Grade 11 Life Sciences Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of flashcards derived from Grade 11 Life Sciences lecture notes covering various biological concepts, including microorganisms, ecology, and human anatomy.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Classification of Microorganisms

The organization of living organisms into categories, including Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms without a true nucleus; includes Monera.

Eukaryotes

Organisms with a true nucleus enclosed by a nuclear membrane; includes Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease.

Asexual Reproduction

A mode of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes, resulting in offspring genetically identical to the parent.

Viruses

A type of microorganism that is acellular and can reproduce only inside a host cell.

Bacteria

The smallest and simplest living organisms, primarily unicellular, which can be prokaryotic.

Microorganisms

Organisms that are microscopic, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protists.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on consuming other organisms.

Autotrophs

Organisms capable of synthesizing their own food from inorganic substances.

Nitrogen Cycle

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.

Symbiotic Relationship

A close interaction between two different biological species, which may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

Excretory Organs

Organs involved in the removal of waste products from the body, including lungs, kidneys, liver, and skin.

Photosynthesis

The process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.

Immune Response

The reaction of the immune system to foreign substances.

Antigens

Substances that induce an immune response in the body, often found on the surface of pathogens.

Biotechnology

The use of biological systems or living organisms for the development of products.

Eutrophication

The process by which a water body becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae.

Cellular Respiration

The metabolic process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain a stable, constant condition.

Ecological Succession

The process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.

Population Ecology

The study of how populations of organisms change over time and space.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an organism.

Carbon Footprint

The total emissions of carbon dioxide that are directly and indirectly associated with an individual or group's activities.

Climate Change

Significant and lasting changes in the global climate, often attributed to human activities.

Ozone Layer

A region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere.

Biodiversity Loss

The decline in the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms involved benefit from the interaction.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.