9th grade Bio terms to know

  • Cellular respiration: A set of metabolic reactions that convert energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and release waste products.

  • Abiotic Factors: The non-living components of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, temperature, and minerals, that influence the survival and growth of organisms.

  • Angiosperms: A group of plants that produce flowers and seeds, which develop within a fruit, distinguishing them from other plant groups.

  • Adaptations: Changes in physical or behavioral traits in organisms that enhance their ability to survive and reproduce in specific environments.

  • Arthropods:Invertebrate animals characterized by their exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, including insects, arachnids, and crustaceans.

  • Appendages: Structures that extend from the body of an organism, typically used for locomotion, feeding, or sensory functions.

  • Amniotic Eggs:Eggs that are surrounded by a protective amniotic membrane, allowing embryonic development in a terrestrial environment, commonly found in reptiles, birds, and some mammals.

  • Agnatha:A group of jawless fish, including lampreys and hagfish, characterized by their elongated bodies and lack of paired fins.

  • Biotic Factors:Living components of an ecosystem that affect the survival and development of organisms, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

  • Bones:Structures that provide support and shape to the body of vertebrates, protect vital organs, and serve as sites for muscle attachment, composed largely of mineralized tissue.

  • Cambrian explosion:A major event in the history of life on Earth, occurring about 541 million years ago, when most major animal phyla appeared in the fossil record, marking a significant increase in biodiversity.

  • Cyanobacteria:Photosynthetic bacteria that are believed to be among the oldest life forms on Earth, playing a crucial role in the production of oxygen and the development of early ecosystems.

  • Carbon Cycle:The series of processes through which carbon atoms circulate through the Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and geology, essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and understanding climate change.

  • Carrying Capacity:The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat, influenced by resources such as food, water, and shelter.

  • Cycads: a group of seed plants with a crown of large, stiff leaves and a long, woody trunk, often referred to as "living fossils" due to their ancient lineage and low diversity.

  • Collagen: A structural protein found in skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, providing strength and elasticity, crucial for maintaining the integrity of various tissues in the body.

  • Cnidarians diverse group of aquatic animals, including jellyfish, coral, and sea anemones, characterized by their radial symmetry and the presence of specialized cells called cnidocytes, used for capturing prey.

  • Chloroplasts: Organelles found in plant cells and some algae, responsible for photosynthesis, converting sunlight into chemical energy stored as glucose, and giving plants their green color due to the pigment chlorophyll.

  • Chelicerata:A subphylum of arthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, and mites, characterized by the presence of chelicerae, which are claw-like mouthparts used for grasping and tearing food.

  • Chordate:A phylum of animals that includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, characterized by having a notochord at some stage of development, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and pharyngeal slits.

  • Crossing over: