| A | B |
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| vestigial structure | a physical characteristic in organisms that seems to have lost its original function as a species has changed over time |
| unicellular | made of a single cell |
| trophic level | the position of an organism in relation to the flow of energy and inorganic nutrients through an ecosystem (IE consumer, producer and decomposer) |
| translocation | the process in which a segment of a chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome |
| translation | the process in which messenger RNA, (mRNA) molecule on a ribosome is decoded to produce a sequence of amino acids for protein synthesis |
| transcription | the process in which a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) is synthesized by using the genetic information found on a strand of DNA as a template |
| tissue | an anatomical unit composed of cells organized to perform a specific function |
| theory (scientific) | an explanation of observable phenomena based on available empirical data and guided by a system of logic that includes scientific laws, provides a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure designed to analyze, predict or otherwise explain the nature of behavior of a specific set of phenomena |
| terrestrial | a term that describes an organism associated with a land environment |
| temperature | a measure of the average kinetic energy (energy of motion) of particles in a sample of matter. this chemical property can determine the rate and extent to which chemical reactions can occur in living systems. |
| system | a set of interacting or interdependent components, real or abstract, that form an integrated whole. An open system is able to interact with its environment. A closed system is isolated from its environment |
| symbiotic relationship | a relationship between two organisms (ie mutualism, in which both organisms benefit; parasitism, in which one organisms benefits and the other organism is harmed; and commensalism, in which one organism benefits and the other organism does not benefit or is harmed |
| succession | a series of predictable and orderly changes within an ecosystem over time |
| specific heat | the measure of the heat energy required to increase the temperature of a unit quantity of a substance by a certain temperature interval |
| species | the lowest taxonomic level of biological classification consisting of organisms capable of reproduction that results in fertile offspring |
| speciation | a process typically caused by the genetic isolation from a main population resulting in a new genetically distinct species |
| sex-linked trait | a trait, associated with a gene that is carried by either the male or female parent (EG color blindness and sickle-cell anemia) |
| semiconservative replication | the process in which the DNA molecule uncoils and separates into two strands. Each original strand becomes a template on which a new strand is constructed, resulting in two DNA molecules identical to the original DNA molecule |
| selective breeding | the process of breeding organisms that results on offspring with desired genetic traits |
| science | a body of evidence based knowledge gained through observation and experimentation related to the natural world and technology |
| ribosome | a cellular structure composed of RNA and proteins that is the site of protein synthesis in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells |
| recessive inheritance | a pattern of inhertiance in which phenotypic effect of one allele is only expressed within a homozygous genotype. In a heterozygous condition with a dominant allele, it is not expressed in the phenotype |
| punctuated equilibrium | a proposed explanation in evolultionary biology stating that species are generally stable over long periods of time. Occasionally there are rapid changes that affect some species which can quickly result in a new species. |
| pumps (ion or molecular) | any of several molecular mechanisms in which ions or molecules are transported across a cellular membrane requiring the use of an energy source (eg glucose, sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+) and potassium (K+) |
| protein | a macromolecule that contains the principal components of organisms: carbon,hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen; performs a variety of structural and regulatory functions for cells |
| protein synthesis | the process in which amino acids are arranged in a linear sequence through the processes of transcription of DNA and to RNA and the translation of RNA to a polypeptide chain |
| prokaryote | a single celled organisms that lacks a membrane bound nucleus and specialized organelles |
| producer (ecological) | an organism that uses a primary energy source to conduct photosynthesis or chemosynthesis |
| principle (scientific) | a concept based on scientific laws and axioms (rules assumed to be presetn, true and valid) where general agreement is present |
| population dynamics | the study of short and long term changes in the number of individuals for a given population, as affected by birth, death, immigratioon and emigration |
| population | a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific geographical area and reproducing |
| polygenic trait | a trait in which the phenotype is controlled by two or more genes at different loci on different chromosomes |
| point mutation | a single based substitution causing the replacement of a single base nucleotide with another nucleotide (EG silent mutation, in which ther is no change in an amino acid, missense mutation, in which there is a different amino acid; and nonsense mutation, in which there is an insertion of a stop codoon in the amno acid which stops protein synthesis |
| plastids | a group of membrane bound organelles commonly found in photosynthetic organisms and mainly repsonsible for the synthesis and storage of food |
| plasma membrane | a thin, phospholipid and protein molecule bilayer that encapsulates a cell and controls the movemet of materials in an and out of the cell through active or passive transport |
| photosynthesis | a process in which solar radiation is chemically captured by chlorophyll molecules and through a set of controlled chemical reactions resulting in the potentional chemical energy in the bonds of carbohydrate molecules |
| phenotype | the observable expression of a genotype |
| pH | the measure of acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of an aqueous solution scaling from 1 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly alkaline) witha midpoint of 7 (neutral) |
| passive transport | the transportation of materials across a plasmam membrane without using energy |
| osmosis | the movement of water or another solvent through permable membranes from an area of higher water concentration (dilute) to an area of lower water concentration (concentrated) |
| organism | a form of life; an anima, plant , fungus, protist or bacterium |
| organic molecule | a molecule containing carbon that is a part of or produced by living systems |
| organelle | a subunit within a cell that has a specialized function |
| organ system | an anatomical system composed of a group of organs that work together to perform a specific function or task |
| organ | an anatomical unit composed of tissues serving a common function |
| nucleus | a membrane bound organelle in eukaryotic cells functioning to maintain the integrity of the genetic material and through the expression of that material, controlling and regulating cellular activities |
| nucleic acid | a biological macromolecule (DNA or RNA) composed of the elements: C, H, N, O and P that carries genetic information |
| nonnative species | a species normally living outside a distribution range that has been introduced through either deliberate or accidental human activity; also can be known as introduced, invasive, alien, nonindigenous or exotic |
| nondisjunction | the process in which sister chromatids fail to separate during and after mitosis or meiosis |
| natural selection | a process in nature in which organisms possessing certain inherited traits are better able to survive and reproduce compared to others of their species |
| mutation | a permanent transmissible change of genetic material (EG chromosomal mutations and gene mutations |
| multiple alleles | more than two forms of a gene controlling the expression of a trait |
| multicellular | made up of more than one cell |
| monomer | a molecule of any compound that can react with other molecules of the same or different compound to form a polymer. Each biological macromolecule has characteristic monomers |
| molecule | the smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the substance and is composed of two or more atoms held together by chemical forces |
| mitosis | a nuclear division resulting in the production of two somatic cells having the same genetic complement as the original cell |
| mitochondrion | a membrane bound organelle found in most eukaryotic cells; site of cellular respiration |
| migration (genetics) | the permanent movement of genes into or out of a population resulting in a change in allele frequencies |
| meiosis | a two-phase nuclear division that results in the eventual production of gametes with half the normal number of chromosomes |
| mechanism (scientific) | the combination of components and processes that serve a common function |
| macromolecule | a polymer with a high molecular mass. With in organisms there are four main groups: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids |
| lipids | a group of organic compounds composed mostly of carbon and hydrogen including a proportionately smaller amount of oxygen; are insoluble in water, serve as a source of stored energy, and are a component of cell membranes |
| limiting factor | chemical or physical factor that limits the existence, growth, abundance, or distribution of an individual orgnaism or a population |
| law (scientific) | a law that generalizes a body of observations. At the time it is made, no exceptions have been found to a law, it explains things but does not describe them; serves as the basis of scientific principles |
| isolating mechanisms | features of behaviors, morphology, or genetics which serve to prevent mating or breeding between two different species (EG temporal isolation, in which indivudals are active at different times of the day, seasons or mating periods; ecoloical isolation, in which individuals only mate in their specific habitat; behavioral isolation, when there are no sexual cues bewtween representatives of the species; mechanical isolation, when there is no sperm transfer during an attempted mating; and gametic incompatibility, when there is sperm transfer without fertilization occurring |
| intracellular | located inside a cell |
| interphase | the longest lasting phase of the cell cycle in which a cell performs the majority of its functions, such as preparing for nuclear division and cytokinesis |
| inheritance | the process in which genetic material is passed from parents to their offspring |
| incomplete dominance | a pattern of inheritance in which two alleles, inherited from the parents, are neither dominant nor recessive The resulting offspring have a phenotype that is a blending of the parental traits |
| impermeable | not permitting passage of a substance or substances |
| hypothesis | a proposed, scientifically testable explanation for an observed phemonenom |
| homologous structure | a physical characteristic in different organisms that is similar beacuase it was inherited from a common ancestor |
| homeostatic mechanism | a regulatory mechanism that contributes to maintaining a state of equilibrium (EG thermoregulation, water regulation and oxygen regulation |
| homeostasis | the regulatory process in which an organism regulates its internal environment |
| habitat | an area that provides an organism with its basic needs for survival |
| gradualism | a proposed explanation in evolutionary biology stating that new species arise from the result of slight modifications (mutations and resulting phenotypic changes) over many generations |
| golgi apparatus | an organelle found in eukaryotic cells responsible for the final stages of processing proteins for release by the cell |
| genotype | the genetic composition of an organism with reference to a single trait, a set of traits, or the entire complement of traits of an organims |
| genetics | the scientific study of inheritance |
| gentically modified organism | an organism whose genetic material has been altered through some genetic engineering technology or technique |
| genetic engineering | a technology that includes the process of manipulating or altering the genetic materials of a cell resulting in desirable functions or outcomes that would not occur naturally |
| genetic drift | a change in the allele frequency of a population as a result of chance events rather than natural selections |
| gene therapy | the intentional insertion, alteration, or deletion of genes within an individual's cells and tissues for the purpose of treating a disease |
| gene splicing | a type of gene recombination in which the DNA is intentionally broken and recombined using laboratory techniques |
| gene recombination | a natural process in which a nucleic acid molecule (usually DNA but can be RNA) is broken and then joined to a different molecule; a result of crossing-over |
| gene expression | the process in which a nucleotide sequence of a gene is used to make a functional product such as a protein or RNA |
| gene | a sequence of nucleotides composing a segment of DNA that provides a blueprint for a specific hereditary trait |
| gamete | a specialized cell (egg or sperm) used in sexual reproduction containing half the normal number of chromosomes in a somatic cell |
| freezing point | the temperature at which a liquid changes state to a solid |
| frame-shift mutation | the addition (insertion or mutation) or removal (deletion mutation) of one or more nucleotides that is not indivisible by three, therefore resulting in a completely different amino acid sequence than would be normal. The earlier in the sequence nucleotides are added or removed, the more altered the protein will be. |
| founder effect | a decreaes in genetic variation caused by the formation of a new population by a small number of individuals from a larger population |
| fossils | the preserved remains or traces of organisms that once lived on Earth |
| forensics | the science of tests and techniques used during the investigation of crimes |
| food web | a complex arrangementof interrelated food chains illustrating the flow of energy between interdependent organisms |
| food chain | a simplified path illustrating the passing of potential chemical energy (food) from one organism to another organism |
| facilitated diffusion | a process in which substances are transported across a plasma membrane with the concentration gradient with the aid of carrier (transport) proteins; does not require the use of energy |
| extracellular | located outside a cell |
| extinction | a term that typically describes a species that no longer has any known living individuals |
| exocytosis | a process in which a cell releases substances to the extracellular environment by fusing a vesicular membrane with the plasma membrane, separating the membrane at the point of fusion and allowing the substance to be released |
| evolution | a process in which new species develop from preexisting species (biological evolution or macroevolution); a change in the allele frequenceies of organisms from generation to generation (genetic evolution or microevolution) |
| eukaryote | a type of organism composed of one or more cells containing a membrane-bound nucleus, specialized organlles in the cytoplas, and a mitotic nuclear division cycle |
| enzyme | a protein that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction; an organic catalyst |
| environment | the total surroundings of an organism or a group of organisms |
| energy transformation | a process in which energy changes from one form to another while some of the energy is lost to the environment |
| energy pyramid | a model that illustrates the biomass productivity at multiple trophic levels in a given ecosystem |
| endosymbiosis | a theorized process in which early eukaryotic cells were formed from simpler prokaryotes |
| endoplasmic reticulum (ER) | an organelle, containing folded membranes and sacs, responsible for the production, prcoessing and transportation of materisl for use inside and outside a eukaryotic cell. There are two forms of this orgnalle: rough ER that has surface ribosomes and participates in the synthesis of proteins mostly destined for export by the cell and smooth ER that has no ribomes and participates in the synthesis of lipids and steroids as well as the transport of synthesized macromolecules |
| endocytosis | a process in which a cell engulfs extracellular material through an inward folding of its plasma membrane |
| embryology | the branch of zoology studying the arly development of living things |
| endemic species | a species that is found in its originating location and is generally restricted to that geographic area |
| ecosystem | a system composed of organisms and nonliving components of an environment |
| ecology | the study of the relationships between organisms and their interactions with the environment |
| dominant inheritance | a pattern of inhertaince in which the phenotypic effect of one allele is completeley expressed within a homozygous and heterozygous genotype |
