MISA Study Guide Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards for MISA Study Guide Units 1-5.

Daughter Cell

A cell resulting from the division of a single parent cell.

Differentiation

The process by which a stem cell becomes a specialized cell.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.

Multicellular

Consisting of many cells.

Nutrient

A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.

Organ

A part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans.

Organ System

A group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions.

Parent Cell

A cell that is the source of other cells through cell division.

Specialized Cells

Cells that have unique structures and functions.

Tissue

A group of similar cells performing a specific function.

Addiction

A compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences.

Depressant

A drug that reduces functional or nervous activity.

Feedback

A process in which the output of a system is used to regulate the input.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.

Impulse

A sudden strong urge or desire to act.

Negative Feedback

A control system in which the effect of a process reduces the original stimulus, thereby slowing down the process.

Positive Feedback

A control system in which the effect of a process increases the original stimulus, thereby accelerating the process.

Regulate

To control or maintain the rate or speed of a process so that it operates properly.

Stimulant

A drug that increases functional or nervous activity.

Stimulus

A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.

Aerobic

Requiring oxygen.

Anaerobic

Not requiring oxygen.

Monomer

A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

Polymer

A substance consisting of long chains of monomers.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that carries energy within cells for metabolism.

Bond

A link between atoms or ions in a molecule.

Carbohydrate

An organic compound such as sugar or starch, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Chemical Reaction

A process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance.

Compound

A substance consisting of two or more elements chemically bonded together.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Endergonic

A reaction that requires energy to be driven.

Exergonic

A reaction that releases energy.

Glucose

A simple sugar with the molecular formula C6H12O6.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Law of Conservation of Mass

A principle stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Macromolecule

A very large molecule, such as a protein or nucleic acid.

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells break down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP.

Product

A substance produced in a chemical reaction.

Reactant

A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that can participate in forming chemical bonds with other atoms.

Chromosomes

Structures within cells that contain the genes.

Coding Region

The region of a gene that contains instructions for building a protein.

Crossing Over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all known living organisms.

Genes

Units of heredity that determine traits.

Genetic Material

The material in chromosomes that carries genetic information.

Genetic Variation

Differences in genes among individuals in a population.

Inherited Trait

A characteristic or feature that is passed from parents to offspring.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes.

Mutation

A change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA.

Noncoding Region

A region of DNA that does not code for proteins.

Probability

The extent to which something is likely to occur.

Punnett Square

A diagram that is used to predict the genotypes and phenotypes of offspring in a genetic cross.

Traits

A distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait.

Dominant

An allele that masks the effect of the recessive allele.

Recessive

An allele that is masked by the dominant allele.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual organism.

Phenotype

The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

Adaption

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Anatomical

Relating to the structure of the body.

Ancestry

The lineage or descent of an organism.

Common Ancestry

A group of organisms share a common ancestor.

Descent

The derivation of an organism from an ancestor.

Distribution

The way in which something is spread out over an area.

Embryological

Relating to the study of embryos and their development.

Evolution

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Evolve

To change gradually over time.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.

Proliferation

Rapid increase in numbers.

Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Variation

Any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences or by the effect of environmental factors.

Abiotic

Non-living factors in an ecosystem.

Autotroph

An organism that produces its own food.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Biomass

The total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.

Biotic

Living factors in an ecosystem.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals that an environment can support.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their physical environment.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Heterotroph

An organism that cannot produce its own food and obtains nutrients from other organisms.

Invasive Species

A species that is not native to a specific location and has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.

Resource

A substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal maintenance, growth, and reproduction.

Trophic Levels

The position an organism occupies in a food chain.

Producers

Organisms that make their own food.

Consumers

Organisms that eat other organisms.

Ecology

The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.