

Gas exchange

The uptake of molecular oxygen from the environment and the discharge of carbon dioxide, also known as respiratory exchange or respiration.

Stomata

Openings on the surface of leaves that allow for the exchange of oxygen with the air.

Integumentary exchange

The use of the general body surface or skin for gas exchange in invertebrates.

External gills

Respiratory organs used by invertebrates living in aquatic habitats.

Tracheal system

Fine air-conducting tubules in arthropods that provide gaseous exchange at the cellular level.

External gills

Thin, vascular projections from the body surface of some amphibians used for respiration.

Internal gills

Rows of slits or pockets in adult fishes positioned at the back of the mouth for water to flow over them, allowing for gaseous exchange.

Lungs

Internal respiratory surfaces shaped as a cavity or sac in vertebrates.

Absorption

The process of water and nutrient uptake through the root system of plants, facilitated by diffusion and increased surface area provided by root hairs.

Xylem vessels

Structures in plants that transport water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Phloem cells

Cells in plants that conduct substances such as products of photosynthesis, water, and other compounds throughout the plant.

Ascent of xylem sap

The movement of water through xylem vessels, explained by a "push" from below and a "pull" from above.

Pressure flow or bulk flow

The mechanism by which substances are transported through the phloem, involving a source cell (where photosynthesis occurs) and a sink cell (where nutrients are needed).

Septum

A tissue that separates the four chambers of the heart in mammals and birds.

Human Heart

A muscular pump consisting of four chambers - the right and left atria, and the right and left ventricles.

Atria

The chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins, acting as reservoirs before it enters the ventricles.

Ventricles

The major pumping chambers of the heart.

Blood clotting

The process that prevents fluid and cell loss and is part of tissue repair.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

Disc-shaped cells containing hemoglobin, responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide.

White blood cells (leukocytes)

Cells that protect the body against microorganisms and remove dead cells and debris.

Platelets (thrombocytes)

Cell fragments involved in preventing blood loss.

Blood vessels

The network of tubes that carry blood throughout the body.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body.

Arterioles

The smallest arteries that supply blood to the capillaries.

Superior vena cava

The large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart from the head and arms.

Inferior vena cava

The large vein that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart from the lower body.

Open Circulatory System

A circulatory system where blood does not stay within vessels, but passes through large blood spaces called sinuses or haemocoels.

Closed Circulatory System

A circulatory system where blood is contained within vessels and follows a continuous fixed path of circulation.

Pulmonary circulation

The circulation of blood to and from the lungs.

Systemic circulation

The circulation of blood to all body tissues, providing oxygen and nutrients while picking up carbon dioxide and waste products.

Coronary circulation

The circulation of blood in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle.

Nitrogenous wastes

Compounds resulted from metabolic reactions of proteins and nucleic acids.

Ammonia

The primary nitrogenous waste for aquatic invertebrates, and the most toxic nitrogen-containing compound.

Urea

Produced by terrestrial animals by combining ammonia and bicarbonate ion, and less toxic than ammonia.

Uric Acid

Excreted by birds, insects, and terrestrial reptiles, relatively nontoxic but more energetically expensive to produce than urea.

Cell surface or cell membrane

Allows passage of wastes in unicellular organisms.

Contractile vacuole

A specialized cytoplasmic organelle in many freshwater protists that expels excess water out of the cell to prevent lysis.

Protonephridia or Flame Bulb System

A network of tubules in some organisms that lack internal openings but have external openings at the body surface called nephridiopores.

Metanephridia

The excretory tubule of most annelids and adult mollusks, with a funnel-like internal opening called a nephrostome that collects body fluids.

Malpighian Tubules

The excretory tubules of insects and other terrestrial arthropods attached to their digestive tract (midgut).