The following is a list of vocabulary words that will probably be on the Biology exam.
Active transport: movement of molecules across a membrane requiring energy to be expended by the cell Adaptation: inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival Allele: the different forms of a gene; could be dominant or recessive Amino acid: basic building blocks of proteins Anaphase: the third phase of mitosis, during which the chromosome pairs separate and move toward opposite poles Antibiotic: compound that blocks the growth and reproduction of bacteria Antibody: a substance produced by the body that destroys or inactivates a pathogen that has entered the body ATP: a nucleotide that stores and transfers energy within cells Autotroph: organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food; also called a producer
Bacteria: domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls containing peptidoglycans Base deletion: mutation which results in the loss of nucleotide pairs in a gene; have a major effect on the resulting protein Base insertion: mutation which results in the addition of nucleotide pairs in a gene; have a major effect on the resulting protein Base-pair substitution: a type of point mutation where one nucleotide and its partner are replaced by another pair of nucleotides Behavioral adaptation: an inherited behavior that helps an organism survive; like escaping from predators or find a mate Binomial nomenclature: Classification system in which each species is assigned a two-part scientific name including the genus and species Capsid: the outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus Carbohydrate: organic compound used by cells to store and release energy; composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen Carbon cycle: the organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again
Carnivore: a consumer that only eats other consumers Cell: basic unit of life Cell cycle: the cycle of growth and reproduction of a cell, consisting of interphase (g1, s, g2) and mitosis (division of the nucleus-prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase) and cytokinesis (division of cytoplasm) Cell division: the process by which a cell divides into two new daughter cells Cell membrane: The lipid bilayer that forms the outer boundary of the cell Cell wall: a rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell; made of carbohydrates
Cellular respiration: process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen
Chlorophyll: green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy used to carry out photosynthesis Chloroplast: organelle found in cells of plants and some other organisms that captures the energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical energy
Chromatid: one of two identical "sister" parts of a duplicated chromosome Chromosome: condensed threads of genetic material formed from chromatin as a cell prepares to divide Commensalism: symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed Competition: the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources Consumer: an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms Crossing over: exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes Decomposer: organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter Deforestation: the removal of trees Differentiation: process in which cells become specialized in structure and function
Diffusion: the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration; passive Dihybrid cross:genetic cross using two traits with two alleles each Diploid number: cell condition in which two of each type of chromosome are present Disturbance: A discrete event that disrupts an ecosystem or community. Examples of natural disturbances include fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and floods. Examples of human-caused disturbances include deforestation, overgrazing, and plowing. DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid, the material that contains the information that determines inherited characteristic Domain: Most inclusive taxonomic category; larger than a kingdom Dominant: trait that will show up in an organism's phenotype if gene is present Double helix: two strands of nucleotides wound about each other; structure of DNA Ecological succession: gradual change in living communities that follows a disturbance
Ecosystem: living and nonliving things in an environment, together with their interactions Egg: Female sex cell Embryo: organism in its early stage of development Embryology: study of multicellular organisms as they develop from fertilized eggs to fully formed organisms Endocytosis: process by which a cell takes in a substance by surrounding it with the cell membrane; active transport Endoplasmic reticulum: a system of membranes that is found in a cell's cytoplasm and that assists in the production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids Energy pyramid: a diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food we Enzyme: protein that speeds up a chemical reaction Eukaryote: A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles Evolution: the gradual change in a species over time Fertilization: the joining of a sperm cell and an egg cell
Food chain: a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten Food web: a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem Gamete: egg or sperm sex cell that contains a single set of chromosomes (haploid), one from each homologous pair Gene: sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait Gene flow: movement of alleles into or out of a population due to the migration of individuals to or from the population Gene pool: all of the alleles in all the individuals that make up a population Generation: one step in the line of descent of a family Genetic recombination: new combination of genetic information in a gamete as a result of crossing over during prophase I of meiosis Genetics:the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms Genome: the complete genetic material contained in an individual
Genotype: genetic makeup of an organism; like BB, Bb, or bb Genus: taxonomic group containing one or more species Gradualism: a model of evolution in which gradual change over a long period of time leads to biological diversity Habitat: the place where an organism lives Haploid number: half the normal number of chromosomes; found in sex cells Herbivore: consumer that eats only producers; also called a primary consumer Heterozygous: having two different alleles for a trait Homeostasis: process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment Homologous chromosomes: Chromosomes that are similar in size, shape, and genetic content Homologous structures: Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry. Homozygous: having two identical alleles for a trait
Infectious disease: A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be spread from one individual to another. Isotonic: when the concentration of two solutions is the same Kingdom: large taxonomic group, consisting of closely related phyla Lysosome: cell organelle filled with enzymes needed to break down certain materials in the cell Meiosis: Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms Messenger RNA; type of RNA that carries instructions from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome Metaphase: second phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell Mitochondria: cellular organelles where cellular respiration occurs Mitosis: part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides Monohybrid cross: a cross in which only one characteristic is tracked Mutagen: physical or chemical agent that causes mutations
Mutation: change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information Mutualism: symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship Natural selection: process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called survival of the fittest Niche: the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species) Nitrogen cycle: the transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere Nuclear membrane: controls what goes in and out of the nucleus Nucleic acid: a long chain of smaller molecules called nucleotides; DNA and RNA Nucleotide: monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base Nucleus: a part of the cell containing DNA responsible for growth and reproduction Omnivore: organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
Organ: a collection of tissues that carry out a specialized function of the body Organ system: group of organs that work together to perform a specific function Organelle:a tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell Organism: a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently Osmosis: diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane Parasitism: symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives in or on another organism (the host) and consequently harms it Passive transport: The movement of materials through a cell membrane without using energy Pathogen: disease-causing agent Phenotype: physical characteristics of an organism; like green eyes, bushy tail or sleek tail Phloem: the vascular tissue through which food moves in plants
Photosynthesis: process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrates Phototropism: Plant growth in response to light Pollination: transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant Primary consumer: consumer that feeds directly on producers Producer: an organism that can make its own food Prokaryote: A unicellular organism that LACKS a nucleus and membrane bound organelles Prophase: first and longest phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and take up positions on the opposite sides of the nucleus Protein: macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair and to make up enzymes Protein synthesis: the formation of proteins by using information contained in DNA and carried by mRNA Protist: single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any other kingdom
Punnett square: a chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross Recessive: The inherited characteristic often masked by the dominant characteristic and not seen in an organism Replication: (genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division Ribosome: An organelle that functions in the synthesis of proteins RNA: ribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid that plays an important role in the production of proteins Secondary consumer: consumer that eats primary consumers Secondary succession: succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil Seed: a mature fertilized plant ovule consisting of an embryo and its food source and having a protective coat Speciation: the formation of new species as a result of evolution Species: taxonomic group whose members can interbreed Stomata: Small openings on the underside of a leaf through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move.
Structural adaptation: a physical feature of an organism's body having a specific function that contributes to the survival of the organism Symbiosis: relationship in which two species live closely together Taxonomy: a classification of organisms into groups based on similarities of structure or origin etc Telophase: the final stage of meiosis when the chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle Theory: well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations Thigmotropism: plant growth in response to touch Tissue: group of similar cells that perform a particular function Toxin: a poison that can harm an organism Trait: a characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes. Transcription: process where the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA Transpiration: loss of water from a plant through its leaves
Trophic level: feeding level in an ecosystem Tropism: the growth response of a plant toward or away from a stimulus tRNA: transfer RNA; type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome Translation: decoding of a mRNA message into a polypeptide chain Vaccine: substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity Vacuole: cell organelle that stores materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates Variation: differences between organisms Vascular tissue: tissue that conducts water and nutrients through the plant body in plants Vestigial structure: parts of an organism that are no longer functioning and do not affect survival Virus: package of nucleic acid wrapped in a protein coat that must use a host cell's machinery to reproduce itself Xylem: the vascular tissue through which water and nutrients move in plants
Zygote: fertilized egg
