- 3' to 5' strand
- the strand in DNA that has a 3' carbon free from bonding to other nucleotides at one end
The nucleotides are joined at the 3' end of the molecule.
- 5' to 3' strand
- the strand in DNA that has a pentose (sugar) with 5' (said "five prime") carbon which is free from bonding at one end, 5′ (five prime) and 3′ (three prime) ends, with the 5' end having a terminal phosphate group and the 3' end a terminal hydroxyl group
- abiotic
- physical or nonliving factor that shapes an ecosystem
- activation energy
- energy that is needed to get a reaction started
- active site
- location on the enzyme where the substrate joins
- active transport
- the movement of a substance across a cell membrane with the input of energy (ATP)
- accuracy
- describes how close measurement values are to widely accepted or the true answer
- ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
- the energy molecule produced by the mitochondria
- adaptation
- inheritable characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in an environment
- aestivation
- also known as "summer sleep," a state of animal dormancy somewhat similar to hibernation; takes place during times of heat and dryness, the hot dry season, which is often but not inevitably the summer months
- agar/culture medium
- nutrient base that supports growth of cells, such as bacterial or skin cells
- adhesion
- the sticking together of unlike molecules
- agarose
- powdered form of seaweed extract used as matrix (gel material) in gel electrophoresis
- alcohol fermentation
- an anaerobic step that yeast use after glycolysis that breaks down pyruvic acid to ethanol and carbon dioxide
- allele
- alternate forms or varieties of a gene
- allele frequency
- number of times that an allele occurs in a gene pool compared with the number of alleles in that pool for the same gene
- amino acids
- simple organic molecules which link together in chains to form protein
- ammonification
- process by which bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonium ions (NH4) +
- analysis
- the process of organizing and making sense out of data; can lead to a modification of the hypothesis
In a scientific investigation, analysis refers to the organizing and making sense out of the results of the experiment and comparing this to the original hypothesis.
- anaphase
- phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell
- anaerobic respiration
- respiration without oxygen; a way for an organism to produce usable energy without the involvement of oxygen
- angiosperm
- a seed-producing plant in which the ovules are enclosed in an ovary which develops into a fruit after fertilization
- animalia
- kingdom consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic heterotrophs
Examples include snakes, insects, and birds.
- antibody
- any of a large variety of proteins normally present in the body or produced in response to an antigen which it neutralizes, thus producing an immune response
- anticodon
- group of three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to the three bases if a codon of mRNA
- antiparallel
- a term applied when two molecules are side by side but run in opposite directions such as: ↑ ↓
- archaebacteria
- kingdom consisting of unicellular prokaryotic bacteria that can be found living in extreme conditions
- asexual reproduction
- type of reproduction in which offspring come from a single parent and inherit the genes of that parent only
- assimilation
- in the nitrogen cycle, when living organisms take up nitrogen
- atom
- the smallest unit or the basic building blocks of matter which make up all objects, made up of equal number of protons and electrons
- autosomes
- chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes; called body chromosomes
- autotroph
- organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds
- B-cell
- a specialized white blood cell responsible for the body's immunity
B cells play a central role in antibody production.
- bacteria
- a very large group of microorganisms comprising one of the three domains of living organisms
Bacteria are prokaryotic, unicellular, and either free-living in soil or water or parasites of plants or animals.
- bacterial culture
- bacteria grown in a controlled environment (usually Petri dish) for the purpose of identification or other analysis
- bar graph
- a chart that uses either vertical or horizontal bars to display countable data
- benign
- a type of tumor that does not grow in an aggressive manner
- bias
- prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered being unfair
- binary fission
- cellular reproduction performed by prokaryotic cells
- binomial nomenclature
- classification system in which all species is assigned a two-part scientific name
- biogeography
- the study of where organisms live now and there they and their ancestors lived in the past
- biosphere
- the region on, below, and above the Earth's surface where life exists
- biotic
- any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact
- biome
- a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms
- bottleneck effect
- a change in allele frequency following a dramatic reduction in the size of a population
- camouflage
- coloring, shape, or form that allows an animal to blend into or hide in its environment
- cancer
- a disease caused by uncontrolled cell growth
- capillary action
- the combined forces of adhesion and cohesion in water that cause the climb of water in a thin tube
- capsid
- protein coat surrounding the virus
- carbohydrates
- compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; type of nutrient that is the major source of energy for the body
- carbon cycle
- how carbon moves between the main carbon reservoirs
- carcinogen
- a substance than can cause cancer
- carnivore
- organisms that eat only other animals to obtain their food
- carrying capacity
- the largest number of individuals in a species that an ecosystem can support
- catalysts
- substances that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction
- cell
- the basic unit of all life forms
- cell cycle
- the series of events that a cell goes through to divide and multiply
- cell differentiation
- the process by which cells become specialized in order to perform different functions
- centrioles
- structure in animal cell that helps to organize cell division
- centromere
- region of the chromosomes where two sister chromatids attach
- chemical energy
- stored in chemical bonds; includes food, plants, and batteries
- chemical reactions
- process that changes, or transforms, one set of chemicals into another set of chemicals
- chloroplast
- organelles found in plant cells and photosynthetic protists that contain chlorophyll and capture the radiant energy from the sun during the process of photosynthesis
- chromatid
- one of the two identical "sister" parts of a duplicated chromosomes
- chromosomal mutations
- mutations that produce changes in the whole chromosome
- chromosome
- threadlike structure of tightly bundled DNA and protein that contains genetic information
- circadian rhythm
- a physiological cycle of about 24 hours that is present in all eukaryotic organisms and that persists even in the absence of external cues
- circle graph
- type of graph that shows how portions make up a whole, such as percentages with the entire circle representing 100 percent
- clade
- evolutionary branch of a cladogram that includes a single ancestor and all of its descendants living and extinct
- cladogram
- diagram depicting patterns of shared characteristics among species
- class
- in classification, a group of closely related orders
- climax community
- the final stage of succession which remains relatively unchanged and stable until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference
- cloning
- creation of a genetically identical organism
- codominance
- situation in which the phenotypes produced by both alleles are completely expressed
- codon
- group of three nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid to be incorporated into a protein
- cohesion
- the sticking together of like molecules
- commensalism
- type of symbiosis in which one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
- common name
- everyday name for an organism; may be different in different parts of the world
- community
- all the populations of different species living and interacting together in a distinct area
- comparative investigation
- an investigation where observations are made that compare two objects or phenomena
- competition
- organisms of the same or different species attempt to use the same ecological resource (food, water, space) in the same place at the same time
- complementary base pairing
- the standard arrangement of bases in nucleotides in relation to their opposite pairing, such as thymine being paired with adenine and cytosine paired with guanine
- conclusion
- a statement that adequately explains or solves the original problem based on the results of scientific experimentation
- consumer
- organism that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients
- contact inhibition
- the cessation or stopping of cellular growth and division due to physical contact with other cell
- constants
- all factors in the experiment that are not allowed to change throughout the entire investigation
- control group
- a standard of comparison for checking or verifying the results of an experiment where all variables must be held constant
- crossing-over
- the process in which homologous chromosomes exchange portions of their chromatids during meiosis
- cyclins
- a family of proteins that regulate the cell cycle
- cytokinesis
- division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells
- data collection probe-ware
- digital sensors that can be connected to a computer or another digital data collection device; can measure such physical and chemical properties as dissolved oxygen, pH, current, temperature, light, etc.
- data table
- type of graphic organizer used to display data
- daughter cell
- a cell produced by reproductive division of a cell during mitosis or meiosis
- decomposer
- organisms that obtain nutrients by chemically breaking down organic matter (dead plants and animals)
- deletion chromosome mutation
- mutation of a chromosome that involves the loss of all or part of a chromosome
- deletion mutation
- gene mutation in which one or more nucleotides are deleted
- denitrification
- process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas
- deoxyribonucleic acid
- DNA; the molecule that controls how a cell functions
- dependent variable
- a characteristic of an experiment that is a result of the effect or influence of an independent variable
- descriptive investigation
- an investigation in which scientific questions are investigated and observations of phenomena are recorded and catalogued
- dichotomous key
- a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world
- diffusion
- the movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration
- dihybrid cross
- a genetic cross using two traits each with two alleles
- diploid
- term used to refer to a cell that contains two sets of homologous chromosomes
- dissection probe
- blunt tool, often angled, used to push aside or study organs
- DNA
- Deoxyribonucleic acid - genetic material that organisms inherit from their parents
- DNA fingerprint
- tool used by biologists that analyze an individual’s unique collection of DNA restriction fragments; used to determine whether two samples of genetic material are from the same person
- DNA helicase
- enzyme that unzips the DNA during replication
- DNA polymerase
- enzyme that adds new nucleotides and checks for duplication during replication
- domain
- larger, more inclusive taxonomic category than kingdom
- dominant trait
- an allele that masks the presence of a recessive allele in the phenotype Dominant alleles for a trait are usually expressed if an individual is homozygous dominant or heterozygous.
- duplication chromosome mutation
- mutation of a chromosome that produces an extra copy of all or part of a chromosome
- durable
- long lasting, capable of withstanding scrutiny
- ecological succession
- a series of changes that occur over time in a community, particularly after a disturbance
- ecosystem
- all of the living (biotic) and all of the physical nonliving factors (abiotic) in an area
- emigration
- movement of individuals out of a population
- empirical data
- data collected from reliable measurement or observation
- empirical evidence
- evidence relating to or based on experience or observation
- endocytosis
- the process in which a small patch of plasma membrane encloses particles or tiny volumes of fluid that are at or near the cell surface
- Endosymbiosis
- theory that states organelles in eukaryotes developed by engulfing energy – converting bacteria
- energy conversion
- energy changed from one form, or type, to another
- enzyme
- protein catalyst that speed up the rate of specific biological reactions
- enzyme-substrate complex
- when the enzyme and the substrate are joined at the active site
- eubacteria
- kingdom consisting of unicellular prokaryotic organisms
- eukaryotic
- an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes
- evidence
- objective findings during a scientific investigation that either support or do not support the hypothesis
- experimental group
- the group(s) being tested with the independent variable
Each experimental group has only one factor different from each other, everything else must remain constant.
- experimental investigation
- an organized scientific investigation thatincludes a control group and is designed to test the hypothesis; includes independent and dependent variables and only attempts to test one variable at a time
- explanation
- statement that helps make something comprehensible (understandable)
- exponential growth
- with ideal conditions and unlimited amounts of resources, the population increases rapidly over time
- exocytosis
- the process in which the membrane of the vacuole surrounding the material fuses with the plasma membrane, forcing the contents out of the cell
- facilitated diffusion
- the movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration with the aid of channel proteins
- falsifiable
- capable of being shown to be false if it is untrue
- family
- in classification, a group of closely related genera (plural for genus)
- fatty acid
- molecule consisting of a chain of four or more carbon atoms; building blocks of fat, essential for cell energy and growth
- feedback mechanisms
- a mechanism or a signal that tends to initiate (or accelerate) or to inhibit (or slow down) a process
- fermentation
- process by which cells release energy in the absence of oxygen
- flower
- the reproductive structure of angiosperms
- fluid mosaic model
- term used to describe the cell membrane because it moves around in water and is made up of many parts
- food chains
- the pathway along which energy from food is transferred from trophic level to trophic level by eating and being eaten
- food webs
- a network of feeding interactions among the organisms in an ecosystem
- forceps
- a dissection instrument that is similar to "tweezers" and which is used for grasping small tissues or organs
- fossil
- remains or traces of an organism that lived long ago
- founder effect
- change in allele frequencies as the result of the migration of a small subgroup of a population
- frameshift mutation
- mutation that shifts the "reading frame" of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide
- fruit
- a ripened ovary of a plant
- fungi
- kingdom consisting of heterotrophic, eukaryotic organisms
Examples include mushroom and yeast.
- gamete
- sex cell which has half the number of chromosomes as body cell
- gametophyte
- the phase of a plant life cycle in which gametes, sperm, and eggs are produced
- gel electrophoresis apparatuses
- equipment for the technique of electrically separating strands of DNA, RNA or protein molecules in a gel matrix for analysis
- gene expression
- the turning off or on of a specific gene to create a differentiated cell
- gene flow
- change in the allele frequency in a population due to random sampling and chance
- gene mutations
- mutations that produce changes in a single gene
- gene pool
-
- genes
- units of heredity
- genetic diversity
- sum total of all the different forms of genetic information carried by a particular species, or by all organisms on earth
- genetic drift
- random change in allele frequency caused by a series of chance occurrences that cause an allele to become more or less common in a population
- genetics
- the study of heredity or the passing on of traits from an organism to its offspring
- geneticists
- a scientist who studies genetics, the science of heredity and variation of organisms
- genotype
- the genetic makeup of an individual
Genotype can refer to an organism's entire genetic makeup or the alleles at a particular locus.
- genus
- group of closely related species, the first part of the scientific name in binomial nomenclature
- glucose
- a type of sugar made by plants and other autotrophs
- glycerol
- a three-carbon substance that forms the backbone of fatty acids in fats
- graduated cylinder
- an instrument used to measure the volume of a liquid
- graph
- a pictorial representation of information recorded in a data table
- Gregor Mendel
- Scientist/Monk from Austria who discovered, through his work with peas, the way in which traits are inherited
- guard cells
- a pair of curved epidermal cells that surround and control the opening and closing of a stoma in plant tissue
- gymnosperm
- a vascular plant that produces seeds that are not protected by an ovary or fruit
- haploid
- term used to describe a cell that contains only half the number of chromosomes as a diploid cell
- herbivore
- organism that obtains energy by only eating plants
- heritable
- traits that can be passed from one generation to the next through DNA
- heterozygous
- having alleles of two different genes for a particular trait (Aa)
- heterotroph
- organism that contains its food by consuming other living things
- hibernation
- sleep during winter; a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate
- highly reliable
- something that has been researched frequently that displays little or no change after repeated experiments
- HIV
- a retrovirus that causes immune system failure and debilitation
HIV is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids.
- homeostasis
- maintenance of a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes
- homologous
- term used to describe chromosomes in which one set comes from the male parent and one set comes from the female parent
- homologous chromosomes
- identical, or matching, chromosomes
- homozygous dominant
- genotype consisting of two dominant alleles of a gene for a particular trait (AA)
- homologous structures
- structures that are shared by related species with a similar structure but may have a different function that have been inherited from a common ancestor
- homozygous recessive
- genotype consisting of two recessive alleles of a gene for a particular trait (aa)
- hormone
- a substance produced by an organism that acts as a chemical messenger
- host
- an organism that is infected with or is fed upon by a parasitic or pathogenic organism (for example, a virus, nematode, fungus)
- hybrid
- offspring of crosses between parents with different traits
- hydrophilic
- attracted to water
- hydrophobic
- repels water
- hypertonic solution
- solution having a greater solute concentration outside the cell than inside the cell
- hypothesis
- a proposed explanation, based on observation and research, for a scientific question
- hypotonic solution
- a solution having a lesser solute concentration outside the cell than inside
- inference
- an interpretation of an observation based upon evidence and prior knowledge
- immigration
- movement of individuals into a population
- immunity
- a state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion
Immunity involves both specific and non-specific components.
- incomplete dominance
- situation in which one allele is not completely dominant over the other
- independent variable
- a characteristic of an experiment that determines the value of the other (dependent) variable(s)
- inoculation loop/wire
- instrument used for controlled transfer of bacteria Petri dish for culturing
- insertion mutation
- gene mutation in which an extra nucleotide is inserted
- instinct
- inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
- interphase
- period of the cell cycle between cell divisions; consists of the G1 phase, the S phase and the G2 phase
- inversion chromosome mutation
- mutation of a chromosome that reverses the direction of parts of a chromosome
- investigation
- method of gathering data by observation, testing a hypothesis, or comparing in order to solve a problem or answer a question
- isotonic solution
- solution in which the solutes' concentration is the same inside the cell as outside the cell
- iterative process
- any process that can result in the repetition of previous steps after revisions based on observations of collected data
- karyotype
- micrograph of the complete set of chromosomes grouped together in pairs arranged in order of decreasing size
- kinetic energy
- energy of motion
- kingdom
- largest and most inclusive group in the Linnaean classification system
- lactic acid fermentation
- a form of anaerobic respiration that occurs in animal cells use after glycolysis that breaks down pyruvic acid to lactic acid
- law of independent assortment
- states that each gene pair for a trait is inherited independently of the gene pairs for all the other traits
- law of segregation
- states that when the parent plant forms sex cells during the process of meiosis, the parent’s gene pairs segregate or separate
- limiting factors
- factors that cause a population to cease to grow or to decrease
- line graph
- type of graph that shows a continuous relationship (trend) between two variables
- lipid bilayer
- flexible double-layered sheet that makes up the cell membrane and forms a barrier between the cell and its surroundings
- lipids
- biomolecule made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fat, oils and waxes
- logistic growth
- an S-shaped curve showing how population growth increases rapidly, stabilizes, and reaches equilibrium
- lyse
- the process of a cell bursting
- lysogenic infection
- type of infection in which a virus embeds its DNA into the DNA of the hosts cell and is replicated along with the host cell's DNA
- lytic infection
- type of infection in which a virus enters a cell, makes copies of itself, and causes the cell to burst
- macromolecule or biomolecule
- a chemical compound found in living organisms.
They are composed of mainly carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
- malignant
- having the ability to spread and move throughout the body
- mean
- a mathematical representation of the typical value of a set of numbers, computed as the sum of the numbers in the set divided by the count of all the numbers in the set
- meiosis
- process in which the number of chromosome per cell is cut in half through the separation of homologous chromosomes in a diploid cell
- meniscus
- a concave surface of a liquid resulting from surface tension
The bottom of the meniscus is used to measure the volume of a liquid in apparatus such as a graduated cylinder.
- metamorphosis
- the changing of an organism from birth to adulthood with specific stages and cell types
- metaphase
- phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell
- metastasis
- the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another
- metric ruler
- the standard instrument for measurement in the scientific laboratory
- microbe
- a microorganism, especially a bacterium
- microscopy
- scientific investigation that uses a microscope
- mitochondria
- cell organelle that is responsible for energy production
- micropipettor
- high precision instrument used to transfer very small amounts of liquid
- migration
- the periodic movement of organisms seasonally from one location to another
- mitosis
- part of eukaryotic cell division in which the nucleus divides
- model
- a replica, representation, or description designed to show how an object, system, or idea is constructed or how it works
- molecule
- two or more atoms of the same or different elements joined together
- monogenic traits
- genetic traits that are controlled by only one gene
- monohybrid cross
- a Punnett square that looks at only one trait
- monophyletic group
- group that consists of descendants from a single ancestral species
- monomer
- small chemical unit that makes up a polymer
Also called building blocks.
- monosaccharide
- simple sugar molecule
- monosomy
- when only one homologous chromosome is present in the organism
- mRNA
- (messenger RNA) a type of RNA that carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids into proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell
- multicellular
- made up of many cells
- multiple allele inheritance
- genetic situation in which there are more than two alleles for a trait
- mutations
- inheritable changes in genetic information
- mutualism
- type of symbiosis in which both organisms benefit
- natural phenomena
- any observable occurrence of the natural world
- natural selection
- process by which organisms that are most suited to their environment survive and reproduce successfully
- negative feedback loop
- the process of returning a system to normal conditions by producing a response that is the opposite of the stimulus
- nitrification
- two step process in which bacteria converts ammonium ions (NH4) into nitrite(NO2) and nitrate (NO3) ions
- nitrogen cycle
- how nitrogen moves and is transformed between nitrogen gas, ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite ions
- nitrogen fixation
- process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use
- nondisjunction
- the failure of homologous chromosome pairs to separate properly during meiosis
- non-Mendelian genetic inheritance
- inheritance of traits that do not follow the findings of Gregor Mendel, such as incomplete dominance, codominance, and multiple alleles
- nonrandom mating
- the process of individuals choosing a mate based on a certain characteristic
- not supported
- not confirmed, sustained, or maintained
- nucleic acids
- biomolecules containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorous
- nucleoid
- a region of a prokaryotic cell where the genetic material is located
The nucleoid is NOT a membrane bound nucleus.
- nucleotide
- subunit of which nucleic acids are composed; made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogen base
- observation
- a method of data collection that uses the five senses in collecting quantitative and qualitative data
- omnivore
- animals whose diets include both plants and animals
- opportunistic species
- second species to populate an area during succession
- order
- in classification, a group of closely related families
- ordered pairs
- two pieces of data that are directly related to each other
- organ
- groups of different types of tissues organized together to carry out a particular set of functions
- organ system
- groups of organs that function together to carry out broad sets of functions
- organic
- a compound that contains the element Carbon, found in living organisms
- organic compound
- molecules found in nature to have hydrogen and carbon bonds
- organism
- a group of organ systems working together that has a distinct existence as a complex, self-reproducing unit
- osmosis
- the movement of water from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration
- osmotic pressure
- pressure in plant cell due to osmosis
- parasitism
- type of symbiosis in which one organism lives inside or on another organism, causing harm
- partial dominance
- another name for incomplete dominance; situation in which one allele is not completely dominant over the other
- passive transport
- the movement of a substance across a cell membrane without the input of the cell's energy
- pathogen
- any disease-producing agent (especially a virus or bacterium or other microorganism)
- Petri dish
- covered clear, round dish made of heat-treated glass or plastic for culture of bacteria or to study small specimens
- phenomenon
- a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question
- phenotype
- the observable or detectable characteristics of an individual organism; the detectable expression of a genotype
- phloem
- the living tissue that carries organic nutrients in vascular plants, particularly sucrose, a sugar, to all parts of the plant where needed
- phylogeny
- the evolutionary history of lineage
- phylum
- in classification, a group of closely related classes
- pioneer species
- first species to populate an area during succession
- plantae
- kingdom consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic autotrophs
- point mutation
- gene mutation in which a single base pair in DNA has been changed
- polygenic traits
- a trait controlled by two or more genes
- polymer
- molecules composed of many monomers; make up biomolecules
- polymerization
- the creation of polymers out of many monomers
- polypeptide
- long chain of amino acids that make proteins
- polyploidy
- condition in which the organisms has extra sets of chromosomes
- population
- group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area
- positive feedback loop
- is created when the body produces a response that increases the stimulus
- potential energy
- stored energy, ready for use
- precision
- describes how close together measurements are to each other
- predation
- interaction in which one organism (predator) captures and feeds on another organism (prey)
- primary succession
- succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community is present
- probability
- the likelihood of a particular event happening
- producer
- organism that make their own food; also called autotrophs
- product
- the ending materials in a chemical equation
- prokaryotic
- an organism whose cells lack a nucleus or organelles. Bacteria are classified as prokaryotes.
- prophage
- bacteriophage DNA that is embedded in the bacterial host's DNA
- prophase
- stage of mitosis in which the genetic material inside the nucleus condenses and the duplicated chromosomes become visible
- protein
- a biomolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair
- protein synthesis
- the process in which cells build proteins
- protista
- kingdom consisting of eukaryotic organisms such as the paramecium, amoeba and euglena
- Punnett square
- a simple graphical method of showing all of the potential combinations of offspring genotypes that can occur and their probability given the parent genotypes
- pyramid of biomass
- pyramid that shows the relative amount of organic matter, or living tissue, available at each trophic level in an ecosystem
- pyramid of energy
- pyramid that shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or web
- pyramid of numbers
- pyramid that shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem
- qualitative data
- data that describes the characteristics such as colors, smells, texture, etc.
- quantitative data
- data which can be measured such as length, time, temperature, etc.
- question
- a problem that cannot be answered by simple observation or by research
- radiant energy
- energy from electromagnetic waves, such as heat and light from the sun
- reactant
- the starting materials in a chemical equation
- receptor site
- a specific protein on the surface of the cell
- recessive trait
- an allele that is masked in the phenotype by the presence of a dominant allele
Recessive alleles are expressed in the phenotype when the genotype is homozygous recessive (aa).
- repeated trials
- a way to validate data by performing an investigation multiple times
- repeat-testing
- experimental processes using repetition to confirm previous experimental findings
- replication
- the process of copying DNA prior to cell division
- reproductive migration
- the periodic movement of a population from one region or climate to another in accordance with the yearly cycle of weather and temperature changes
- response
- a reaction to a stimulus
- RNA
- (Ribonucleic acid) single stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose and is important for protein synthesis
- RNA polymerase
- enzyme that links together the growing chain of RNA nucleotides during transcription using a DNA strand as a template
- root system
- parts of plants that are below the ground including the roots and modified stem structures such as rhizomes and tubers
- scalpel
- a dissection instrument with a sharp blade used to open organisms, such as worms or frogs
- scavenger
- animals that consume the carcasses of other animals that have died by some other cause
- science
- a systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation
- scientific explanation
- a statement based on empirical evidence that helps make something comprehensible (understandable)
- scientific investigation
- a structured way to investigate phenomena, acquire new knowledge, or correct and integrate previous knowledge
- scientific methodology
- an organized system used by scientists to perform investigations that help to develop an accurate explanation of observations
- scientific name
- name made up of genus and species and is the same for each organism all over the world
- scientific notation
- the method of writing numbers in terms of a decimal number between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10
- scientific research question
- the question to be answered during a scientific investigation
- seasonal migration
- the periodic movement of a population from one region or climate to another in accordance with the yearly cycle of weather and temperature changes
- secondary succession
- type of succession that occurs in a area that was only partially destroyed by disturbance
- selectively permeable membrane
- membrane that allows certain molecules to pass through and prevents others from crossing
- self-pollination
- when pollen fertilizes the egg of the same flower
- sex chromosomes
- determine the gender or sex of an individual
- sexual recombination
- the recombining of genetic traits that occurs when a male gamete fuses with a female gamete
- sexual reproduction
- type of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of the new organism
- sex-linked gene
- gene located on a sex chromosome (X or Y chromosomes)
Typically these are located on the X chromosomes.
- sex-linked inheritance
- inheritance of a trait that is located on a sex chromosome (X or Y chromosomes)
These are typically located on the X chromosomes.
- shoot system
- parts of plants that are above the ground including leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits
- sickle cell anemia
- disease caused by a mutation and passed down through families in which red blood cells form an abnormal crescent shape
- significant figures
- the digits that contribute the precision of the number
- species
- A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
- spindle
- a fan-like microtubule structure that develops outside the nucleus during mitosis and pulls the chromatids apart toward opposite poles
- sporophyte
- the spore producing phase of a plant life cycle
- stem cells
- cells that can differentiate into any cell type
- stereoscope
- binocular instrument for low magnification of macro material studies
- stimuli
- a signal to which an organism responds
- stomata
- tiny openings or pores found mostly on the underside of a plant leaf and used for gas exchange
- substitution mutation
- gene mutation in which one base on a nucleotide is changed to a different base
- substrate
- reactant of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction
- succession
- change to an ecosystem, often after an environmental change
- supported
- confirmed, sustained, or maintained
- surface makers
- proteins on the surface of viruses
- symbiosis
- any relationship in which two species live closely together
- systematics
- study of the diversity of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms
- T-cell
- one type of white blood cell that attacks virus-infected cells, foreign cells, and cancer cells
T-cells also produce a number of substances that regulate the immune response.
- taxonomy
- the science of classifying living organisms
- technology
- application of knowledge to solve problems or create new tools
- telophase
- phase of mitosis in which the distinct individual chromosomes begin to spread out into a tangle of chromatin
- testable
- having the ability to be tested using a controlled investigation
- tetrad
- unit that contains four chromatids that form during meiosis
- theory
- a scientific explanation that is used to explain many different hypotheses about the same phenomenon or a closely related class of phenomena
- thermometer
- an instrument used to measure temperature
- tissue
- a group of cells working together to perform a particular function in the body of the living organism
- trait
- specific characteristic of an individual
- transcription
- synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template
- transgenic organisms
- organisms produced by putting one organisms' DNA into the genes of another organism
- translation
- process by which the sequence of bases of an mRNA is converted into the sequence of amino acids of a protein
- translocation
- the movement of materials in the phloem from leaves to other parts of the shoot system and the root system throughout the plant
- translocation chromosome mutation
- mutation of a chromosome that occurs when part of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome
- transpiration
- the evaporation of water from the aerial parts of plants, especially leaves but also stems, flowers and roots
- transpiration pull
- the reduction of pressure on water in the xylem tube caused by the evaporation of water from the stoma
It results in a "pull" of more water up the xylem from the roots.
- triple beam balance
- an instrument used to measure mass
- trisomy
- an organisms having three copies of a homologous chromosome
- trophic level
- a step in a food chain or food web
- tropism
- a growth response that results in the curvature of a whole plant toward or away from stimuli due to different rates of cell elongation
- tRNA
- (Transfer RNA) type of RNA that carries each amino acid to a ribosome during protein synthesis
- true breeding
- an organism that produces offspring identical to itself
- tumor
- an abnormal mass of tissue which may be cancerous or benign
- unicellular
- made up of one cell
- vaccine
- a substance given to stimulate the body's production of antibodies and provide immunity against a disease, prepared from the agent that causes the disease or a synthetic substitute
- variable
- something that may be changed or manipulated during an investigation
- variation
- a modification in structure, form or function in an organism, deviating from other organisms of the same species or group
- vascular plants
- plants that contain vascular tissue, xylem, and phloem
- vegetative reproduction
- process in which a new plant grows from part of the parent plant
- viral disease
- disease caused by a virus
- virus
- an infectious particle made of proteins, nucleic acids, and sometimes lipids; thought to be non-living
- well-established
- having been in accepted existence for a long time; standing up to scrutiny
- white blood cell
- cells of the immune system that defend the body against infectious diseases and foreign materials
- xylem
- the living tissue that carries water from the root to the leaves of a plant
- zygote
- a fertilized egg