Biological Vocabulary
Terms
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atrium - In human beings, one of the two thin-walled upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.
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axon - An elongated portion of a neuron that conducts nerve impulses, usually away from the cell body of the neuron.
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active transport - A process by which materials are absorbed or released by cells against the concentration gradient with the expenditure of cell energy.
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autotroph - An organism capable of carrying on autotrophic nutrition. Self-feeder.
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asexual reproduction - A type of reproduction in which new organisms are formed from a single parent organisms.
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autotrophic nutrition - A type of nutrition in which organisms manufacture their own organic foods from inorganic raw materials.
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angina pectoris - A disorder of teh human transport system in which chest pain signals potential to teh heart muscle due to narrowing of the opening of the coronary artery.
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bile - In human beings, a secretion of the liver that is stored in the gallbladder and that emulsifies fats.
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binomial nomenclature - A system of naming used in biological classification that consists of the genus and species names.
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biological controls - THe use of natural enemies of various agricultural pests for pest control, thereby eliminating the need for biocide use-a positive aspect of human involvement with the environment.
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biosphere - Teh portion of the earth in which living things exist, including all land and water environments.
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adrenal cortex - A portion of the adrenal gland that secretes steroid hormones that regulate various aspects of blood composition.
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Bryophyta - A phylum of the plant kingdom that consists of organisms lacking vascular tissues.
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cloning - A technique of genetic investigation in which undifferentiated cells of an organism are used to produce new organisms with the same set of traits as the original cells.
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climax community - A stable, self-perpetuating community that results from ecological succession.
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cleavage - A series of rapid mitotic divisions that incease cell number ina developing embryo without a corresponding increase in cell size.
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chromosome mutation - An alteration in the structure of a chromosome involving many genes.
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cambium - The lateral meristem tissue in woody plants responsible for annual growth instem diameter.
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deletion - A type of chromosome mutation in which a section of a chromosome is separated and lost.
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Coelenterata - A phylum of the animal kingdom whose members have bodies that resemble a sack.
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cover cropping - A proper agricultural practice in which a temporary planting is s usedd to limit soil erosion between seasonal plantings of main crops.
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cross-pollination - A type of pollination in which pollen from one flower pollinates flowers of a different plant of the same species.
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Chordata - A phylum of the animal kingdom whose members have internal skeletons made of cartilage and/or bone.
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chitin - A polysaccharide substance that forms the exoskeleton of the grasshopper and other arthropods.
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amniocentesis
- A technique for detecting genetic disorders in unborn human beings in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed and the chromosome content of its cells analyzed.
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blood typing - An application of the study of immunity in which the blood of a person is characterized by its antigen compostition.
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coronary artery - An artery that branches off the aorta to feed the heart muscle.
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coronary thrombosis - A disorder of the human transport system in which the heart muscle becomes damaged as a result of blockage of the coronary artery.
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cerebral palsy - A disorder of the human regulatory system in which teh motor and speech centers of the brain are impaired.
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bronchiole - One of the several subdivisions of the bronchi that penetrate the lung interior and terminate in alveoli.
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consumer - Any heterotrophic animal organism.
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budding - A type of asexual reproduction in which mitosis is followed by unequal cytoplasmic division.
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autosome - ONe of several chromosomes present in the cell that carry genes controllign "body" traits not associated with primary and secondary sex characteristics.
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autonomic nervous system - A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system consisting of nerves associated with automatic functions.
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albinism -
A condition, controlled by a single mutant gene, in which the skin lacks the ability to produce skin pigments.
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capillary - A very small, thin-walled blood vessel that connects an artery to a vein and through which all absorption into the blood fluid occurs.
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aquatic biome - An ecological biome composed of many different water environments.
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cerebellum - The portion of the human brain responsible for the coordination of muscular activity.
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aortic arches - A specialized part of the earthworm's transport system that serves as a pumping mechanism for the blood fluid.
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alcoholic fermentation - A type of anaerobic respiration in which glucose is converted to etyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.
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allantois - A membrane that serves as a reservoir for wastes and as a respiratory surface for the embryos of many animal species.
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closed-transport system - A type of circulatory system in which the transport fluis is always enclosed with blood vessels.
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auxin - A biochemical substance, a plant hormone, produced by plants that regulates growth patterns.
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accesory organ - In human beings, any organ that has a digestive function but is not part of the food tube. I.e. liver, gallbladder, pancreas.
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carbon-fixation reactions - A set of bio-chemical reactions in phtosynthesis in whic h hydrogen atoms are combined with carbon and oxygen atoms to form PGAL and glucose.
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cell wall - A cell organelle that surrounds and gives structural support to plant cells; cell walls are composed of cellulose.
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base - A chemical that releases hydroxyl ion (OH-) in solution with water.
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cilia - Small, hairlike structures in paramecia and other unicellular organisms that aid in nutrition and locomotion.
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abiotic factor - Any of several nonliving, physical conditions that affect the survival of an organism in its environment.
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condominance - A type of intermediate inheritance that results from the simultaneous expression of two dominant alleles iwth contrasting effects.
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clot - A structure that forms as a result of enzyme-controleld reactions following the rupturing of a blood vessel and serves as a plug to prevent blood loss.
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allele - One of a pair of genes that exist at the same location on a pair of homologous chromosomes and exert parallel control over the same genetic trait.
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artery - A thick-walled blood vesse that carries blood away from the heart under pressure.
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cerebral hemorrhage - A disorder of the human regulatory system in which a broken blood vessel in the brain may result in severe dysfunction or death.
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apical meristem - A plant growth region located at the tip of the root or tip of the stem.
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ammonia - A type of nitrogenous waste with high solubility and high toxicity.
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antenna - A receptor organ found in many arthropods which is specialized for detecting chemical stimuli.
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corpus luteum - A structure resulting from the hormone-controlled transformation of the ovarian follicle that produces the hormone progesterone.
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cell theory - A scientific theory that states, "All cells arise from previously existing cells" and "Cells are the unit of structure and function of living things."
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corpus luteum stage - A stage of the menstrual cycle in which the cells of the follicle are transformed into the corpus luteum under the influence of luteinizing hormone.
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binary fission - A type of cell division in which mitosis is followed by equal cytoplasmic division.
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carbohydrate - An organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ration (for example, C6H12O6).
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bicarbonate ion - THe chemical formed in the blood plasma when carbon dioxide is absorbed from body tissues.
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alveolus - One of many air sacs within the lung that function to absorb atmospheric gases and pass them on to the bloodstream.
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amino acid - An organic compound that is the component unit of proteins.
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adrenal medulla - A portion of the adrenal gland that secretes the hormone adrenaline , which regulates various aspects of the body's metablic rate.
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aerobic phase of respiration - THe reactions of aerobic respiration in which two pyruvic acid molecules are converted to six molecules of water and six molecules of carbon dioxide.
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amnion - A membrane that surrounds the embryo in many animal species and contains a fluid to protect the developing embryo from mechanical shock.
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amniotic fluid - The fluid within the amnion membrane that bathes the developing embryo.
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crossing-over - A pattern of inheritance in which linked genes may be separated during synapsis in the first meiotic division, when sections of homologous chromosomes may be exchanged.
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Annelida - A phylum of the animal kingdom whose members include the segmented worms.
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cutting - A technique of plant propagaition in which vegetative parts of the parent plant are cut and rooted to establish new plant organisms with identical characteristics.
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acid - A chemical that releases hydrogen ion (H+) in solution with water.
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cyclosis - The circulation of the cell fluid within the cell interior.
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cytoplasm - The watery fluid that provides a medium for the suspension of organelles within the cell.
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carbon 14 - A radioactive isotope of carbon used to trace the movement of carbon in various biochemical reactions, and also used in carbon dating of fossils.
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anal pore - The egestive organ of the paramecium.
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cyton - The cell body of the neuron which generates the nerve impulse.
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amylase - An enzyme specific for the hydrolysis of starch.
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anaerobic phase of respiration - The reactions of aerobic respiration in which glucose is converted to two pyruvic acid molecules.
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adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - An organic compound that stores respiratory energy in the form of chemical-bond energy for transport from one part of the cell to another.
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adrenal gland - An endocrine gland that produces several hormons, including adrenaline.
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anaerobic respiration - A type of respiration in which energy is released from organic molecules without the aid of oxygen.
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chorion - A membrane that surrounds all other embryonic membranes in many animal species, protecting them from mechanical damage.
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cytosine - A nitrogenous base found in both DNA and RNA molecules.
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anemia - A disorder of the human transport system in which the ability of teh blood to carry oxygen is impaired usually because of reduced numbers of red blood cells.
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chemical digestion - The process by which nutrient molecules are converted by chemical means into a form usable by the cells.
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animal - One of the five biological kingdoms; it includes multicellular organisms whose cells are not bounded by cell walls and that are incapable of photosyntehsis (i.e. human being).
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anther - The portion of the stamen that produces pollen.
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deciduos - A term relating to broad-leaved tress that shed their leavves in the fall.
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Arthropoda - A phylum of the animal kingdom whose members have bodies with chitinous exoskeletons and jointed appendages.
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deamination - A process by which amino acids are broken down into their component parts for conversion into urea.
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aorta - The principal artery carrying blood from teh heart to the body tissues.
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decomposer - Any saprophytic organism that derrives its energy from the decay of plant and animal tissues; the final stage of a food chain.
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cervix - A structure that bounds the lower end of the uterus and through which sperm must pass in order to fertilize the egg.
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cell plate - A structure that forms during cytoplasmic division in plant cells and serves to separate the cytoplasm into two roughly equal parts.
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dehydration synthesis - A chemical process in which two organic molecules may be joined after removing the atoms needed to form a molecule of water as a by-product.
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appendicitis - A disorder of the human digestive tract in which the appendix becomes inflamed as a result of teh bacterial infection.
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carbon-hydrogen-oxygen cycle - A process by which tehse three elements are made available for use by other organisms through the chemical reactions of respiration and photosyntehsis.
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cerebrum - The portion of the human brain responsible for thought, reasoning, sense interpretation, learning, and other conscious activities.
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classificiation - A technique by which scientists sort, group, and name organisms for easier study.
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carboxyl group - A chemical group having the formula -COOH and found as part of all amino acid and fatty acid molecules.
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dendrite - A cytoplasmic extension of a neuron that serves to detect an environmental stimulus and carry an impulse to cthe cell body of the neuron.
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cardiac muslce - A type of muscle tissue in the heart and arteries associated with the rhythmic nature of the pulse and heartbeat.
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amino group - A chemical group having the formula -NH2 that is found as a part of all amino acid molecules.
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biocide use - The use of pesticides that eliminate one undesirable organism but that have, due to technological oversight, unanticipated effects on beneficial species as well.
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cotyledon - A portion of the plant embryo that serves as a source of nutrition for the young plant before photosynthesis begins.
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commensalism - A type of symbiosis in which one organism in the relationship benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
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cardiovascular disease - In human beings, any disease of the circulatory organs.
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artificial selection - A technique of plant/animal breeding in which individual organisms displaying desirable characteristics are chosen for breeding purposes.
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chromatid - One strand of double-stranded chromosome.
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centromere - The area of attachment of two chromatids in a double-stranded chromosome.
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coenzyme - A chemical substance or chemical subunit that functions to aid the action of a particular enzyme.
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central nervous system - The portion of the vertebrate nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
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denitrifying bacteria - In the nitrogen cycle, bacteria that convert excess nitrate salts into gaseous nitrogen.
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active site - The specific area of an enzyme molecule that links to the substrate molecule and catalyzes its metabolism.
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addition - A type of chromosome mutation in which a section of a chromosome is transferred to a homologous chromosome.
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chloroplast - A cell organelle found in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and functions in photosynthesis.
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biomass - The total mass of living material present at teh various trophic levels in a food chain.
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deogyenated blood - Blood that has released its transported oxygen to teh body tissues.
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biotic factor - Any of several conditions associated with life and living things that affect the survival of living things in the environment.
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complete protein - A protein that all eight essential amino acids.
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deoxyribonucleic aicd (DNA) - A nucleic acid molecule known to be the chemically active agent of the gene; the fundamental hereditary material of living organisms.
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chemosynthesis - A type of autotrophic nutrition in which certain bacteria use the energy of chemical oxidation to convert inorganic raw materials to organic food molecules.
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cohesion - A force binding water molecules together that aids in the upward conduction of materials in teh xylem.
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adenine - A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA molecules.
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centriole - A cell organelle found in animal cells that functions in the process of cell division.
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bronchus - One of the two major subdivisions of the breathing tube; the bronchi are ringed with cartilage and conduct air from the trachea to teh lung interior.
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biome - A major geographical gropuing of similar ecosystems, usually named for the climax flora int he region.
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carrier - An individual who, though not expressing a particular recessive trait, carries this gene as part of his/her heterozygous genotype.
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catalyst - Any substance that speeds up or slows down the rate of a chemical reaction.
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carrier protein - A specialized molecule embedded in the cell membrane that aids the movement of materials across the membrane.
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anus - The organ of egestion of teh digestive tract.
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bulb - A type of vegetative propagation in which a plant bulb produces new bulbs that may be established as independent organisms with identical characteristics.
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antibody - A chemical substance produced in response to the presence of a specific antigen that neutralizes that antigen in the immune response.
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Boman's capsule - A cup-shaped portion of the nephron responsible for filtering of soluble blood components.
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chlorophyll - A green pigment in plant cells that absorbs sunlight and makes possible certain aspects of the photosynthetic process.