CSEC Biology Concise Revision Course

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts in CSEC Biology, aiding students in their revision and preparation for exams.

Excretion

The process by which waste and harmful substances produced by the body's metabolism are removed from the body.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until uniform distribution is achieved.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose using sunlight energy, producing oxygen as a by-product.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment in an organism.

Osmoregulation

The regulation of the concentration of blood plasma and body fluids to prevent excessive loss or gain of water.

Heterotrophic nutrition

A type of nutrition where organisms obtain ready-made organic food from their environment.

Autotrophic nutrition

A type of nutrition where organisms produce their own food from simple inorganic substances.

Pathogenic diseases

Diseases caused by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoans.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their abiotic environment.

Natural selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells, maintaining the diploid number of chromosomes.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically non-identical gametes.

Mutation

A sudden change in a single gene or part of a chromosome, leading to new characteristics in organisms.

Symbiotic relationships

Close relationships between two different species that can be beneficial (mutualism), harmful (parasitism), or neutral (commensalism).

Gene therapy

An experimental technique that involves altering genes inside body cells to treat or prevent disease.

Genetic engineering

A process that involves changing the traits of organisms by inserting genetic material from a different organism into its DNA.

Translocation

The movement of soluble food substances, mainly sucrose, in the phloem from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Vaccination

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an individual's immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by lymphocytes in response to the presence of antigens, which help to destroy pathogens.

Allele

Alternative forms of a gene that occupy the same position on homologous chromosomes and control the same character.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an organism, represented by the alleles present for a particular gene.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an organism, determined by its genotype and environmental influences.