biology - complete keywords

abiotic

the influence of a non-living part of the environment on an organism

active immunity

when a person has the ability to produce their own antibodies against a disease

active site

the place on an enzyme where the substrate attaches and the reaction takes place

acquired variations

differences within a species that develop over the life of the organism

active transport

the absorption of molecules into cells against the concentration gradient, using energy

aerobic respiration

the breakdown of food (carbohydrate) with oxygen to release energy

allele

an alternative form of a gene

amnion

a membrane which surrounds the embryo and secretes amniotic fluid

anabolic reactions

reactions in which smaller molecules are combined to form larger molecules, using energy

anaerobic respiration

the breakdown of food (carbohydrate) in the absence of oxygen to release energy

antagonistic muscles

pairs of muscles that pull against each other

antibiotics

chemicals produced by micro-organisms that are toxic to bacteria

antibodies

proteins produced by a lymphocyte in response to an antigen

antigen

a foreign substance that causes lymphocytes to produce antibodies

appendicular skeleton

comprises the girdles (pectoral and pelvic) and the limbs

aquatic factors

those that affect organisms that live in water

asepsis

excluding microbes from as much of the environment as possible

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

traps and transfers energy for cell reactions

autotrophic bacteria

bacteria capable of making their own food using energy

axial skeleton

comprises the skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum

batch flow method (of production)

a fixed amount of nutrients is added to a bioreactor which is emptied of its contents at the end of production

biodiversity

a term used to describe the variety of living things on earth

biology

the study of living things

biomolecules

the chemicals found in living things

bioprocessing

the use of organisms, cells or enzymes to make specific products

bioreactor

a vessel in which cells, organisms or enzymes are placed to manufacture specific products

biosphere

the parts of the earth and its atmosphere in which life can exist

biotechnology

the use of organisms, cells or enzymes to make specific products

biotic

an organism’s influence on another organism

blastocyst

a fluid-filled ball of cells

blood pressure

the force of blood as it passes through an artery

catabolic reactions

reactions in which larger molecules are broken down to smaller molecules, releasing energy

catalysts

substances with the ability to alter the rate of chemical reactions without being used up

cancer

the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells by mitosis

cell continuity

all cells develop from pre-existing cells

cellular energy

the energy stored in the chemicals found in cells

chemical digestion

the breakdown of food into smaller molecules by enzymes, stomach acid or bile

chemosynthetic bacteria

bacteria that are capable of making their own food using energy from chemical reactions

chromosomes

a structure made of DNA and protein which can be inherited

climatic factors

the weather conditions that affect organisms in an ecosystem

community

made up of groups of different species living together

competition

the struggle between organisms for resources that are in short supply, such as food or light

contest competition

an active physical struggle between two organisms in which only one wins the resource

contraception

to prevent fertilisation and pregnancy

conservation

the wise management of our environment

consumers

feed on plants and animals

continuity

the ability of organisms to exist from one generation to the next

continuous flow method (of production)

involves maintaining the microbes in the log phase of growth by the addition of fresh medium in the bioreactor

control

a standard against which the experiment is compared

copulation

sexual intercourse

cotyledon

embryonic seed leaf

cross-pollination

the transfer of pollen from an anther of one flower to a stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species

data

the measurements, observations or information gathered from an experiment

decomposers

feed on dead and decaying plants and animals

denatured

an enzyme is said to be denatured when it had permanently lost its function due to loss of shape

dicotyledons

have two seed leaves

diffusion

the movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of lower concentration

digestion

the breakdown of large food molecules into smaller soluble ones

diploid

(2n) a cell that contains 2 copies of each chromosome

DNA profiling

the process of making a pattern of bands from a person’s DNA to compare with other DNA patterns

dominant allele

the allele expressed in the heterozygous condition

dormancy

a period when a seed does not germinate, despite favourable conditions being present

double-blind testing

a method of preventing bias where neither the tester nor the person being tested knows who is getting the placebo or which is getting the test chemical

ecology

the study of the interaction between groups of organisms and their environment

ecosystem

consists of organisms and their interactions with the environment

edaphic factors

soil factors that affect organisms

endocrine glands

ductless glands that produce hormones

enzymes

biological protein catalysts found in living things

enzyme specificity

an enzyme will catalyse only one reaction

ethics

refers to whether something is morally right or wrong

eukaryotic cell

a cell that has a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles

evolution

the changes between members of a species and the emergence of new species from older species over time, in response to change in the environment, due to natural selection

excretion

the removal of the wastes of metabolism

exocrine glands

have ducts (tubes) leaving them which carry their products

experiment

a series of steps carried out to test a hypothesis

feedback

occurs when the level of hormone in the blood controls the production of another hormone or the production of itself

fertile period

the time during the menstrual cycle when an egg may be fertilised

fertilisation

the fusion of two haploid gametes to produce a diploid zygote

food chain

the feeding relationship between organisms in which energy is transferred

food web

consists of two or more intersecting food chains

gametangium

a structure that produces gametes in rhizopus

gamete

a haploid sex cell capable of fusion

gene

a section of DNA that contains the genetic instructions to code for a particular protein

gene expression

the process of converting the information in a gene into a protein

general defence system

the non-specific methods that prevent the entrance of pathogens into the body and kill those that do

genetic engineering

the alteration and manipulation of genes

genetic screening

the testing of people to see whether they have a specific gene

genotype

the genetic make-up of an organism

germ layer

a group of cells in the embryo that give rise to the body organs

germination

the re-growth of the embryo plant, following a period of dormancy

grey matter

the part of the CNS that contains cell bodies and has a darker colour

habitat

the place where an organism lives

haploid

(n) a cell that contains one copy of each chromosome

heredity

the passing of traits, using genes, from one generation to the next

heterotrophs

organisms which are not capable of making their own food

heterozygous

an individual has different alleles

homeostasis

the maintenance of a constant internal environment

homozygous

an individual has identical alleles

hormones

chemical messengers produced in ductless glands, carried in blood, for use in another part of the body

hypothesis

an educated guess based on observation