Definitions Flashcards
The Binomial System:
A system of naming species with the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus [starting with a capital letter] and species [starting with a lowercase] written in italics when printed and underlined when written.
Define Movement
Action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.
Define Growth
Permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both.
Define Reproduction
Process that makes more of the same kind of organism
Define Sensitivity
Ability to detect or sense changes in the environment [stimuli] and to make responses.
Define Respiration
Chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy
Define Excretion
Removal from organism of toxic materials, waste products of metabolism [chemical reactions in cells including respiration] and substances in excess of requirements.
Define Nutrition
Nutrition is the taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating them.
Define active transport
The movement of ions in or out of the cell through the cell membrane, from the region of the lower concentration to a region of their higher concentration against the concentration gradient using energy released during respiration.
Define diffusion
The net movement of molecules from a region of their higher concentration to a region of their lower concentration down a concentration gradient, as a result of the random movement.
Define osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules from a region of their higher concentration [dilute solution] to a region of the lower concentration [concentrated solution] through a partially permeable membrane.
Define catalyst
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction and is not changed by the reaction.
Define enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that function as biological catalyst
Define ingestion
Taking in of substances [example food, drink] into the body through the mouth.
Define absorption
Absorption is the movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the intestine into the blood or lymph.
Define egestion
Passing out of food that has not been digested, as faeces, through the anus.
Define assimilation
Movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where they are used becoming part of the cells.
Define digestion
Break down of large insoluble food molecules into small water-soluble molecules using mechanical and chemical processes.
Define transpiration
Transpiration is the evaporation of water at the surface of the mesophyll cells followed by loss of water vapor from plant leaves, through the stoma.
Define translocation
Translocation is the movement of sucrose and amino acids in the phloem: from regions of production (source) to regions of storage or regions of use in respiration or growth sink
