Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 Syllabus Flashcards (2026-2028)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key definitions and biological terms from the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 Syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Movement

An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

Respiration

The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.

Sensitivity

The ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.

Growth

A permanent increase in size and dry mass.

Reproduction

The processes that make more of the same kind of organism.

Excretion

The removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.

Nutrition

The taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

Binomial system

An internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species.

Magnification Formula

$$magnification = \text{image size} \times \text{actual size}$$

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration to a region of their lower concentration (i.e. down a concentration gradient), as a result of their random movement.

Osmosis (Supplement definition)

The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower water potential (concentrated solution), through a partially permeable membrane.

Active transport

The movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration (i.e. against a concentration gradient), using energy from respiration.

Photosynthesis Word Equation

carbon dioxide + water $\rightarrow$ glucose + oxygen in the presence of light and chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis Balanced Chemical Equation

$$6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$$

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not changed by the reaction.

Enzymes

Proteins that are involved in all metabolic reactions, where they function as biological catalysts.

Ingestion

The taking of substances, e.g. food and drink, into the body.

Digestion

The breakdown of food.

Absorption

The movement of nutrients from the intestines into the blood.

Assimilation

The uptake and use of nutrients by cells.

Egestion

The removal of undigested food from the body as faeces.

Physical digestion

The breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules.

Chemical digestion

The breakdown of large insoluble molecules into small soluble molecules.

Transpiration

The loss of water vapour from leaves.

Translocation

The movement of sucrose and amino acids in phloem from sources to sinks.

Source

The parts of plants that release sucrose or amino acids.

Sink

The parts of plants that use or store sucrose or amino acids.

Pathogen

A disease-causing organism.

Transmissible disease

A disease in which the pathogen can be passed from one host to another.

Active immunity

Defence against a pathogen by antibody production in the body.

Antibodies

Proteins that bind to antigens leading to direct destruction of pathogens or marking of pathogens for destruction by phagocytes.

Passive immunity

A short-term defence against a pathogen by antibodies acquired from another individual, including across the placenta and in breast milk.

Aerobic respiration

The chemical reactions in cells that use oxygen to break down nutrient molecules to release energy.

Aerobic respiration Balanced Chemical Equation

$$C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O$$

Anaerobic respiration

The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release energy without using oxygen.

Deamination

The removal of the nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form urea.

Reflex action

A means of automatically and rapidly integrating and coordinating stimuli with the responses of effectors (muscles and glands).

Synapse

A junction between two neurones.

Sense organs

Groups of receptor cells responding to specific stimuli: light, sound, touch, temperature and chemicals.

Hormone

A chemical substance, produced by a gland and carried by the blood, which alters the activity of one or more specific target organs.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment.

Gravitropism

A response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from gravity.

Phototropism

A response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from the direction of the light source.

Asexual reproduction

A process resulting in the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent.

Sexual reproduction

A process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of offspring that are genetically different from each other.

Fertilisation

The fusion of the nuclei of gametes.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from an anther to a stigma.

Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

An infection that is transmitted through sexual contact.

Gene

A length of DNA that codes for a protein.

Allele

An alternative form of a gene.

Haploid nucleus

A nucleus containing a single set of chromosomes.

Diploid nucleus

A nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes.

Mitosis

Nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells.

Meiosis

A reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid resulting in genetically different cells.

Inheritance

The transmission of genetic information from generation to generation.

Genotype

The genetic make-up of an organism and in terms of the alleles present.

Phenotype

The observable features of an organism.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles of a particular gene.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles of a particular gene.

Dominant allele

An allele that is expressed if it is present in the genotype.

Recessive allele

An allele that is only expressed when there is no dominant allele of the gene present in the genotype.

Variation

Differences between individuals of the same species.

Mutation

Genetic change.

Gene mutation (Supplement)

A random change in the base sequence of DNA.

Adaptive feature

An inherited feature that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Adaptation (Supplement process)

The process, resulting from natural selection, by which populations become more suited to their environment over many generations.

Food chain

The transfer of energy from one organism to the next, beginning with a producer.

Food web

A network of interconnected food chains.

Producer

An organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis.

Consumer

An organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms.

Herbivore

An animal that gets its energy by eating plants.

Carnivore

An animal that gets its energy by eating other animals.

Decomposer

An organism that gets its energy from dead or waste organic material.

Trophic level

The position of an organism in a food chain, food web or ecological pyramid.

Population

A group of organisms of one species, living in the same area, at the same time.

Community

All of the populations of different species in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem

A unit containing the community of organisms and their environment, interacting together.

Biodiversity

The number of different species that live in an area.

Sustainable resource

One which is produced as rapidly as it is removed from the environment so that it does not run out.

Genetic modification

Changing the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing or inserting individual genes.