Living Environment Regents Vocabulary Notes
Invasive Species
Non-native species that disrupt ecosystem balance.
Karyotype
Picture of chromosomes arranged in pairs.
Used to detect genetic disorders.
Levels of Organization
Organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism.
Limiting Factor
Resource that restricts population size.
Liver
Organ producing bile and neutralizing toxins.
Lysosome
Organelle digesting food, waste, and foreign invaders.
Meiosis
Cell division producing sex cells.
Resulting cells have half the DNA of original cell.
Menstrual Cycle
Cycle of egg development and release from ovary.
Uterus prepares for fertilized egg.
Metabolism
All chemical reactions in an organism.
Microbe
Microscopic life form, microorganism, germ.
Mitochondria
Site of cellular respiration.
Mitosis
Cell division producing identical body cells.
Resulting cells have same DNA as original cell.
Mutation
Change in DNA sequence.
Mutualism
Relationship where both species benefit.
Natural Selection
Organisms adapted to environment survive and reproduce.
Neuron
Specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses, a nerve cell.
Niche
Organism's role in an ecosystem.
Nonrenewable Resource
Resources that cannot be replaced, finite amount.
Nuclear Power (Fission)
Energy from splitting radioactive atoms, Uranium.
Nucleus
Control center of the cell, contains DNA.
Nutrients
Substances needed for growth, repair, and energy.
Omnivore
Consumer eating both plants and animals.
Organ
Collection of tissues performing a specific function.
Organelle
Tiny cell structure with a specific function.
Organic Molecule
Molecule containing carbon from living systems.
Examples: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids.
Organism
An individual living thing.
Organ System
Group of organs working together.
Ovary
Female reproductive organ producing gametes.
Ozone Depletion
Thinning of ozone layer caused by CFCs.
Leads to skin cancer.
Pancreas
Organ producing insulin and digestive juice.
Parasite
Organism feeding off and harming a host.
Pathogen
Organism invading the body and causing disease.
Pesticide
Chemical to kill insects and crop-damaging organisms.
Pesticide Resistance
Insects with mutation resist pesticide.
Solution: create new pesticide.
pH
Measurement of acidity and basicity.
Photosynthesis
Process creating food (glucose) for plant cells.
Photosynthesis Formula
carbon \ dioxide + water + sunlight \rightarrow oxygen + glucose
Pioneer Species
First species in succession, least stable.
Placenta
Allows nutrient and waste exchange between mother and fetus.
Pollution
Release of harmful materials into the environment.
Population
Group of same species in the same area.
Predators
Animals that kill and eat other animals.
Prey
Animal hunted for food.
Producers
Autotrophs that produce their own food.
Protein
Shape-specific molecule made of amino acids.
Receptor Molecules
Proteins receiving cellular messages.
Recycle
Part of 3 R's, making the product again.
Reduce
Part of 3 R's, cutting down on the amount you use.
Renewable Resource
Resources that can be replaced by natural means.
Replication
Copying process of DNA duplication.
Respiratory System
Brings in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.
Reuse
Part of 3 R's, use again for another application.
Ribosome
Site where proteins are built from amino acids.
RNA
Determines amino acid codons (CGAU).
Scale
Counting in a consistent number pattern along a.
Scavengers
Organisms feeding on dead organisms.
Scientific Method
Steps to solve problems.
Includes data collection, hypothesis formulation, testing, and conclusions.
Selective Breeding (Artificial Selection)
Choosing organisms with desired traits for breeding.
Selective Permeability
Property of cell membrane, allows some substances through, but not others.
Denature
Loses shape due to temperature or pH change.
Dependent Variable
What is measured, plotted on the y-axis.
Diaphragm (Microscope)
Controls amount of light passing through specimen.
Diaphragm (Respiratory)
Muscle that controls breathing.
Differentiation
Transformation of developing cells into specialized cells.
Diffusion
Movement of molecules from high to low concentration, no energy required.
Digestion
Breakdown of molecules.
Digestive System
Breaks down large molecules into nutrients for cells.
Direct Harvesting
Destruction or loss of species by over hunting, or of one crop by harvesting it all.
Diseases
Disruption of normal functioning.
Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens (virus, bacterium, and fungus).
DNA
Stores genetic information and instructions for proteins.
Contains bases C, G, A, T.
Dynamic Equilibrium
Steady state, balance, homeostasis.
Ecological Succession
Community replaces another until stable.
Ecology
Study of interactions between living things and environment.
Ecosystem
All abiotic and biotic factors in an area.
Egg Cell
Also called ovum; female gamete.
Embryo
Organism in earliest stage of development.
Energy Pyramid
Shows energy flow through ecosystem.
Producers have most, top consumers have least.
Enzyme
Protein that speeds up chemical reactions, catalyst.
Estrogen
Female reproductive hormone.
Evolution
Process by which species change over time.
Excretion
Process of eliminating metabolic wastes.
Excretory System
Removes waste products from the body.
Experimental Group
Group being tested or changed.
Extinct
No living members left.
Feedback Mechanism
Cyclical action maintains homeostasis.
Fertilization
Combining sperm and egg.
Finite Resources
Limited, will run out.
Food Chain
Shows energy flow from one organism to another.
Food Web
All feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
Fossil
Preserved remains of past organism.
Fossil Fuel
Nonrenewable (coal, oil, gas).
Gamete
Sex cell.
Gel Electrophoresis
Technique to determine relationships using DNA.
Gene
Segment of DNA coding for a trait (protein).
Gene Expression
Environment affects how genes are expressed.
Gene Splicing
Cutting DNA and placing it into another organism.
Genetic Engineering
Altering genetic instructions by changing DNA.
Genetic Similarities
Evidence of evolution (similar DNA and amino acid sequences).
Common DNA suggests common ancestor.
Genetic Variation
Genetic differences among offspring.
Global Warming
Increase in Earth's temperature from increased carbon dioxide.
Glucose
Sugar, source of food for cells.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases causing global warming (e.g., CO2).
Guard Cell
Specialized cells controlling leaf pore openings.
Habitat
Place where an organism lives.
Herbivores
Consumers that eat only plants.
Heredity
Passing of traits from parent to offspring.
Heterotroph
Organism unable to make its own food.
HIV
Virus attacking the immune system.
Homeostasis
Maintaining stable internal environment.
Hormone
Protein chemical message molecule from endocrine glands.
Improving Experiments
Repeat experiment.
Increase sample size.
Peer review.
Human Activities
Actions impacting the environment.
Human Overpopulation
Too many people for available resources.
Causes environmental problems.
Hydroelectric
Using running water to make electricity.
Hypothesis
Testable statement predicting a relationship.
Immunity
Resistance to disease.
Independent Variable
What is changed, plotted on the x-axis.
Indicator
Shows substance presence with color change.
Industrialization
Factory production increases pollution.
Inheritance
Passing genetic material to offspring.
Inorganic Molecule
Examples: water, oxygen, carbon dioxide.
Insulin
Hormone lowering glucose levels.
Abiotic
Non-living.
Acid Rain
Rain with low pH from industrial gas emissions.
Active Immunity
Protection from body's own antibody production.
Active Transport
Movement from low to high concentration, using energy.
Adaptation
Inherited trait aiding survival.
Adaptive Value
Trait helping survival and reproduction.
AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, weakens immune system.
Allergy
Immune system overreaction.
Alternative Energy Source
Energy sources other than fossil fuels.
Amino Acid
Building blocks of proteins.
Amniocentesis
Analyzing amniotic fluid cells for genetic disorders.
Anaerobic
Process without oxygen.
Antibiotic
Medicine destroying harmful bacteria.
Antibiotic Resistance
Resistance evolving due to overuse.
Antibody
Protein attaching to pathogens.
Antigen
Molecule on pathogen surface recognized by immune system.
Antihistamine
Medication blocking histamine effects.
Asexual Reproduction
Offspring identical to parent.
ATP
Energy molecule.
Autotroph
Organism making its own food.
Bacteria
Single-celled organisms without a nucleus; prokaryotes.
Base
DNA bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine (ATCG).
RNA has uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).
Biodiversity
Variety of life, creates stability.
Biomagnification/Bioaccumulation
Increase in toxins up the food chain.
Biotechnology
Technology using living organisms.
Biotic
Living.
Cancer
Uncontrolled cell division.
Carbohydrate
Made of sugars, used for energy.
Carnivore
Consumer eating only animals.
Carrying Capacity
Largest population an ecosystem can support.
Catalyst
Speeds up chemical reactions (enzyme).
Cell
Basic unit of life.
Cell Membrane
Barrier regulating cell entry and exit.
Cell Receptors
Recognizes and responds to chemical signals.
Cellular Communication
Recognizes and responds to chemical signals by using receptor molecules
Cellular Respiration
Breaks down glucose to make ATP.
Cellular Respiration Formula
glucose + oxygen \rightarrow carbon \ dioxide + water + ATP
Cell Wall
Provides structure in plant cells.
Chemical Bond
Stores energy, released when broken.
Chloroplast
Site of photosynthesis.
Chromatography (Paper Chromatography)
Separates mixtures based on solubility.
Chromosome
Condensed DNA, contains genes.
Climax Community
Most stable during succession.
Clone
Genetically identical organism.
Coarse Adjustment Knob
Focusing in low power.
Commensalism
One benefits, other unaffected.
(+,0)
Common Ancestor
Organism from which others evolved.
Competition
Fighting for resources.
Consumer
Heterotroph.
Control Group
Comparison group with no changes.
Cytoplasm
Jelly-like substance in cell.
Data
Information from observations.
Decomposer
Breaks down dead organisms, recycles nutrients.
Deforestation
Cutting down forests.
Sexual reproduction
offspring is genetically different from both parents, half DNA from each parent
Solar
using the sun to make electricity
Species
A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Sperm cell
male gamete
Stain
added to slide to make structures more visible
Starch
digested into glucose, large
Stomates
openings in plant leaves for the exchange of gases
Survival of the fittest
A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment surviving and reproducing, passing on their traits
Synthesis
create or combine molecules
Testes
male reproductive organ where gametes are produced
Testosterone
male reproductive hormone
Tissue
A group of similar cells that perform the same function.
Trade-off
balancing the pros and cons
Trait
expressed characteristic passed from parent to offspring
Uterus
female reproductive organ where embryo develops
Vaccine
weak or dead pathogen that protects against infection
Vacuole
stores water and nutrients in plant cells
validity
how trusted data is; peer review, increasing participants or repeating experiment
Variation
Any difference between individuals of the same species, sexually reproducing organisms have more
Virus
A tiny, nonliving particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell.
White blood cell
A blood cell that fights disease.
wind/solar/water power
renewable resources, better for the environment (BUT very expensive)
Zygote
a fertilized egg