biology regents vocab (day 1) Flashcards
(140 cards)
1
Q
abiotic factors
A
the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment
2
Q
acidity
A
the level of acid in substances such as water, soil, or wine.
3
Q
acid rain
A
rainfall made more acidic by certain pollutants; causes environmental harm
4
Q
active transport
A
movement of substances across a membrane from an area of lower concentration to higher; requires energy
5
Q
adaptations
A
characteristics that make an organism well-suited for a particular environment
6
Q
adaptive radiation
A
the process by which several populations evolve from an original parent population, each adapted to different niches
7
Q
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
A
the substance used by cells to immediate source of chemical energy for the cell
8
Q
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
A
an immunodeficiency disease caused by HIV in humans
9
Q
alleles
A
different versions of the same gene
10
Q
allergic reactions
A
conditions caused by an overreaction of the immune system
11
Q
amino acids
A
organic compounds that are the building blocks of proteins
12
Q
antibiotics
A
medicines that destroy or slow down the growth of bacteria; frequently used to combat bacterial infections
13
Q
antibodies
A
molecules that individuals produce as a defense against foreign objects in the body; antibodies bind to specific antigens
14
Q
antigens
A
proteins on a foreign object that stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies
14
Q
artificial selection
A
the process by which humans encourage the development of specific traits by breeding the plants or animals that have those trait
15
Q
asexual reproduction
A
a form of reproduction that requires only one parent to pass on genetic information
16
Q
atmosphere
A
the blanket of gases that cover the earth; usually called “air”
17
Q
atoms
A
the smallest units of an element that can combine with other elements
18
Q
autoimmune diseases
A
illnesses caused when an overactive immune system begins to attack its own normal body tissues
19
Q
autosomes
A
in humans, the 22 matched pairs of chromosomes; not the X and Y chromosomes
20
Q
autotrophic
A
describes a self feeding organism that obtain its energy and nutrients from inorganic sources, a photosynthetic organism
21
Q
autotrophs
A
self-feeding organisms that obtain energy and nutrients from inorganic sources, plants (producers)
22
Q
bacteria
A
Single-celled organisms that do not have membrane-bound; some types can cause disease
23
Q
behavior
A
every action that an animal does, either learned or instinctive; usually to aid survival
24
biodiversity
The variety of different species in an ecosystem or in the world
25
biomass
matter that makes up the bodies of organisms
26
biome
A very large area characterized by certain climate and types of plants and animals
27
biosphere
The total area of land, water, and air on earth’s surface, where life is found
28
biotechnology
a field that uses living organisms or their products to create new technologies, products, and processes for various applications
29
biotic factors
The living parts of an organisms environment
30
cancer
A disease resulting from uncontrolled cell division, which damages normal tissues
31
carbohydrates
molecules formed from the elements hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon; main function is short-term energy storage
32
carbon cycle
process in which carbon is cycle among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere
33
carnivores
animals that obtain their energy by eating other animals
34
carrier
A female who has a recessive defective allele on one X chromosome, but not on the other; she may carry the genetic disorder, but not actively have the condition
35
carrying capacity
The size of a population that an ecosystem can support
36
catalysts
substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction, but are not damaged during the reaction
37
cell
The smallest living unit of an organ; all organisms are made up of at least one cell
38
cell cycle
A series of events that occurs in a cell as it grows and divides
39
cell differentiation
The development of specialized cells from less specialized cells through controlled gene expression
40
cell division
method by which a single cell reproduces; it divides into two new cells
41
cellular respiration
the process that uses oxygen to create ATP for energy use
42
cell wall
The rigid layer that surrounds an entire plant cell
43
chlorophyl
The green pigment that allows for synthetic organisms to capture energy from sunlight and use it to make organic molecules
44
chloroplasts
organelles that contain the pigment chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis
45
chromosomes
structures composed of DNA that contain the genetic material
46
climate change
A long-term change in the average weather patterns in a certain region
47
codon
A genetic “word“ made up by each different combination of three nucleotide basis; each represents a specific amino acid
48
combustion
The burning of a substance; a chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen from the air
49
commensalism
an interaction between individuals of different species in which one individual benefits, and the other is neither benefited nor harmed
50
common ancestor
an ancestor species that two or more species to send through evolution
51
community
populations of different species that interact within a particular area
52
competition
The struggle between organisms for limited resources, such as food and space
53
compounds
substance is formed by the combination of different element; a small number are necessary for living things
54
connective tissue
A type of tissue that connects, supports, and protect, protects other tissues in the body
55
consumers
organisms that obtain their energy by feeding on other organisms; heterotrophic lifeforms
56
control center
in a homeostatic mechanism, a body structure that determines the normal range, or set, of a variable such as body temperature
57
covalent bond
Chemical bond in which atoms share electrons with each other, thus making each atom more stable
58
cytokinesis
The process that occurs after mitosis, when the cytoplasm and contents of the cell divide in half
59
cytoplasm
The water fluid that fills a cell, surrounding its organelles
60
decomposers
heterotrophic organisms that obtain their energy by feeding on dead and decaying organisms
61
DNA
The hereditary material of all organisms, which contains the instructions for all cellular activities
62
dependent variable
an experiment, the change that occurs because of the independent variable
63
desertification
A process in which land becomes damage and can no longer support the same plant growth it could before, as a result of various factors, including climatic variations and human activities
64
development
The changes in an organism that occur from fertilization until death
65
directional selection
A form of natural selection in which a single phenotype is favored, causing the allele frequency to shift in one direction
66
diversifying selection
A form of natural selection in which phenotypes at the far ends of phenotypic spectrum are favorite over immediate phenotypes
67
DNA replication
The process by which DNA is copied during cell division and protein synthesis
68
domain
The highest order of classification in the taxonomic organization of living things
69
dominant
and genetics, an allele that produces a certain phenotype, whether it is paired with another dominant allele or a recessive allele
70
ecology
The study of the interactions of a living things with their environment
71
ecosystem
a system formed by organisms and their physical environment interacting together
72
ecosystem services
benefits that people obtain from ecosystems
73
effector
in a homeostatic mechanism, a body structure that receives information from the control center and brings about changes needed to maintain homeostasis
74
egg cell
The female gamete, that supplies half the genetic information to the zygote
75
embryo
an organism in an early stage of development before is hatched, born, or germinated
76
endocrine system
a network of glands and organs that produce and release hormones
77
endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
A network of membranous sacs and tubes in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells; organelle in which proteins are produced, processed, and transported
78
energy
found in different forms; all living things require continuous input to stay
79
energy pyramid
describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem; most energy is at the base (producers), and decreases at each higher level(consumers)
80
engineering design process
A series of steps that people can use to develop solutions to problems
81
enzymes
proteins that act as catalysts for a biological reaction
82
epigenome
like an instruction manual for your body, dictating how genes are used, not just what they are
83
epithelial tissue
A type of tissue that forms coverings on body surfaces
84
estrogen
in females, along with progesterone, a major sex hormone that affects secondary sex characteristics and reproduction
85
eukaryotic cell
A type of cell that contains
membrane-bound, organelles, including a nucleus
86
exons
coding sequences that contain the instructions for making proteins
87
exponential growth
A type of population growth in which population side increases as a greater and greater rate overtime
88
extinct
Describes the death of all living members of a species, no longer alive anywhere on earth
89
extinction
the complete disappearance of a species
90
feedback mechanism
A system that reverses or amplifies an original response that was triggered by a stimulus
91
fertilization
in sexual reproduction, process by which an egg cell and a sperm cell unite to form a zygote
92
fetus
A developing embryo after the first three months of development
93
food chain
The direct transfer of energy from one organism to the next
94
food web
The complex, interconnecting food chains in a community
95
fossils
The traces or remains of long-dead organisms preserved by natural processes
96
gametes
The male and female sex cells that combine to form a zygote during fertilization
97
gene
a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building specific proteins
98
gene expression
The use of genetic information in a gene to produce a particular trait, which can be modified by interactions with the environment
99
gene therapy
A technique that modifies a person‘s gene to treat or cure disease
100
genetically modified organisms (GMO)
organisms whose genetic material has been altered, using genetic engineering techniques
101
genetic code
The triplet code, in which each different combination of three bases makes up a codon
102
genetic cross
The type of experiment in which two organisms with different traits are bred
103
genetic engineering
recombinant DNA technology; the insertion of genes from one organism into the genetic material of another
104
genetic variatons
differences in the genetic make up of individuals, usually among offspring or members of a population
105
genotype
an organism's genetic makeup
106
geographic isolation
A type of reproductive isolation that occur occurs when a geographic barrier separates two populations of the species and prevent them from exchanging genetic material; can lead to speciation
107
geosphere
The solid parts of earth, including rocks, minerals, and landforms
108
glucose
A simple sugar that has six carbon atoms bonded together; a subunit of complex carbohydrates
109
Golgi complex
cell structures that package and distribute many materials for the cell
110
greenhouse effect
A process that occurs when gases in earths atmosphere, trapped the sun’s heat, which makes the planet warmer than it would be without an atmosphere
111
guard cells
A pair of specialized cells that surrounds stomata (openings) and leaves and regulates the uptake of carbon dioxide and the loss of water
112
habitat
The place in which an organism lives; a specific environment that has an interacting community of organisms
113
habitat loss
A process in which a natural habitat has changed or destroyed to such a degree that is no longer supports the species it once did
114
herbivore
an animal that obtain their energy by eating plants
115
hereditary
describes the genetic information that has passed from parents to offspring
116
heterotrophic
describes an organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other living things (animals)
117
heterotrophs
an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients
118
heterozygous
refers to having different alleles of a certain gene
119
histones
basic proteins in the cell nucleus, and play a crucial role in DNA packaging and gene regulation
120
homeostasis
in the body, the main maintenance of a constant internal environment
121
homologous structures
similar structures, or characteristics, that different (species of) organisms, both inherited from a common ancestor
122
homozygous
refers to having identical alleles of a certain gene
123
hormones
chemicals that bind with receptor proteins, resulting in long-lasting changes in the body
124
hydrocarbon
a compound composed solely of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms.
125
hydrosphere
The water on or surrounding earth
126
hypothesis
A possible answer to a specific scientific question that is test tested by doing an experiment
127
immune system
recognizes an attack invading microbes, such as bacteria, to protect the body against infection and disease
128
immunity
The ability to resist or prevent infection by a particular microbe
129
Immunodeficiency disease
illnesses that occur when the bodies immune system is underactive because it is weakened
130
independent variable
in experiment, the difference that might explain the observation
131
inflammation
A response to tissue damage and includes redness, swelling, heat, and/or pain
132
inheritance
The process by which traits are passed from one generation to the next
133
instinctive behavior
an inherited behavior that does not have to be learned and is usually performed in response to environmental stimuli
134
introns
non-coding segments of DNA within genes that are removed from the RNA transcript before it is translated into a protein
135
invasive species
an organism that causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native
136
karyotype
a visual representation of an individual's complete set of chromosomes, arranged in pairs according to size, shape, and banding patterns
137
kingdoms
major taxonomic groupings into which scientists categorize living things
138
learned behaviors
behaviors that an organism requires by learning
139
lifestyle
the way in which person lives
