Chapter 1: Introduction to Biology – Grade 11

100 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and examples from Grade 11 Biology Chapter 1 on the introduction to biology, classification, and microscopy.

Biology

The science of life that studies living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Importance of Biology

Helps mankind understand nature, combat diseases, improve agriculture, and protect ecosystems.

Pure Science

Branch of biology that seeks basic principles and facts (e.g., morphology, cytology).

Applied Science

Branch of biology that utilizes basic knowledge for practical purposes (e.g., biotechnology, medicine).

Morphology

Study of the external structure and form of organisms.

Cytology

Study of cell structure and function.

Biotechnology

Application of biological knowledge and techniques to industry, agriculture, and medicine.

Medicine

Applied biological science focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing human diseases.

Veterinary Science

Biological discipline concerned with the health of animals.

Agriculture

Applied biological practice of cultivating crops for food and raw materials.

Animal Husbandry

Breeding and management of livestock for food and other products.

Biophysics

Application of physics principles to biological systems.

Biochemistry

Study of chemical substances and reactions occurring in living cells.

Biogeography

Study of the geographic distribution of organisms over time and space.

Interdisciplinary Science

Field that integrates methods and insights from multiple scientific disciplines.

Taxonomy

Science of classification, naming, and identifying organisms.

Identification

Process of assigning a scientific name to an unknown organism.

Classification

Grouping of organisms based on shared characteristics.

Hierarchical Classification

Nested system of taxa ranging from domain to species.

Domain

Highest taxonomic rank, above kingdom, including Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Archaea

Domain of prokaryotic microorganisms often found in extreme environments.

Bacteria (Domain)

Domain of unicellular prokaryotes with peptidoglycan cell walls.

Eukarya

Domain containing all organisms with membrane-bound nuclei.

Kingdom

Major taxonomic category below domain; e.g., Plantae, Animalia.

Phylum

Taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class (called division in botany).

Class

Taxonomic rank below phylum and above order.

Order

Taxonomic category below class and above family.

Family

Taxonomic rank grouping related genera.

Genus

Taxonomic category grouping closely related species.

Species

Basic unit of classification; group of organisms capable of interbreeding.

Cladistics

Method of classification based on common ancestry and shared derived traits.

Dichotomous Key

Tool using paired statements to identify organisms.

Dichotomous Key Construction

Process of creating paired, mutually exclusive choices leading to identification.

Morphological Character

Visible structural feature used for classification.

Anatomical Character

Internal structural feature used for identification.

Vascular System (Plants)

Transport tissues (xylem, phloem) allowing fluid movement in plants.

Thallophyta

Non-vascular plant division lacking true stems, roots, and leaves.

Bryophyta

Division of non-vascular plants forming embryos, includes mosses.

Pteridophyta

Division of vascular, spore-bearing plants such as ferns.

Gymnospermae

Division of seed-bearing, non-flowering plants (e.g., pines).

Angiospermae

Division of flowering, seed-bearing plants.

Cold-blooded Animal

Organism whose body temperature varies with the environment.

Warm-blooded Animal

Organism able to maintain a constant internal body temperature.

Fish

Aquatic, cold-blooded vertebrate with fins and scales.

Amphibian

Cold-blooded vertebrate spending life in water and on land.

Reptile

Cold-blooded vertebrate with scales, laying shelled eggs on land.

Bird

Warm-blooded vertebrate with feathers and beak, member of class Aves.

Mammal

Warm-blooded vertebrate with hair and mammary glands.

Microscopy

Use of microscopes to view objects too small for the naked eye.

Light Microscope

Instrument that uses visible light and lenses to magnify specimens.

Electron Microscope

Microscope that uses electron beams for high-resolution imaging.

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

Electron microscope that passes electrons through thin specimens to view internal structures.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Electron microscope that scans a specimen’s surface to produce 3-D images.

Substage Illumination

Light source located beneath the microscope stage.

Iris Diaphragm

Adjustable aperture controlling light intensity on the specimen.

Condenser

Lens system focusing light onto the specimen.

Objective Lens

Primary lens that magnifies and resolves the specimen image.

Eyepiece Lens

Lens that further magnifies the image formed by the objective.

Magnification

Degree to which an image is enlarged compared to the actual object.

Resolution

Ability to distinguish two close points as separate in a microscope.

Biotechnology Definition

Use of living organisms or their products for industrial and other practical purposes.

Fermentation

Anaerobic metabolic process producing energy and useful products like alcohol.

Fermenter

Bioreactor vessel used to carry out industrial fermentation.

Biological Washing Powder

Detergent containing enzymes that break down stains at low temperatures.

Enzyme Biotechnology

Use of isolated enzymes to catalyze industrial or commercial processes.

Bread Making

Biotechnological use of yeast fermentation to produce leavened dough.

Yoghurt Production

Fermentation of milk by bacteria to create yoghurt.

Cheese Production

Biotechnological process of coagulating milk proteins to form cheese.

Wine Production

Fermentation of grape juice by yeast to produce alcoholic beverage.

Beer Production

Brewing process using yeast to ferment malted grains into beer.

Biofuel Production

Use of microorganisms to convert biomass into fuels like ethanol or biodiesel.

Overfishing

Removal of fish from oceans at a rate faster than they can reproduce.

Overhunting

Excessive hunting leading to population decline of wildlife species.

Deforestation

Large-scale removal of forests, impacting biodiversity and climate.

Global Warming

Long-term rise in Earth’s average temperature, driven by human activities.

Infectious Disease

Illness caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria.

Balance of Nature

Dynamic equilibrium among living organisms and their environment.

Impact of Man on Nature

Effects of human activities that alter ecosystems and climate.

Natural Science

Field that studies the physical world, including biology, chemistry, and physics.

Principle of Hierarchical Organization

Concept that biological classification is arranged in ascending inclusive levels.

Unicellular

Composed of a single cell.

Multicellular

Composed of multiple specialized cells.

Nucleus Absent

Characteristic of prokaryotic cells lacking a membrane-bound nucleus.

Nucleus Present

Feature of eukaryotic cells containing a membrane-bound nucleus.

Cell Wall

Rigid layer surrounding some cells, providing structure and protection.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment in plants essential for photosynthesis.

Invertebrate

Animal lacking a backbone.

Vertebrate

Animal possessing a backbone.

Exoskeleton

External skeleton supporting and protecting an animal’s body.

Segmented Body

Body divided into repeated sections, seen in annelids and arthropods.

Jointed Limbs

Articulated appendages characteristic of arthropods.

Bristles (Chaetae)

Stiff hair-like structures on annelids used for movement.

Feathers

Keratinous coverings unique to birds for flight and insulation.

Mammary Glands

Milk-producing glands in mammals.

Cotyledon

Seed leaf that stores or absorbs food for the developing plant embryo.

Monocotyledon

Flowering plant with one cotyledon in the seed.

Dicotyledon

Flowering plant with two cotyledons in the seed.

Applied Biology Example: Biotechnology in Industry

Using microbes to manufacture products like enzymes and biofuels.

Pure Biology Example: Anatomy

Study of internal organism structure without direct practical application.

Natural Science Branch Link

Connection of biology with fields like physics, chemistry, and geology to study life.