Module 4 glossary words

Question 1

Disease

Answer 1

a departure from good health caused by a malfunction of the mind or body which cases physical, mental or social symptoms.

Question 2

Pathogens

Answer 2

Organisms that cause disease

Question 3

Parasites

Answer 3

organisms that live in or on another living thing (host), causing it harm

Question 4

Transmission

Answer 4

the way in which a pathogen or parasite travels from one host to another

Question 5

Vector

Answer 5

an organism which carries a pathogen from one host to another

Question 6

Immune response

Answer 6

the specific response to antigens on the cell surface membrane of a pathogen.It involves lymphocytes and the production of antibodies.

Question 7

Primary defences

Answer 7

prevent pathogens from entering the body

Question 8

Secondary defences

Answer 8

attempt to kill pathogens after they have entered the body

Question 9

Non-specific

Answer 9

digest a range of pathogens

Question 10

Antigens

Answer 10

protein/glycoprotein found on the cell surface membrane of cells. Foreign antigens stimulate an immune response.

Question 11

Antibodies

Answer 11

proteins which identify and neutralise antigens. Each antibody is specific to a particular antigen due to the complementary shapes of the antigen and variable region of the antibody.

Question 12

Vaccination

Answer 12

A deliberate exposure to antigenic material which activates the immune system, to make an immune response and provide immunity.

Question 13

Natural immunity

Answer 13

gained in the normal course of living

Question 14

Artificial immunity

Answer 14

is gained by an injection which is a deliberate exposure to antibodies that have not been made by the person’s own immune system

Question 15

Passive immunity

Answer 15

acquired without the activation of the lymphocytes- provided by antibodies that have not been made by the person’s own immune system

Question 16

Active immunity

Answer 16

acquired by the activation of the person’s own immune system

Question 17

Biodiversity

Answer 17

the range of habitats, the number of different species and the genetic diversity within a species within an area. It takes into account species richness and species evenness

Question 18

Species richness

Answer 18

number of different species in a habitat

Question 19

Species evenness

Answer 19

relative numbers of how many individuals in each species

Question 20

Habitat

Answer 20

The place where organisms live

Question 21

Species

Answer 21

A group of organisms similar in appearance, physiology and genetics whose members are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 22

Classification

Answer 22

process of sorting living things into groups of similar organisms. It reflects how closely related they are and evolutionary relationships

Question 23

Taxonomy

Answer 23

the study of the principles behind classification- the study of the differences between species (physical and genetic)

Question 24

Phylogeny

Answer 24

the study of the evolutionary relationships between organisms, the study of how closely related they are

Question 25

Variation

Answer 25

differences within a species or between different species

Question 26

Adaptation

Answer 26

a feature that enhances survival and long-term reproductive success

Question 27

Natural selection

Answer 27

‘selection’ by the environment of individuals that show certain favourable variations. These individuals will survive to reproduce and pass on their variations to the next generation

Question 28

Evolution

Answer 28

the gradual change in the characteristics of a species over many generations. Driven by selective pressures and natural selcetion

Question 29

Speciation

Answer 29

the formation of a new species from a pre-existing one

Question 30

Selective pressure

Answer 30

an external factor that drives evolution in a particular direction. It might cause competition between individuals or cause some organisms to die whilst others survive

Question 31

Extinct

Answer 31

no members of a species remain and it ceases to exist

Question 32

Critically endangered

Answer 32

likely to become extinct as the species numbers have become low due to man made or natural changes in the environment

Question 33

Conservation

Answer 33

maintaining biodiversity between species, genetic diversity within a species and a variety of habitats and ecosystems

Question 34

Conservation in situ

Answer 34

conserving a species in its natural environment

Question 35

Conservation ex situ

Answer 35

conserving endangered species by activities that take place outside its normal environment