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IGCSE Biology > Definitions IGCSE Biology > Flashcards

Definitions IGCSE Biology Flashcards

(81 cards)

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1
Q

movement

A

an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change in position or place

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2
Q

respiration

A

the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism

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3
Q

sensitivity

A

the ability to detect or sense stimuli in the internal or external environment and to make appropriate responses

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4
Q

growth

A

a permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both

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5
Q

reproduction

A

the processes that make more of the same kind of organism

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6
Q

excretion

A

removal from organisms of the waste products of metabolism (chemical reactions in cells including respiration), toxic materials and substances in excess of requirements

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7
Q

nutrition

A

taking in of materials for energy, growth and development; plants require light, carbon dioxide, water and ions; animals need organic compounds and ions and usually need water

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8
Q

species

A

a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring

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9
Q

binomial system (of naming species)

A

an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species

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10
Q

tissue

A

a group of cells with similar structures, working together to perform a shared function

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11
Q

organ

A

a structure made up of a group of tissues, working together to perform specific functions

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12
Q

organ system

A

a group of organs with related functions, working together to perform body functions

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13
Q

diffusion

A

the net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration of a region of their lower concentration down a concentration gradient, as a result of their random movement

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14
Q

osmosis

A

the net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential, through a partially permeable membrane

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15
Q

active transport

A

the movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration using energy from respiration

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16
Q

catalyst

A

a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not changed by the reaction

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17
Q

enzymes

A

proteins that function as biological catalysts

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18
Q

photosynthesis

A

the process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light

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19
Q

limiting factor

A

something present in the environment in such short supply that it restricts life processes

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20
Q

ingestion

A

the taking of substances into the body through the mouth

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21
Q

mechanical digestion

A

the breakdown of food into smaller pieces without chemical change to the food molecules

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22
Q

chemical digestion

A

the breakdown of large, insoluble molecules into small. soluble molecules

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23
Q

absorption

A

the movement of small food molecules and ions through the wall of the intestine into the blood

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24
Q

assimilation

A

the movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where they are used, becoming part of the cells

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25
egestion
the passing out of food that has not been digested or absorbed, as faeces, through the anus
26
transpiration
loss of water vapour from plant leaves by evaporation of water at the surfaces of mesophyll cells followed by diffusion of water vapour through the stomata
27
translocation
the movement of sucrose and amino acids from regions of productions (source- leaves) to regions of storage or regions where they are used in respiration or growth (sink)
28
pathogen
a disease causing organism
29
transmissible disease
a disease in which the pathogen can be passed from one host to another
30
active immunity
defence against a pathogen by antibody production in the body
31
aerobic respiration
the chemical reactions in cells that use oxygen to break down nutrient molecules to release energy
32
anaerobic respiration
the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release energy without using oxygen
33
deamination
the removal of the nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form urea
34
synapse
a junction between two neurones
35
sense organs
groups of receptor cells responding to specific stimuli: light, sound, touch, temperature and chemicals
36
hormone
a chemical substances, produced by a gland and carried by the blood, which alters the activity of one or more specific target organs
37
homeostasis
the maintenance of a constant internal environment
38
gravitropism
a response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from gravity
39
phototropism
a response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from the direction from which light is coming
40
drug
any substances taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body
41
asexual reproduction
a process resulting in the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent
42
sexual reproduction
a process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of offspring that are genetically different from each other
43
fertilisation
the fusion of gamete nuclei
44
pollination
the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma
45
self-pollination
the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower or different flower on the same plant
46
cross-pollination
the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species
47
sexually transmitted infection
an infection that is transmitted via body fluids through sexual contact
48
inheritance
the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation
49
chromosome
a thread-like structure of DNA, carrying genetic information in the form of genes
50
gene
a length of DNA that codes for a protein
51
allele
a version of a gene
52
haploid nucleus
a nucleus containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes e.g in gametes
53
diploid nucleus
a nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes e.g in body cells
54
mitosis
nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells
55
meiosis
reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid resulting in genetically different cells
56
genotype
the genetic make-up of an organism in terms of the alleles present
57
phenotype
the observable features of an organism
58
homozygous
having two identical alleles of a particular gene
59
heterozygous
having two different alleles of a particular gene
60
dominant
an allele that is expressed if it is present
61
recessive
an allele that is only expressed when there is no dominant allele of the gene present
62
sex-linked characteristic
a characteristic in which the gene responsible is located on a sex chromosome and that this makes it more common in one sex than in the other
63
variation
differences between individuals of the same species
64
gene mutation
a change in the base sequence of DNA
65
adaptive feature
the inherited functional features of an organism that increase its fitness
66
fitness
the probability of an organism surviving and reproducing in the environment in which it is found
67
process of adaptation
the process, resulting from natural selection, by which populations become more suited to their environment over many generations
68
food chain
showing the transfer of energy from one organism to the next, beginning with a producer
69
trophic level
the position of an organism in a food chain, food web, pyramid of numbers of pyramid or biomass
70
food web
a network of interconnected food chains
71
producer
an organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis
72
consumer
an organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms
73
herbivore
an animal that gets its energy by eating plants
74
carnivore
an animal that gets it energy by eating other animals
75
decomposer
an organism that gets its energy from dead or waste organic material
76
population
a group of organisms of one species, living in the same area, at the same time
77
community
all of the populations of different species in an ecosystem
78
ecosystem
a unit containing the community of organisms and their environment, interacting together, e.g a decomposing log or a lake
79
genetic engineering
changing the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing or inserting individual genes
80
sustainable resource
one which is produced as rapidly as it is removed from the environment so that it does not run out
81
sustainable development
development providing for the needs of an increasing human population without harming the environment

IGCSE Biology (1 decks)

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