BIOLOGY PPE1

Cardiovascular diseases

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels that are non-communicable.

Coronary arteries

Arteries that branch out of the aorta to supply oxygen to the heart muscle.

Coronary heart disease

Condition where layers of fatty material build up in coronary arteries, reducing blood flow.

Statins

Drugs that reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and slow down arterial fatty buildup.

Stent

A tube inserted into an artery to keep it open and allow normal blood flow.

Heart failure

A condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body.

Cystic Fibrosis

An inherited disorder that affects the function of cell membranes.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene; can be dominant or recessive.

Lock and Key Theory

Process where substrates fit perfectly into the active site of enzymes.

Protease

An enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Amylase

An enzyme that breaks down starch into simple sugars.

Lipase

An enzyme that digests lipids into glycerol and fatty acids.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Diffusion

Movement of gases from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.

Epidermal tissue

Thin protective layer of cells covering the top and bottom of a leaf.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants use chlorophyll to convert light energy into chemical energy.

Xylem

Tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals from roots to leaves.

Phloem

Tissue that transports dissolved sugars from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

Translocation

Movement of sugars and other molecules through phloem tissue.

Independent variable

The variable that is changed during an experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

Control variable

Variables that are kept the same throughout an experiment.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water from high concentration to low concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.