| A | B |
|---|
| abiotic | a term that describes a nonliving factor in an ecosystem |
| atom | the smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical and physical properties of that element |
| biology | the scientific study of life |
| biome | a large area or geographical region with distinct plant and animal groups adapted to that environment |
| biosphere | the zone of life on Earth; sum total of all ecosystems on Earth |
| biotic | a term that describes a living or once-living organism in an ecosystem |
| cell | the basic unit of structure and function for all living organisms. Cells have three components: genetic material, cytoplasm and a cell membrane. Eukaryotic cells also contain specialized organelles |
| chloroplast | an organelle found in plant cells and the cells of other eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms where photosynthesis occurs |
| community (ecological) | different populations of organisms compete for similar resources such as territory, mates, water and food in the same environment |
| ecosystem | a system composed of organisms and nonliving components of an environment |
| endoplasmic reticulum ER | an organelle, containing folded membrane sacs, responsible for the production, processing and transportation of materials for use inside and outside a eukaryotic cell. |
| Rough ER | an organelle with surface ribosomes and participates in the synthesis of proteins |
| smooth ER | an organelle that has no ribosomes and participates in the synthesis of lipids and steroids as well as the transport of synthesized macromolecules |
| eukaryote | a type of organism composed of one or more cells containing a membrane-bound nucleus, specialized organelles in the cytoplasm, and a mitotic nuclear division cycle |
| Golgi apparatus | an organelle found in eukaryotic cells responsible for the final stages of processing proteins for release by the cell |
| macromolecule | a very large polymer, there are four main groups withing organisms: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids |
| mitochondrion | a membrane-bound organelle found in most eukaryotic cells; site of cellular respiration |
| molecule | the smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the substance and is composed of two ore more atoms held together by chemical bonds |
| multicellular | made up of more than one cell |
| 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 |
| organ | an anatomical unit composed of tissues serving a common function |
| organ system | an anatomical system composed of a group of organs that work together to perform a specific function or task |
| organelle | a subunit within a cell that has a specialized function |
| organism | a form of life; an animal, plant, fungus, protist or bacterium |
| plasma membrane | a thin, phospholipid and protein molecule bilayer that encapsulates a cell and controls the movement of materials in and out of the cell through active or passive transport |
| plastids | a group of membrane-bound organelles commonly found in photosynthetic organisms and mainly responsible for the synthesis and storage of food |
| population | a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific geographical area and reproducing |
| prokaryote | a single-celled organism that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus and specialized organelles |
| ribosome | a cellular structure composed of RNA and proteins that is the site of protein synthesis in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells |
| tissue | an anatomical unit composed of cells organized to perform a similar function |
| unicellular | made up of a single cell |
