CAIE Biology IGCSE Lecture Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from CAIE Biology IGCSE.

Movement

Living organisms are able to move all or part of themselves.

Respiration

A series of chemical reactions in cells that breaks down nutrient molecules to release energy for metabolism.

Sensitivity

The ability of living organisms to detect and respond to changes in their internal or external environments.

Growth

A permanent increase in size of an organism, measurable through dry mass, cell size, or number of cells.

Reproduction

The process by which living organisms create more organisms of their kind.

Excretion

The removal of waste products from metabolic reactions, including toxic materials and excess substances.

Nutrition

The intake of materials for development; for animals, this includes organic compounds, ions, and water, while plants take in light, carbon dioxide, and water.

Binomial naming system

An internationally agreed system to name organisms using two parts showing the genus and species.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like material within cells where reactions occur and organelles such as the nucleus and ribosomes are found.

Cell membrane

A thin membrane that surrounds the cell, controlling the entry and exit of substances.

DNA

Genetic material contained in the nucleus which codes for proteins.

Ribosomes

The site of protein synthesis in the cell.

Mitochondria

Organelles where respiration occurs, providing energy for the cell.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Vacuole

A fluid-filled sac in plant cells that contains minerals, sugars, amino acids, and waste.

Prokaryote

Organisms without a nucleus, typically single-celled, such as bacteria.

Protoctist

A kingdom of mostly unicellular organisms that are not animals, plants or fungi.

Vertebrates

Animals that have a backbone, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

Arthropods

Invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton and segmented bodies, including insects and crustaceans.

Turgid

Cells that are swollen due to high water content.

Flaccid

Cells that have lost water and become limp.

Plasmolysis

The process where plant cells lose water causing the cell membrane to pull away from the cell wall.

Osmosis

The net movement of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane.

Active transport

The movement of molecules against a concentration gradient using energy from respiration.

Carbohydrates

Molecules made up of sugar units that serve as energy sources and structural components.

Proteins

Large molecules made of amino acids that perform various functions in living organisms.

Fats

Molecules made of glycerol and fatty acids, used for energy storage and insulation.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Stomata

Tiny openings on plant leaves that allow for gas exchange.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Natural selection

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

Genetic engineering

The artificial alteration of genes in an organism to achieve desired traits.

Antibiotics

Substances used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Asexual reproduction

A mode of reproduction that produces genetically identical offspring from a single parent.

Sexual reproduction

A mode of reproduction that involves two parents contributing genetic material to produce genetically diverse offspring.