Glossary of Key Words Flashcards
1
Q
Adult stem cell
A
A cell able to differentiate, originating from an adult cell
2
Q
Aerobic respiration
A
Respiration using oxygen; releases energy and produces carbon dioxide and water
3
Q
Allele
A
An alternative form of a particular gene
4
Q
Anaerobic respiration
A
The process of releasing energy from glucose in living cells in the absence of oxygen to produce a small amount of energy very quickly
5
Q
Antagonistic pair
A
A pair of muscles that work together to create movement: when one contract, the other relaxes
6
Q
Antibiotic
A
A type of antimicrobial that kills bacteria and fungi but not viruses
7
Q
Antibody
A
Produced by white blood cells to inactivate disease-causing microorganisms
8
Q
Antigen
A
A marker on the surface of a disease-causing microorganisms
9
Q
Anitmicrobial
A
A chemical that kills bacteria, fungi and viruses
10
Q
Artery
A
A muscular blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
11
Q
Asexual reproduction
A
New offspring are reproduced that are identical to the parent
12
Q
Atrium
A
One of the upper chambers of the heart, which receives blood coming back to the heart
13
Q
Autotroph
A
An organism that makes its own food
14
Q
Axon
A
The thread-like extension of a nerve cell
15
Q
Bacteria
A
Single-celled microorganisms with no nucleus
16
Q
Biodegradable
A
A material that decomposes naturally
17
Q
Biodiversity
A
The range of species in an environment
18
Q
Biomedical engineering
A
Using artificial devices to replace natural parts of an organism
19
Q
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A
A measure of fitness
20
Q
Bone
A
rigid connective tissue that makes up the human skeleton
21
Q
Capillary
A
A blood vessel that connects arteries to veins; where the exchange of materials takes place
22
Q
Carnivore
A
An organism that eats other animals; a secondary or tertiary consumer
23
Q
Central nervous system
A
The brain and spinal cord; allows an organism to react to its surroundings and coordinates its responses
24
Q
Cerebral cortex
A
The part of the human brain most concerned with intelligence, memory, language and consciousness
25
Chlorophyll
The green pigment found in most plants; responsible for photosynthesis
26
Chromosome
A long molecule found in the nucleus of all cells containing DNA
27
Clinical trial
The process of testing a medical treatment or medicine on human volunteers for safety and effectiveness
28
Clone
An organism genetically identical to the parent
29
Closed loop system
An ecosystem where waste from one part is used by another
30
Combustion
Burning in oxygen/air
31
Common ancestor
The most recent individual from which all organisms in a group are directly descended
32
Conditioned reflex
A reflex action brought about by a learned stimulus
33
Cystic fibrosis
A recessive hereditary disorder that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system
34
Decomposer
An organism that breaks down dead materials and waste products
35
Deoxygenated
A substance low in oxygen
36
Desertification
Turning land to desert conditions
37
Diabetes
A medical condition where blood sugar levels are too high
38
Diagnosis
The decision reached regarding the identification of a condition
39
Diffusion
The net movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
40
Dislocation
The displacement of a part, especially the displacement of a bone at the joint
41
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Molecules that code for genetic information and make up chromosomes
42
Double circulation system
Blood returns to the heart twice on each circuit of the body
43
Ecosytem
A term that refers to a physical environment, including the conditions there and the organisms that live there
44
Effector
The part of the body, e.g. a muscle or a gland, which produces a response to a stimulus
45
Embryo
A ball of cells that will develop into a human/animal baby
46
Embryonic stem cell
A cell able to differentiate, originating from an embryo cell
47
Energy
The ability to do work; measured in joules (J).
48
Environmental variation
variation that occurs as a result of a certain factor in the surroundings
49
Enzyme
A protein that speeds up the rate of reaction in living organisms (a catalyst in living things)
50
Epidemiological study
A study of the factors affecting the health and illness of populations
51
Evolution
The gradual process of adaptation of a species over generations
52
Excretion
The removal of waste products of cell reactions
53
Extinction
The process by which groups of organisms die out
54
Fermenter
A controlled environment that maintains ideal conditions for microorganims to carry out fermentation
55
Fertilisation
the fusion of the male gamete to the female gamete
56
Fetus
An unborn human/animal baby
57
Food chain
A simple chain showing the feeding relationship between organisms in an ecosystem
58
Food web
Interlinked food chains in an ecosystem
59
Fossil
Animal/plant remains preserved in rock
60
Fungi
A group of organisms including mushrooms, toadstools and yeasts
61
Gamete
A specialised sex cell formed by meiosis
62
Gene
A small section of DNA of a chromosome that determines a particular characteristic
63
Genetic modification
The change in the genetic make-up of an organism
64
Greenhouse effect
Climate change/global warming due to pollution
65
Herbivore
An organism that only eats plants, grass, etc; a primary consumer
66
Heterotroph
An organism that is unable to make its own food; consumes other organisms
67
Homeostatis
The maintenance of a constant internal environment
68
Hormone
A regulatory substance that stimulates cells or tissues into action
69
Huntington's disease
A hereditary, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system
70
Immune system
The body's defence system against infections and diseases (consists of white blood cells and antibodies)
71
Indicator organism
An organism that is only found in certain conditions
72
Insulin
A hormone that causes sugar to be taken from blood
73
Kingdom
A classification of a group of organisms with a small number of features in common
74
Ligament
The tissue that connects a bone to a joint
75
Meiosis
The cell division that forms daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell
76
Memory
The ability to store and retrieve information
77
Meristem
An area where unspecialised cells divide, producing plant growth
78
Mitosis
The cell division that forms two daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
79
Muscle
Tissue that can contract and relax to produce movement
80
Mutation
A spontaneous change in the genetic code of a cell
81
Nanotechnology
The science of working with structures that are extremely small
82
Natural immunity
To remain resistant to or be unaffected by a specific disease
83
Natural selection
A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
84
Neuron
A specialised cell that transmits electrical messages or nerve impulses when stimulated
85
Nucleus
The control centre of a cell, containing DNA.
86
Organ
A collection of tissues to carry out a function
87
Organelles
The different parts of a cell's structure
88
Osmosis
The movement of water from a dilute to a more concentrated solution across a partially permeable membrane
89
Oxygenated
A substance rich in oxygen
90
Oxyhaemoglobin
Haemoglobin with oxygen bound on
91
Photosynthesis
The chemical process that takes place in green plants where water combines with carbon dioxide to produce glucose using light
92
Phototropism
A plant's response to light
93
Pollution
Harmful additions to the environment
94
Polymer
A large molecule made up from many similar units (monomers)
95
Protein
Large organic compounds made of amino acids
96
Quadrat
A defined area used to sample a location
97
Receptor
The part of the nervous system that detects a stimulus
98
Reflex action
A fast, automatic response
99
Selective breeding
The production of new varieties of animals and plants by artificial selection
100
Side effect
A condition caused by taking medication, e.g. headache, nausea
101
Species
Similar organisms capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring
102
Sprain
A stretch or tear in a ligament
103
Stem cell
A cell of human embryo or adult bone marrow that has the ability to differentiate
104
Stimulus
A change in an organism's environment
105
Sustainable
Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment
106
Symptom
A visible or noticeable effect of a disease, illness or injury
107
Synapse
A small gap between adjacent neurons
108
Tendon
Tissue that connects a muscle to a bone
109
Theory of evolution
The most likely scientific explanation, based on evidence, as to why organisms are the way they are
110
Tissue
A collection of similar cells to carry out a function
111
Transect
A fixed path across an area of study
112
Valce
A device that ensures the flow of a liquid (e.g. blood) in the right direction
113
Variation
Differences between individuals of the same species
114
Vector
An organism (often a microorganism) used to transfer a gene, or genes, from one organism to another
115
Vein
A blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart
116
Ventricle
One of the lower chambers of the heart, which pumps blood out of the heart
117
Vertebrate
An organism with an internal skeleton
118
Virus
A tiny microorganism with a very simple structure that is reliant on using a cell's machinery to reproduce
119
White blood cell
A type of cell in blood that fights infection
120
Zygote
A cell formed by the fusion of the nuclei of a male sex cell and a female sex cell (gametes)
121
Active site (HT)
The place where the molecule fits into the enzyme
122
Active transport (HT)
THe movement of substance against a concentration gradient
123
ADH/Anti-diuretic hormone (HT)
A hormone that controls the concentration of urine
124
Auxin (HT)
A plant hormone that affects the growth and development of a plant
125
Bioaccumulation (HT)
The build-up of toxic materials inside living cells
126
Denatured enzyme (HT)
An enzyme that has had its shape destroyed and can no longer catalyse reactions
127
Denitrification (HT)
Taking nitrogen from materials
128
Detritivore (HT)
An animal that feeds on dead materials
129
Eutrophication (HT)
The process that leads to stagnation of fresh water
130
Genotype (HT)
The genetic make-up of an organism
131
Heterozygous (HT)
When a pair of alleles for a characteristic are different
132
Homozygous (HT)
When a pair of alleles for a characteristic are the same
133
Hypothalamus (HT)
The part of the brain responsible for maintaining homeostatis
134
IVF/In vitro fertilisation (HT)
A technique in which egg cells are fertilised outside the female body
135
mRNA/Messenger RNA (HT)
The molecule that carries the genetic code out of the nucleus
136
Nitrogen fixing (HT)
The removal of nitrogen from the air
137
Phenotype (HT)
The characteristics shown by an individual
138
Pituitary gland (HT)
The small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones
139
PGD/Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (HT)
Includes removing a cell from an embryo at an early stage of development and testing it for genetic disorders
140
Sex-determining region Y (HT)
A sex-determining gene on the Y chromosome in humans and other primates
141
Therapeutic cloning (HT)
Cloning a cell to make a healthy tissue to replace a damaged one
142
Vasoconstriction (HT)
The narrowing of the blood vessels to decrease heat loss from the surface of the skin
143
Vasodilation (HT)
The widening of the blood vessels to increase heat loss from the surface of the skin
