BCHS - Biology Review
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Created by:
aprilrooney on May 7, 2012
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147 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 abiotic | nonliving parts of the environment |
| acid rain | rain that is more acidic than normal |
| active transport/diffusion | process by which cells use energy to transport molecules through the cell memebrane from areas of low concentration to areas of high concentration |
| adaptive value | any trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions |
| agarose | gel-like substance used in bacterial cultures |
| AIDS | disease that results when the HIV virus attacks the human immune system |
| allergy | condition in which a person's immune system is overly sensitive to environmental substances that are normally harmless |
| amino acid | any one of several building blocks of protein |
| animal | complex, multi-cellular organism with specialized tissues and organs, but no cell walls |
| antibody | protein, produced by the immune system that either attacks invading pathogens or marks them for killing |
| antigen | molecule found on the outer surfaces of cells that the immune system recognizes as either part of the body or an outside invader |
| asexual reproduction | method of reproduction in which all the genes passed on to the offspring come from a single parent |
| ATP | compound that stores energy in cells |
| autotroph | organism that produces its own food |
| bacterium | single celled organism without a distinct nucleus |
| biodiversity | variety of species in an area |
| biome | large groups of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms |
| biosphere | all of Earth's ecosystems |
| biotic | living parts of the environment |
| carnivore | organism that survives by eating animals |
| carrying capacity | largest population of any single species that an area can support |
| catalyst | substance that can speed up the rate of chemical reaction w/out being changed or used up during the reaction |
| cell | basic unit of structure and function that makes up all organisms |
| cell membrane | thing boundary between the cell and its environment |
| cellular respiration | process in which nutrients are broke apart, releasing the chemical energy stores in them |
| chloroplast | green organelle that contains chlorophyll where photosynthesis takes place |
| chromosome | thick thread-like structure that contains genetic info in the form of DNA |
| circulation | flow of materials within a cell as well as between parts of a multi-cellular organism |
| classify | group things based upon their similarities |
| community | combination of all the different populations that live and interact in the same environment |
| competition | struggle between organisms for the same limited resources in a particular area |
| consumer | organism that obtains it's energy from producers |
| cytoplasm | jellylike substance that is between the cell membrane and the nucleus and that contains specialized structures |
| decomposer | organism that consumes dead organisms and organic waste |
| decomposition | process where dead organisms are broke down into their raw materials and returned to the ecosystem |
| deforestation | forest destruction that results from human activity |
| depletion | serious decline or reduction |
| dichotomous key | guide the compares pairs of observable traits to help the user identify an organism |
| digestion | process that breaks down large food molecules into simpler molecules that the organism can sue |
| direct harvesting | the destruction of an organism or the removal of an organism from its habitat |
| disease | condition that prevents the body from working as it should |
| DNA | material found in all cells that contains genetic info about that organism |
| ecological niche | specific role played by an organism or a population of organism in the ecosystem |
| ecology | study of how living things interact with one another and their environment |
| ecosystem | all the living and nonliving things that are in a specific area |
| egg | sex cell produced by a female |
| element | substance consisting of only one kind of atom |
| embryo | organism in the early stages of development |
| endocrine glands | various hormone producing glads that secret substance directly into the blood |
| endoplasmic reticulum | organelle that transports proteins and other materials from one part of a cell to another |
| energy flow | movement of energy through an ecosystem |
| energy pyramid | diagram showing how food energy moves through the ecosystem |
| environment | every living and not living thing that surrounds an organism |
| enzymes | proteins that speed up the rate of chemical reactions in living things |
| equilibrium | state of balance and stability |
| estrogen | hormone that controls female sexual development and the reproductive process |
| evolution | process by which species have changed over time |
| excretion | removal of all the wastes produced by the cells of the body |
| expressed | way that an unseen gene is seen in organism as an actual physical trait |
| Fallopian tubes | part of the female reproductive system where the egg cell is fertilized by the sperm cell |
| feedback mechanism | cycle in which the output of a system either modifies or reinforces the first action taken by the system |
| fertilization | process that combines a sperm and egg |
| fetus | unborn developing young of an animal |
| food chain | a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member |
| food web | a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains |
| fossil | preserved remains of ancient organisms |
| fungus | kingdom of organisms that are mostly multi-cellular |
| gamete | sex cell |
| gene | segment of DNA that contains the code for a specific trait |
| genetic recombination | formation of a new combo of genes during sexual reproduction |
| genetic variation | normal differences found among offspring |
| geologic time | Earth's history as revealed by layers of rock |
| global warming | increase in Earth's average surface temp caused by an increase in greenhouse gases |
| glucose | sugar that is a major source of energy for cells |
| greenhouse effect | trapping of heat by gases in the atmosphere |
| guard cells | specialized cells that control the opening and closing of the pores on the surface of a leaf |
| habitat | place where an animal or plant lives |
| herbivore | organism that eats only plants |
| heredity | passing of traits from parent to offspring |
| heterotroph | organism that can't make its own food consumer |
| homeostasis | ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment even when the external environment changes |
| hormone | chemical produced in the the endocrine glands |
| host | an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite |
| immune system | body's primary defense against disease causing pathogens |
| insulin | hormone that prompts glucose to move from the blood into body cells resulting in a lower glucose level in the blood |
| limiting factor | any factor in the environment that limits the size of a population |
| lipid | one of a group of organic compounds that includes oils, fats, and waxes |
| meiosis | process that results in the production of sex cells |
| meniscus | curved surface at the top of a column of liquid |
| metabolism | all the chemical reactions that occur w/in the cells of an organism |
| mitochondria | pod-shaped organelles that contain enzymes used to extra energy from nutrients |
| mitosis | process that divides the cell's nucleus into 2 each with a complete set of genetic material from the parent cell |
| molecule | particle in which 2 or more atoms combine to from a single unit smallest unit of a compound |
| muscular system | body system comprised of tissue that contracts with it is stimulated combination of muscles that enables the body to move |
| mutation | any alteration in the sequence of DAN |
| natural selection | process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called survival of the fittest |
| niche | specific role played by an organism in its ecosystem |
| nitrogen cycle | movement of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil and organisms and then back to the atmosphere |
| nonrenewable resource | any resource such as fossil fuels and minerals that can't be replaces |
| nucleus | large structure w/in a cell that controls the cell's metabolism and stores genetic info including DNA |
| nucleic acid | large, complex organic molecules that contain the instructions cells need to carry out their life processes |
| nutrient | substance that provides the body with the materials and energy need to carry out the basic life of cells |
| organ | body structure made of different kinds of tissues combined to perform a specific function |
| organ system | several organs that work together to perform a major function in the body |
| organelle | structure w/in the cell that carries out specific function |
| organic | molecules that contain both hydrogen and carbon |
| ovary | organ of a female reproductive system that produces and egg cell |
| overproduction | potential for a species to increase its numbers beyond the area' carrying capacity |
| oviduct | part of the female reproductive system where the egg cell is fertilized by the sperm |
| pancreas | endocrine organ that secretes insulin |
| parasite | organism that survives by living and feeding on other organisms |
| pathogen | organism that invades the body causing disease |
| pH | measure of whether a substance is acidic, neutral or basic |
| photosynthesis | process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches |
| placenta | the vascular structure in the uterus of most mammals providing oxygen and nutrients for and transferring wastes from the developing fetus |
| plant | complex multicellular organism that obtains energy through photosynthesis and consists of cell walls and specialized tissues and organs |
| population | individuals of a single species that live in a specific area |
| predator | animal that hunts and kills other animals for food |
| prey | animal that is hunted and killed by predators |
| primary succession | first group of communities that moves into a previously lifeless habitat |
| producer | organism that makes its own food from light energy and inorganic material |
| progesterone | hormone associated with sexual development and the reproductive system |
| recombination | additional mixing of genetic material from a sperm and egg which results in an unique combo of genes |
| renewable resources | resources that can be replaced |
| respiration | process which the chemical bond energy stored in nutrients is release for use in cells |
| reproduction | process which organisms produce new organisms of the same type |
| ribosomes | one of the tiny structures in the cell that is site of protein production |
| scavenger | carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organism |
| selective breeding | process of choosing a few organisms with desirable traits to serve as the parents of the next generation |
| sex cells | egg or sperm |
| sexual reproduction | method that involves 2 parents to produce offspring that are genetically different from either parent |
| simple sugar | result of digested starches |
| skeletal system | body system that contains the bones, provides shape and support and protects internal organs |
| species | group of organism taht share certain characteristics and can mate with one another producing fertile offspring |
| sperm | male sex cell |
| stomata | tiny pore found on the underside of most leaves |
| testes | male reproductive organ that produces sperm and testosterone |
| testosterone | hormone associated with males sexual development and reproduction |
| tissue | group of specialized cells that perform a specific function |
| trait | characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring through the genes |
| transpiration | process where plants absorb water through their roots and eliminate it through tiny pore on the undersides of their leaves |
| uterus | organ in females where the embryo develops int a fetus |
| vacuole | storage sac w/in the cytoplasm of a cell that may contain either wastes or useful materials such as water or food |
| vertebrate | animal w/ a backbone |
| virus | nonliving particle of protein and genetic material that reproduces by invading the cell of a living organism |
| water cycle | process by which water continuously moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back |
| zygote | cell that results from the joining of the egg and sperm |
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