Unit 4 Biology Vocabulary

Active Immunity

A form of acquired immunity in which the body produces its own antibodies against a pathogen; long-term protection

Adult Stem Cells

stem cells that are found in adults that can differentiate to form a limited number of body cells

AIDS

(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) a disease caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) which attacks and kills T cells in the immune system

Antibiotic

a drug used to fight and kill bacterial infections; Ex. penicillin

Antibody

a Y-shaped protein that attaches to foreign molecules and signals their destruction by white blood cells

Anti-Codon

three letters (nitrogen bases) on a tRNA molecule

Antiviral

new class of drugs used to treat viral infections; Ex. tamiflu

Asexual Reproduction

A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

B-cell

a type of white blood cell that makes antibodies

Cancer

uncontrolled cell division

Cell Cycle

life cycle of a cell that consists of interphase, mitosis, and cytokinesis

Cholera

A disease spread by bacteria in contaminated water that causes an infection in the intestine and results in severe vomiting and diarrhea; can be fatal

Chromatin

tangled up spaghetti like DNA mixed with protein; only found during interphase

Chromosomes

formed when DNA coils tightly around proteins

Codon

three letters (nitrogen bases) in the mRNA

Complementary Base Pairing

A always pairs with T and G with C in DNA; in RNA, A always pairs with U and G with C

Cytokinesis

last step of the cell cycle in which the cytoplasm divides into two cells

Daughter Cells

the cells that result from the division of a single parent cell; produced in mitosis and meiosis

Deoxyribose

sugar found in DNA

Differentiation

process that occurs during embryonic development in which stem cells take on different structures and functions and become the many different types of cells in the human body; also called specialization

DNA Replication

the process of making a copy of DNA

Double Helix

term used to describe the structure of DNA

Embryonic Stem Cells

cell of the early embryo which are undifferentiated and can develop into any type of body cell; highly valuable to researchers

Hydrogen Bond

weak chemical bond between the nitrogen bases of DNA that can be easily broken during unzipping

Interphase

longest phase of the cell cycle consisting of G1, S, and G2 in which the cell is growing and copying its DNA

mRNA

acts as a messenger by carrying the message of the DNA out into the cytoplasm for translation; made during transription; contains codons

Mutation

a mistake or change in the normal sequence of DNA; can be random/spontaneous OR caused by radiation, tobacco smoke, and chemical exposure

Nitrogenous Base

A, T, G, and C in DNA; A, U, G, and C in RNA

Passive Immunity

short-term protection that occurs when a person gets antibodies from another source; the person does not make them

Pfiesteria

a group of protists that has caused large algal blooms and fish kills off the coast of NC

Protein Synthesis

process of making proteins that includes transcription and translation

Tuberculosis

a bacterial infection of the lungs