Year 10 Biology Revision

Vocabulary study cards covering cell biology, genetics, evolution, fossils, Earth's spheres, the carbon cycle, and climate change concepts for Year 10 Biology revision.

Mitosis

A type of cell division responsible for the growth, repair and replacement of cells.

Dominant allele

An allele that needs only one copy to show its characteristic (AA or Aa).

Recessive allele

An allele that needs two copies to show its characteristic (aa).

Genotype

The alleles an organism has.

Phenotype

The observable characteristic of an organism.

PMAT

An acronym representing the stages of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

Double helix

The twisted ladder shape of DNA.

Nucleotide

The building block of DNA.

Nitrogenous bases

The four chemical units in DNA: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C) and Guanine (G).

GMO

Genetically modified organism; an organism whose DNA has been directly changed by scientists.

Selective breeding

The practice of humans choosing organisms with desired traits to reproduce.

Punnett square

A diagram used for predicting the possible genotypes of offspring.

Natural selection

The process where organisms with helpful traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Selection pressure

Something that affects survival, such as predators, disease or climate.

Homologous structures

Similar body structures inherited from a common ancestor.

Divergent evolution

When species from a common ancestor become different over time.

Variation

Differences between individuals of the same species.

Hypothesis

A prediction that can be tested, often written in the format 'If… then… because…'.

Fossil

Preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose (food) and oxygen.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients in the carbon cycle, releasing carbon dioxide.

Cellular respiration

The process where cells break down glucose using oxygen to release energy, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Atmosphere

In the carbon cycle, the air, which contains carbon dioxide.

Biosphere

The part of the Earth system consisting of all living organisms.

Hydrosphere

The part of the Earth system consisting of all water, including oceans and rivers.

Geosphere

The part of the Earth system consisting of rocks, soil and fossil fuels.

Albedo

A measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects, calculated as $\text{reflected sunlight} \div \text{incoming sunlight}$.

Natural greenhouse effect

A process where natural greenhouse gases trap some heat and keep Earth warm enough for life.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A process where extra greenhouse gases trap more heat, causing global warming.

Fluctuating trend

A graph trend where the values go up and down.