ABIOTIC FACTOR- Environmental element that does not involve or include living things; eg temperature, soil type, rainfall
ACCESSORY PIGMENTS- Colored compounds which absorb and transfer light energy to chlorophyll
ACID PH- 0-6 on pH scale
ACTIVATION ENERGY- The energy needed to start a chemical reaction.
ACTIVE TRANSPORT- Transport of molecules against a concentration gradient (from regions of low concentration to regions of high concentration) with the aid of proteins in the cell membrane and energy from ATP.
ADENINE- One of the five nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acid molecules; adenine pairs with thymine in DNA.
ADHESION- Force of attraction between two unlike materials
ADP- Adenosine diphosphate; a molecule that together with inorganic phosphate is used to make ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
AEROBIC- Living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen.
AMINO ACIDS- Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins
AMMONIFICATION- This is the process in which organic forms of nitrogen (eg, nitrogen present in dead plant material compounds) are converted to ammonium (NH 4 + ) by decomposers (bacteria).
ANABOLIC- The metabolic process in which materials are built.
ANAEROBIC- A biological process which occurs in the absence of oxygen.
ANION- Negatively charged ion
ATOM- The smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
ATOMIC MASS- Total mass of one atom of an element, the weighted average mass of the atoms in a naturally occurring element
ATOMIC NUMBER- The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
ATP- Adenosine triphosphate, a high energy phosphate molecule used to store and release energy for work within the body
ATP SYNTHASE- An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of phosphate and ADP into ATP during oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and bacteria or photophosphorylation in chloroplasts
AUTOTROPH- An organism that can make its own food (usually using sunlight).
BASE PH-8-14 on pH scale
BIOLOGY- Study of life
BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)- A measurement of the oxygen demand of organic material which, when breaking down in water, consumes oxygen in the water column
BIOMASS- The total amount of living material, plants and animals, above and below the soil surface in a biotic community
BIOME- A major ecological community of organisms, occupying a large area.
BIOSPHERE- The portion of Earth and its atmosphere that can support life
BIOTIC FACTOR- A living component within an ecosystem.
BOND- Describes the adhesiveness of 2 things
BUFFER- ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
CALVIN CYCLE- metabolic pathway that occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts, in which carbon enters in the form of CO 2 and leaves in the form of sugar. The cycle uses ATP as an energy source and NADPH as a reducing agent.
CARBOHYDRATE- an organic molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; examples include sugars and starches
CARBON CYCLE- The process by which carbon is recycled in the ecosystem.
CARBON FIXATION- Carbon fixation is a process found in autotrophs, usually driven by photosynthesis, whereby carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds
CARNIVORE- An organism that eats meat
CARRIER PROTEIN- Carrier proteins are membrane proteins that transport a specific substance or group of substances in the blood or across the cell membrane.
CARRYING CAPACITY- The maximum population of a given organism that a particular environment or habitat can sustain; implies continuing yield without environmental damage; often denoted as K
CATABOLIC- The metabolic process in which materials are broken down.
CATALYST- A substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction, but itself remains unchanged at the end of the reaction
CATION- A positively charged ion
CELL MEMBRANE- The outer boundary of the cell. The cell membrane helps control what substances enter or exit the cell.
CELL THEORY- All living things are composed of cells, Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things, All cells are produced from other cells
CELL WALL- The outermost layer of a plant-like cell, usually made of cellulose
CENTRIOLE- An organelle that is composed of two short microtubules at right angles to each other and that has an active role in mitosis
CHEMIOSMOSIS- The mechanism through which ATP is produced in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. The electron transport system transfers protons from the inner compartment to the outer and as the protons flow back to the inner compartment, the energy of their movement is used to add phosphate to ADP
CHLOROPHYLL- green pigments in plants that facilitate photosynthesis
CHLOROPLAST- an organelle present in algae and plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is involved in photosynthesis
CHROMATIN- the material that makes up both mitotic and interphase chromosomes: a complex of proteins and DNS strands that are loosely coiled such that translation and transcription
CHROMATOGRAPHY- technique for separating complex mixtures of chemicals or proteins into their various constituents
CHROMOSOME- in a eukaryotic cell, one of the structures in the nucleus that are made up of DNA and protein; in a prokaryotic cell, the main ring of DNA
CILIA- Short hair-like structures on a cell or microorganism, the movement of which aids mobility of the cell and transfer of materials across its surface
CLIMAX COMMUNITY- The mature stage of succession in a particular area, in which all organisms and nonliving factors are in balance
CLONING- The experimental process of making genetically identical copies
COHESION- the force of attraction between two like materials
COMMENSALISM- A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is not affected
COMMUNITY- an association of organisms, plant and animal, each occupying a certain position or ecological niche, inhabiting a common environment, and interacting with one another; all the plants and animals in a particular habitat that are bound together by food chains and other interrelationships
COMPETITION- One of the biological interactions that can limit population growth; occurs when two species vie with each other for the same resource.
COMPETITIVE EXCLUSION- Competition between species that is so intense that one species completely eliminates the second species from the area
CONCENTRATION GRADIENT- Change in the concentration of a substance from one area to another.
CONDENSATION REACTION- Originally meant a reaction which gave off a molecule of water for each molecule of product, but now extended to mean a reaction that gives off a molecule of any kind of 'by-product' per molecule of product.
CONSUMER- an organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms
CONTRACTILE VACUOLE- Organelle in many eukaryotes that acts as a bilge pump in the active transport of excess water from the cell
CONTROL- Being in power
COVALENT- The chemical bond between atoms
CRISTAE- Cristae (singular crista) are the internal compartments formed by the inner membrane of a mitochondrion
CROSSBREED- Hybrid
CYTOCHROMES- Cytochromes are generally membrane-bound hemoproteins that contain heme groups and carry out electron transport.
CYTOLYSIS- Bursting of cell
CYTOPLASM- The contents of a cell, outside of the nucleus
CYTOSINE- a nitrogen-containing base found in DNA molecules. Pairs with guanine
CYTOSKELETON- A three-dimensional network of microtubules and filaments that provides internal support for the cells, anchors internal cell structures, and functions in cell movement and division
DATA- a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
DECOMPOSER- organisms such as fungi and bacteria that feed on dead material causing the chemical breakdown of the material
DETRIFICATION- The anaerobic microbial conversion of nitrogen to nitrogen gas
DENSITY DEPENDENT FACTOR- a variable affected by the number of organisms present in a given area
DENSITY INDEPENDENT FACTOR- a variable that affects a population regardless of the population density, such as climate
DEOXYRIBOSE- The five-carbon sugar component of DNA
DESERT- Area which averages less than 10” of precipitation per year
DETRITIVORE- An organism that derives nutrients and energy by consuming decaying organic matter
DIFFUSION- Movement of particles from regions of higher density to regions of lower density
DISSOCIATION- When water dissolves a compound
DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO)- The amount of oxygen dissolved in water
DNA- Deoxyribonucleic acid, a chemical found primarily in the nucleus of cells. DNA carries the instructions or blueprint for making all the structures and materials the body needs to function.
ECOLOGY- The study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment
ECOSYSTEM- a community of living things and the environment in which they live
ELECTRON- A negatively charged atomic particle which rotates around the nucleus of the atom.
ELECTRONEGATIVE- measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons in the context of a chemical bond
ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN- series of membrane-associated electron carriers mediating biochemical reactions that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of life
ELEMENT- A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.
ENDERGONIC- A chemical reaction requiring input of energy to proceed, building.
ENDOCYTOSIS- The uptake by a cell of material from its environment by a process in which the cell surrounds the material and engulfs it with a vesicle formed
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM- a system of membranes that is found in a cell’s cytoplasm and that assists in the production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids
ENERGY- Capacity to do work
ENERGY LEVEL- An area around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are found.
ENZYME- A protein that speeds up chemical processes and reactions in the body
EQUILIBRIUM- a state of balance in a system where opposing forces or fluxes balance
EUKARYOTE- A cell with a membrane-bound nucleus
EXERGONIC- A reaction that releases energy, breaks down
EXOCYTOSIS- The process in which molecules in a membrane-enclosed vesicle fuse with the plasma membrane and are then released outside the cell.
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP- In research, the group of subjects who receive the independent variable
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH- growth of a population without any constraints; therefore, the population will grow at an ever-increasing rate.
FACILITATED DIFFUSION- Facilitated diffusion (or facilitated transport) is a process of diffusion, a form of passive transport, where molecules diffuse across membranes, with the assistance of transport proteins
FAD+/FADH2- Flavin adenine dinucleotide, accepts electrons during redox reactions
FATTY ACID- Monomer of carbohydrates
FLACCID- limber; feeble; lax
FLAGELLA- Long hair-like structures on a cell or microorganism enabling movement or manipulation
FLUID MOSAIC MODEL- Fluid is fat, mosaic is protein, plama membrane
FOOD CHAIN- transfer of food energy from plants to one or more animals; a series of plants and animals linked by their food relationships
FOOD WEB- a series of linked food chains
GENE- The smallest unit of an organism that is still able to contain and transfer genetic information
GLYCOLYSIS- process in which glucose (sugar) is partially broken down by cells in enzyme reactions that do not need oxygen. Glycolysis is one method that cells use to produce energy
GOLGI APPARATUS- Membrane bound organelle in eucaryotic cells, where the proteins and lipids made in the endoplasmic reticulum are modified and sorted
GRANA- Stacks of thylakoids found in the discoid chloroplasts of land plants and some green algae
GRASSLAND/PRAIRIE- A biome whose main vegetation is grass or grasslike plants
GROUND WATER- The supply of fresh water found beneath the Earth's surface, usually in aquifers, which supply wells and springs
GUANINE- A base; one of the molecular components of DNA and RNA. Always bonds with cytosine
H+ IONS/PROTONS- Positively charged molecules
HABITAT- The place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs
HERBIVORE- any organism that eats only producers (plants)
HETEROTROPH- Organisms that receive their nourishment by eating other organisms
HOST- an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; it does not benefit and is often harmed by the association
HYDROGEN BOND- a special type of intermolecular interaction whereby the hydrogen of one molecule is attracted to the oxygen, nitrogen, or flourine of another molecule
HYDROGEN CARRIER- A hydrogen carrier is an organic macromolecule that transports atoms of hydrogen from one place to another inside a cell
HYDROLYSIS- A chemical reaction that uses water to break down a compound
HYDROPHILIC- dissolves in water
HYDROPHOBIC- does not dissolve in water
HYDROXIDE IONS (OH-)- the OH- ion
HYPERTONIC-Describes a situation in which the concentration of solute of a substance is higher than the concentration of solute of another substance
HYPOTHESIS- an idea or explanation that is based on observations and that can be tested
HYPOTONIC- Describes a situation in which the concentration of solute of a substance is lower than the concentration of solute of another substance
INTER/INTRA- inter is between different species, intra is between species of the same kind
INTRON/EXON- a segment of a structural gene that is transcribed but not translated, in a structural gene, one of the segments that are ultimately transcribed and translated when the gene is expressed
ION CHANNEL- An integral membrane protein that provides for the regulated transport of a specific ions across a membrane
IONIC BOND- An bond formed by the electro-magnetic attraction between ions of opposite charge
ISOTONIC- A solution with an equal total concentration of solutes compared to another
KREBS CYCLE- Part of aerobic respiration, also called the citric acid cycle
LACTIC ACID FERMENTATION- Lactic acid fermentation is a form of anaerobic respiration that occurs in some bacteria and animal cells in the absence of oxygen
LIMITING FACTOR- a factor present in an environment in such short supply that it limits growth or some other life process
LIPID- A fatty, waxy or oily non-polar organic compound that is characteristically insoluble in water but readily soluble in organic solvents
LOGISTIC GROWTH- the S curve, population,
LYSOSOME- A particle found in the cell cytoplasm which causes the breakdown of metabolic substances and foreign particles within the cell
MACROMOLECULE- A large polymer such as DNA, RNA, protein, lipid or polysaccharide.
MATRIX- material between animal or plant cells, the material (or tissue) in which more specialized structures are embedded, and a specific part of the mitochondrion that is the site of oxidation of organic molecules
MATTER- Anything that has mass and occupies space
METABOLISM- The physical and chemical processses by which substances are produced or transformed (broken down) into energy or products for the uses of the body
MICRONS- A measure of length; the thousandth part of one millimeter; the millionth part of a meter.
MICROTUBULE- long, cylindrical polymer composed of the protein tubulin. It is one of the three major classes of filaments in the cytoskeleton
MIMICRY- the resemblance of an animal species to another species or to natural objects; provides concealment and protection from predators
MITOCHONDRIA- The mitochondria are the principal energy source of the cell. Mitochondria convert nutrients into energy as well as doing many other specialized jobs
MITOSIS- the process of cell division
MOLECULE- Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds
MONOMER- A simple molecule that can combine with other to form a polymer.
MONOSACCHARIDE- The monomer of the more complex carbohydrates, examples of which include glucose, fructose, and galactose; also called a simple sugar.
mRNA/tRNA/rRNA- Messenger RNA – single-stranded RNA molecule that encodes the information to make a protein, Transfer RNA – an RNA molecule that transfers amino acids to the growing end of a polypeptide chain during translation, Ribosomal RNA – an organelle that contains most of the RNA in the cell and that is responsible for ribosome function
MULTICELLULAR- Composed of more than one cell
MUTUALISM- a relationship between two organisms that benefit both
NAD+/NADH- an organic molecule that serves as an electron carrier by being oxidized to NAD+ and reduced to NADH, the reduced form of NAD+; an electron-carrying molecule that functions in cellular respiration
NADP+/NADPH- nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. is a strong electron acceptor important for electron transport system in photosynthesis.Nadph is the reduced form of NADP+
NEUTRON- A particle with no charge that is located in the nucleus of an atom
NICHE- A unique ecological role of an organism in a community
NITRIFICATION- The conversion of ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3-).
NITROGENOUS BASE- an important part of DNA that makes up the genetic sequence. The bases are adenine, guanine, thymine (uracil in RNA), and cytosine
NITROGEN CYCLE- The process by which nitrogen is recycled in the ecosystem
NITROGEN FIXATION- The biological or chemical process by which elemental nitrogen, from the air, is converted to organic or available nitrogen.
NOSEPIECE- The part of an optical microscope where the objective lenses are attached
NUCLEIC ACID- A polymer of nucleotides, see also DNA and RNA
NUCLEOLUS- A dense body found in the cell nucleus. The nucleolus functions to transcribe and process ribosomal RNA and to assemble ribosomal precursors
NUCLEOTIDE- The basic unit of DNA or RNA, consisting of one chemical base, a phosphate group, and a sugar molecule
NUCLEUS- the positively charged dense center of an atom
OBJECTIVE- the lens or system of lenses in a telescope or microscope that is nearest the object being viewed
OBSERVATION- the act of making and recording a measurement
OCULAR- eyepiece: combination of lenses at the viewing end of optical instruments
OMNIVORE- an organism whose diet consists of a wide variety of foodstuffs, including plants and animals
ORGANELLE- A specialized "organ" of a cell, such as the mitochondria, the Golgi complex, the endoplastic reticulum, the lyso-somes, and the centrioles
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS- Compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen. Organic compounds form the basic building blocks of living tissue.
OSMOSIS- The diffusion of a solvent through a semi permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration
OXIDATION- The process of combining oxygen with some other substance or a chemical change in which and atom loses electrons
PARASITE- an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host
PASSIVE TRANSPORT- Movement of a substance across a membrane without the expenditure of metabolic energy.
PEPTIDE BOND- The chemical link joining amino acids in peptides and proteins
PERMAFROST- A permanently frozen layer of soil
PGA- A three-carbon molecule formed when carbon dioxide is added to ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) during the dark reaction of photosynthesis (Calvin, or Calvin-Benson Cycle). PGA is converted to PGAL, using ATP and NADPH
PGAL/G3P- A substance formed from PGA during the dark reaction of photosynthesis. Some PGAL leaves the cycle and can be converted to glucose, while other PGAL molecules are used to reform ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) to continue the dark reaction
PH SCALE- The scale, ranging from 0 to 14, used to measure the pH of a solution.
PHAGOCYTOSIS- Process wherein a cell surrounds large particles and envelops them through the cell membrane
PHOSPHATE- A phosphorus compound which occurs in natural ores and is used as a raw material in fertilizers, animal feeds and detergents.
PHOSPHOLIPID- A lipid or glyceride that contains a phosphate group. The phosphate group imparts a polar side to the molecule, while the lipid end remains relatively non-polar. Phospholipids are the main form of lipid in cell membranes.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS- The process by which green plants use light to synthesize organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water
PHOTOSYSTEMS- an enzyme which uses light to reduce molecules
PIGMENTS- Large, colored molecules that capture light energy and make it available for photosynthesis.
PINOCYTOSIS- process by which certain cells can engulf and incorporate droplets of fluid
PIONEER SPECIES- plant species that first invades unvegetated area.
PLASMOLYSIS- cell shrinks, dies of “dehydration”
POLAR MOLECULE- A molecule in which the shared electrons are not evenly distributed, so that one side of the molecule is negatively (or positively) charged in comparison with the other side. Polar molecules are soluble in polar solvents, such as water.
POLYMER- A large molecule created by a large number of smaller molecules, called monomers, in a regular pattern.
POLYPEPTIDE- A molecule made up of a stri ng of amino acids. A protein is an example of a polypeptide
POLYSACCHARIDE- A biological polymer composed of sugar subunits for example, starch or cellulose.
POPULATION- a group of organisms of the same species populating a given area
PREDATOR- An organism that attacks, kills, and feeds on other organisms
PREDICTION- prediction is a statement or claim that a particular event will occur in the future in more certain terms than a forecast
PREY- animal hunted or caught for food
PRIMARY SUCCESSION- the ecological succession of vegetation that occurs in passing from barren earth or water to a climax community
PRODUCER- any organism that is capable of producing its own food, usually through photosynthesis
PRODUCT- A product is a substance that forms as a result of chemical reaction
PROKARYOTE- Cell or organism lacking a membrane-bound, structurally discrete nucleus and other subcellular compartments
PROTEIN- A molecule composed of a long chain of amino acids. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps build many parts of the body, including muscle, bone, skin, and blood
PROTON- a positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom.
PURINE/PYRIMIDINE- The bases adenine and guanine in DNA and RNA., The bases cytosine, thymine and uracil in DNA and RNA.
REACTANT- starting substance in a chemical reaction. It appears to the left of the arrow in a chemical equation
REACTION- a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
REDOX REACTION- an oxidation-reduction reaction
REDUCTION/OXIDATION- any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent, The process of combining oxygen with some other substance or a chemical change in which and atom loses electrons.
REPLICATION- The process by which DNA copies itself in order to make a new genome to pass on to a daughter cell
RIBOSE- The five-carbon sugar that serves as a component of RNA
RIBOSOME- organelle responsible for protein synthesis
RNA- A nucleic acid molecule similar to DNA but containing ribose rather than deoxyribose, helps synthesize protein in the cells
ROUGH/SMOOTH ER- a system of membranous tubes and sacs containing ribosomes which function in the manufacture of membrane-bound proteins, a system of membranous tubes and sacs that functions in lipid synthesis.
RUBISCO- Ribulose- an enzyme that is used in the Calvin cycle
RUBP- important 5-carbon intermediate in the Calvin cycle taking place during photosynthesis
SECONDARY SUCCESSION- This starts from the previously built up substrata with existing living matter.
SOLUTE- The substance that dissolves to form a solution
SOLUTION- homogeneous mixture composed of one or more substances, known as solutes, dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent
SOLVENT- A substance that dissolves other substances, thus forming a solution
STAGE- The surface of a compound microscope that the sample is placed on for viewing
STEROID- A lipid found in plants and animals that share a common underlying chemical structure
STOMA/STOMATA- a microscopic opening in the surface of a leaf that allows gases to pass in and out. The breathing pores on the surface of a plant's leaves
STROMA- solution that surrounds the thylakoids in a chloroplast
SUBSTRATE- a part, substance, or element that lies beneath and supports another part, substance, or element; the reactant in reactions catalyzed by enzymes
SYMBIOSIS- relationship in which 2 different organisms live in close association with each other
TAIGA- a region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions
TEMPERATE FOREST- a forest that grows in regions with moderate temperatures, found north and south of tropical forests.
THEORY- An explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.
THYLAKOID MEMBRANE- Membrane surrounding a thylakoid
THYMINE- One of the pyrimidine nitrogenous bases of DNA. Thymine pairs with adenine.
TOTAL MAGNIFICATION- oscular x objective
TRANSCRIPTION/TRANSLATION- the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA, the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm
TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS- living organism that has had a foreign gene added to it by means of genetic engineering.
TRANSPIRATION- The evaporation of water from plants
TRIGLYCERIDE- a combination of glycerol and fatty acid that circulates in the blood
TROPHIC LEVEL- a feeding level in a food chain
TROPICAL RAIN FOREST- a hot biome near the equator, with much rainfall and a wide variety of life
TUNDRA- A treeless plain characteristic of the arctic and subarctic regions
TURGOR PRESSURE/TURGID- Pressure caused by the cytoplasm pressing against the cell wall. the condition of a cell, tissue or plant when it is filled with water so that it is firm; not wilted.
UNICELLULAR- one celled organism
URACIL- A nitrogenous base normally found in RNA but not DNA; uracil is capable of forming a base pair with adenine.
VESICLE- A small sac containing fluid and other material
WATER CYCLE- The recycling of water between the earth and the atmosphere
WATSON AND CRICK- discovered structure of DNA molecule in 1953
WAX- any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water
1st Semester Vocab List
Courtesy of WeiQiao Huang
ABIOTIC FACTOR- Environmental element that does not involve or include living things; eg temperature, soil type, rainfall
ACCESSORY PIGMENTS- Colored compounds which absorb and transfer light energy to chlorophyll
ACID PH- 0-6 on pH scale
ACTIVATION ENERGY- The energy needed to start a chemical reaction.
ACTIVE TRANSPORT- Transport of molecules against a concentration gradient (from regions of low concentration to regions of high concentration) with the aid of proteins in the cell membrane and energy from ATP.
ADENINE- One of the five nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acid molecules; adenine pairs with thymine in DNA.
ADHESION- Force of attraction between two unlike materials
ADP- Adenosine diphosphate; a molecule that together with inorganic phosphate is used to make ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
AEROBIC- Living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen.
AMINO ACIDS- Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins
AMMONIFICATION- This is the process in which organic forms of nitrogen (eg, nitrogen present in dead plant material compounds) are converted to ammonium (NH 4 + ) by decomposers (bacteria).
ANABOLIC- The metabolic process in which materials are built.
ANAEROBIC- A biological process which occurs in the absence of oxygen.
ANION- Negatively charged ion
ATOM- The smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
ATOMIC MASS- Total mass of one atom of an element, the weighted average mass of the atoms in a naturally occurring element
ATOMIC NUMBER- The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
ATP- Adenosine triphosphate, a high energy phosphate molecule used to store and release energy for work within the body
ATP SYNTHASE- An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of phosphate and ADP into ATP during oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and bacteria or photophosphorylation in chloroplasts
AUTOTROPH- An organism that can make its own food (usually using sunlight).
BASE PH-8-14 on pH scale
BIOLOGY- Study of life
BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)- A measurement of the oxygen demand of organic material which, when breaking down in water, consumes oxygen in the water column
BIOMASS- The total amount of living material, plants and animals, above and below the soil surface in a biotic community
BIOME- A major ecological community of organisms, occupying a large area.
BIOSPHERE- The portion of Earth and its atmosphere that can support life
BIOTIC FACTOR- A living component within an ecosystem.
BOND- Describes the adhesiveness of 2 things
BUFFER- ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
CALVIN CYCLE- metabolic pathway that occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts, in which carbon enters in the form of CO 2 and leaves in the form of sugar. The cycle uses ATP as an energy source and NADPH as a reducing agent.
CARBOHYDRATE- an organic molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; examples include sugars and starches
CARBON CYCLE- The process by which carbon is recycled in the ecosystem.
CARBON FIXATION- Carbon fixation is a process found in autotrophs, usually driven by photosynthesis, whereby carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds
CARNIVORE- An organism that eats meat
CARRIER PROTEIN- Carrier proteins are membrane proteins that transport a specific substance or group of substances in the blood or across the cell membrane.
CARRYING CAPACITY- The maximum population of a given organism that a particular environment or habitat can sustain; implies continuing yield without environmental damage; often denoted as K
CATABOLIC- The metabolic process in which materials are broken down.
CATALYST- A substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction, but itself remains unchanged at the end of the reaction
CATION- A positively charged ion
CELL MEMBRANE- The outer boundary of the cell. The cell membrane helps control what substances enter or exit the cell.
CELL THEORY- All living things are composed of cells, Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things, All cells are produced from other cells
CELL WALL- The outermost layer of a plant-like cell, usually made of cellulose
CENTRIOLE- An organelle that is composed of two short microtubules at right angles to each other and that has an active role in mitosis
CHEMIOSMOSIS- The mechanism through which ATP is produced in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. The electron transport system transfers protons from the inner compartment to the outer and as the protons flow back to the inner compartment, the energy of their movement is used to add phosphate to ADP
CHLOROPHYLL- green pigments in plants that facilitate photosynthesis
CHLOROPLAST- an organelle present in algae and plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is involved in photosynthesis
CHROMATIN- the material that makes up both mitotic and interphase chromosomes: a complex of proteins and DNS strands that are loosely coiled such that translation and transcription
CHROMATOGRAPHY- technique for separating complex mixtures of chemicals or proteins into their various constituents
CHROMOSOME- in a eukaryotic cell, one of the structures in the nucleus that are made up of DNA and protein; in a prokaryotic cell, the main ring of DNA
CILIA- Short hair-like structures on a cell or microorganism, the movement of which aids mobility of the cell and transfer of materials across its surface
CLIMAX COMMUNITY- The mature stage of succession in a particular area, in which all organisms and nonliving factors are in balance
CLONING- The experimental process of making genetically identical copies
COHESION- the force of attraction between two like materials
COMMENSALISM- A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is not affected
COMMUNITY- an association of organisms, plant and animal, each occupying a certain position or ecological niche, inhabiting a common environment, and interacting with one another; all the plants and animals in a particular habitat that are bound together by food chains and other interrelationships
COMPETITION- One of the biological interactions that can limit population growth; occurs when two species vie with each other for the same resource.
COMPETITIVE EXCLUSION- Competition between species that is so intense that one species completely eliminates the second species from the area
CONCENTRATION GRADIENT- Change in the concentration of a substance from one area to another.
CONDENSATION REACTION- Originally meant a reaction which gave off a molecule of water for each molecule of product, but now extended to mean a reaction that gives off a molecule of any kind of 'by-product' per molecule of product.
CONSUMER- an organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms
CONTRACTILE VACUOLE- Organelle in many eukaryotes that acts as a bilge pump in the active transport of excess water from the cell
CONTROL- Being in power
COVALENT- The chemical bond between atoms
CRISTAE- Cristae (singular crista) are the internal compartments formed by the inner membrane of a mitochondrion
CROSSBREED- Hybrid
CYTOCHROMES- Cytochromes are generally membrane-bound hemoproteins that contain heme groups and carry out electron transport.
CYTOLYSIS- Bursting of cell
CYTOPLASM- The contents of a cell, outside of the nucleus
CYTOSINE- a nitrogen-containing base found in DNA molecules. Pairs with guanine
CYTOSKELETON- A three-dimensional network of microtubules and filaments that provides internal support for the cells, anchors internal cell structures, and functions in cell movement and division
DATA- a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
DECOMPOSER- organisms such as fungi and bacteria that feed on dead material causing the chemical breakdown of the material
DETRIFICATION- The anaerobic microbial conversion of nitrogen to nitrogen gas
DENSITY DEPENDENT FACTOR- a variable affected by the number of organisms present in a given area
DENSITY INDEPENDENT FACTOR- a variable that affects a population regardless of the population density, such as climate
DEOXYRIBOSE- The five-carbon sugar component of DNA
DESERT- Area which averages less than 10” of precipitation per year
DETRITIVORE- An organism that derives nutrients and energy by consuming decaying organic matter
DIFFUSION- Movement of particles from regions of higher density to regions of lower density
DISSOCIATION- When water dissolves a compound
DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO)- The amount of oxygen dissolved in water
DNA- Deoxyribonucleic acid, a chemical found primarily in the nucleus of cells. DNA carries the instructions or blueprint for making all the structures and materials the body needs to function.
ECOLOGY- The study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment
ECOSYSTEM- a community of living things and the environment in which they live
ELECTRON- A negatively charged atomic particle which rotates around the nucleus of the atom.
ELECTRONEGATIVE- measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons in the context of a chemical bond
ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN- series of membrane-associated electron carriers mediating biochemical reactions that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of life
ELEMENT- A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.
ENDERGONIC- A chemical reaction requiring input of energy to proceed, building.
ENDOCYTOSIS- The uptake by a cell of material from its environment by a process in which the cell surrounds the material and engulfs it with a vesicle formed
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM- a system of membranes that is found in a cell’s cytoplasm and that assists in the production, processing, and transport of proteins and in the production of lipids
ENERGY- Capacity to do work
ENERGY LEVEL- An area around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are found.
ENZYME- A protein that speeds up chemical processes and reactions in the body
EQUILIBRIUM- a state of balance in a system where opposing forces or fluxes balance
EUKARYOTE- A cell with a membrane-bound nucleus
EXERGONIC- A reaction that releases energy, breaks down
EXOCYTOSIS- The process in which molecules in a membrane-enclosed vesicle fuse with the plasma membrane and are then released outside the cell.
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP- In research, the group of subjects who receive the independent variable
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH- growth of a population without any constraints; therefore, the population will grow at an ever-increasing rate.
FACILITATED DIFFUSION- Facilitated diffusion (or facilitated transport) is a process of diffusion, a form of passive transport, where molecules diffuse across membranes, with the assistance of transport proteins
FAD+/FADH2- Flavin adenine dinucleotide, accepts electrons during redox reactions
FATTY ACID- Monomer of carbohydrates
FLACCID- limber; feeble; lax
FLAGELLA- Long hair-like structures on a cell or microorganism enabling movement or manipulation
FLUID MOSAIC MODEL- Fluid is fat, mosaic is protein, plama membrane
FOOD CHAIN- transfer of food energy from plants to one or more animals; a series of plants and animals linked by their food relationships
FOOD WEB- a series of linked food chains
GENE- The smallest unit of an organism that is still able to contain and transfer genetic information
GLYCOLYSIS- process in which glucose (sugar) is partially broken down by cells in enzyme reactions that do not need oxygen. Glycolysis is one method that cells use to produce energy
GOLGI APPARATUS- Membrane bound organelle in eucaryotic cells, where the proteins and lipids made in the endoplasmic reticulum are modified and sorted
GRANA- Stacks of thylakoids found in the discoid chloroplasts of land plants and some green algae
GRASSLAND/PRAIRIE- A biome whose main vegetation is grass or grasslike plants
GROUND WATER- The supply of fresh water found beneath the Earth's surface, usually in aquifers, which supply wells and springs
GUANINE- A base; one of the molecular components of DNA and RNA. Always bonds with cytosine
H+ IONS/PROTONS- Positively charged molecules
HABITAT- The place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs
HERBIVORE- any organism that eats only producers (plants)
HETEROTROPH- Organisms that receive their nourishment by eating other organisms
HOST- an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; it does not benefit and is often harmed by the association
HYDROGEN BOND- a special type of intermolecular interaction whereby the hydrogen of one molecule is attracted to the oxygen, nitrogen, or flourine of another molecule
HYDROGEN CARRIER- A hydrogen carrier is an organic macromolecule that transports atoms of hydrogen from one place to another inside a cell
HYDROLYSIS- A chemical reaction that uses water to break down a compound
HYDROPHILIC- dissolves in water
HYDROPHOBIC- does not dissolve in water
HYDROXIDE IONS (OH-)- the OH- ion
HYPERTONIC-Describes a situation in which the concentration of solute of a substance is higher than the concentration of solute of another substance
HYPOTHESIS- an idea or explanation that is based on observations and that can be tested
HYPOTONIC- Describes a situation in which the concentration of solute of a substance is lower than the concentration of solute of another substance
INTER/INTRA- inter is between different species, intra is between species of the same kind
INTRON/EXON- a segment of a structural gene that is transcribed but not translated, in a structural gene, one of the segments that are ultimately transcribed and translated when the gene is expressed
ION CHANNEL- An integral membrane protein that provides for the regulated transport of a specific ions across a membrane
IONIC BOND- An bond formed by the electro-magnetic attraction between ions of opposite charge
ISOTONIC- A solution with an equal total concentration of solutes compared to another
KREBS CYCLE- Part of aerobic respiration, also called the citric acid cycle
LACTIC ACID FERMENTATION- Lactic acid fermentation is a form of anaerobic respiration that occurs in some bacteria and animal cells in the absence of oxygen
LIMITING FACTOR- a factor present in an environment in such short supply that it limits growth or some other life process
LIPID- A fatty, waxy or oily non-polar organic compound that is characteristically insoluble in water but readily soluble in organic solvents
LOGISTIC GROWTH- the S curve, population,
LYSOSOME- A particle found in the cell cytoplasm which causes the breakdown of metabolic substances and foreign particles within the cell
MACROMOLECULE- A large polymer such as DNA, RNA, protein, lipid or polysaccharide.
MATRIX- material between animal or plant cells, the material (or tissue) in which more specialized structures are embedded, and a specific part of the mitochondrion that is the site of oxidation of organic molecules
MATTER- Anything that has mass and occupies space
METABOLISM- The physical and chemical processses by which substances are produced or transformed (broken down) into energy or products for the uses of the body
MICRONS- A measure of length; the thousandth part of one millimeter; the millionth part of a meter.
MICROTUBULE- long, cylindrical polymer composed of the protein tubulin. It is one of the three major classes of filaments in the cytoskeleton
MIMICRY- the resemblance of an animal species to another species or to natural objects; provides concealment and protection from predators
MITOCHONDRIA- The mitochondria are the principal energy source of the cell. Mitochondria convert nutrients into energy as well as doing many other specialized jobs
MITOSIS- the process of cell division
MOLECULE- Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds
MONOMER- A simple molecule that can combine with other to form a polymer.
MONOSACCHARIDE- The monomer of the more complex carbohydrates, examples of which include glucose, fructose, and galactose; also called a simple sugar.
mRNA/tRNA/rRNA- Messenger RNA – single-stranded RNA molecule that encodes the information to make a protein, Transfer RNA – an RNA molecule that transfers amino acids to the growing end of a polypeptide chain during translation, Ribosomal RNA – an organelle that contains most of the RNA in the cell and that is responsible for ribosome function
MULTICELLULAR- Composed of more than one cell
MUTUALISM- a relationship between two organisms that benefit both
NAD+/NADH- an organic molecule that serves as an electron carrier by being oxidized to NAD+ and reduced to NADH, the reduced form of NAD+; an electron-carrying molecule that functions in cellular respiration
NADP+/NADPH- nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. is a strong electron acceptor important for electron transport system in photosynthesis. Nadph is the reduced form of NADP+
NEUTRON- A particle with no charge that is located in the nucleus of an atom
NICHE- A unique ecological role of an organism in a community
NITRIFICATION- The conversion of ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3-).
NITROGENOUS BASE- an important part of DNA that makes up the genetic sequence. The bases are adenine, guanine, thymine (uracil in RNA), and cytosine
NITROGEN CYCLE- The process by which nitrogen is recycled in the ecosystem
NITROGEN FIXATION- The biological or chemical process by which elemental nitrogen, from the air, is converted to organic or available nitrogen.
NOSEPIECE- The part of an optical microscope where the objective lenses are attached
NUCLEIC ACID- A polymer of nucleotides, see also DNA and RNA
NUCLEOLUS- A dense body found in the cell nucleus. The nucleolus functions to transcribe and process ribosomal RNA and to assemble ribosomal precursors
NUCLEOTIDE- The basic unit of DNA or RNA, consisting of one chemical base, a phosphate group, and a sugar molecule
NUCLEUS- the positively charged dense center of an atom
OBJECTIVE- the lens or system of lenses in a telescope or microscope that is nearest the object being viewed
OBSERVATION- the act of making and recording a measurement
OCULAR- eyepiece: combination of lenses at the viewing end of optical instruments
OMNIVORE- an organism whose diet consists of a wide variety of foodstuffs, including plants and animals
ORGANELLE- A specialized "organ" of a cell, such as the mitochondria, the Golgi complex, the endoplastic reticulum, the lyso-somes, and the centrioles
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS- Compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen. Organic compounds form the basic building blocks of living tissue.
OSMOSIS- The diffusion of a solvent through a semi permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration
OXIDATION- The process of combining oxygen with some other substance or a chemical change in which and atom loses electrons
PARASITE- an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host
PASSIVE TRANSPORT- Movement of a substance across a membrane without the expenditure of metabolic energy.
PEPTIDE BOND- The chemical link joining amino acids in peptides and proteins
PERMAFROST- A permanently frozen layer of soil
PGA- A three-carbon molecule formed when carbon dioxide is added to ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) during the dark reaction of photosynthesis (Calvin, or Calvin-Benson Cycle). PGA is converted to PGAL, using ATP and NADPH
PGAL/G3P- A substance formed from PGA during the dark reaction of photosynthesis. Some PGAL leaves the cycle and can be converted to glucose, while other PGAL molecules are used to reform ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) to continue the dark reaction
PH SCALE- The scale, ranging from 0 to 14, used to measure the pH of a solution.
PHAGOCYTOSIS- Process wherein a cell surrounds large particles and envelops them through the cell membrane
PHOSPHATE- A phosphorus compound which occurs in natural ores and is used as a raw material in fertilizers, animal feeds and detergents.
PHOSPHOLIPID- A lipid or glyceride that contains a phosphate group. The phosphate group imparts a polar side to the molecule, while the lipid end remains relatively non-polar. Phospholipids are the main form of lipid in cell membranes.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS- The process by which green plants use light to synthesize organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water
PHOTOSYSTEMS- an enzyme which uses light to reduce molecules
PIGMENTS- Large, colored molecules that capture light energy and make it available for photosynthesis.
PINOCYTOSIS- process by which certain cells can engulf and incorporate droplets of fluid
PIONEER SPECIES- plant species that first invades unvegetated area.
PLASMOLYSIS- cell shrinks, dies of “dehydration”
POLAR MOLECULE- A molecule in which the shared electrons are not evenly distributed, so that one side of the molecule is negatively (or positively) charged in comparison with the other side. Polar molecules are soluble in polar solvents, such as water.
POLYMER- A large molecule created by a large number of smaller molecules, called monomers, in a regular pattern.
POLYPEPTIDE- A molecule made up of a stri ng of amino acids. A protein is an example of a polypeptide
POLYSACCHARIDE- A biological polymer composed of sugar subunits for example, starch or cellulose.
POPULATION- a group of organisms of the same species populating a given area
PREDATOR- An organism that attacks, kills, and feeds on other organisms
PREDICTION- prediction is a statement or claim that a particular event will occur in the future in more certain terms than a forecast
PREY- animal hunted or caught for food
PRIMARY SUCCESSION- the ecological succession of vegetation that occurs in passing from barren earth or water to a climax community
PRODUCER- any organism that is capable of producing its own food, usually through photosynthesis
PRODUCT- A product is a substance that forms as a result of chemical reaction
PROKARYOTE- Cell or organism lacking a membrane-bound, structurally discrete nucleus and other subcellular compartments
PROTEIN- A molecule composed of a long chain of amino acids. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps build many parts of the body, including muscle, bone, skin, and blood
PROTON- a positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom.
PURINE/PYRIMIDINE- The bases adenine and guanine in DNA and RNA., The bases cytosine, thymine and uracil in DNA and RNA.
REACTANT- starting substance in a chemical reaction. It appears to the left of the arrow in a chemical equation
REACTION- a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
REDOX REACTION- an oxidation-reduction reaction
REDUCTION/OXIDATION- any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent, The process of combining oxygen with some other substance or a chemical change in which and atom loses electrons.
REPLICATION- The process by which DNA copies itself in order to make a new genome to pass on to a daughter cell
RIBOSE- The five-carbon sugar that serves as a component of RNA
RIBOSOME- organelle responsible for protein synthesis
RNA- A nucleic acid molecule similar to DNA but containing ribose rather than deoxyribose, helps synthesize protein in the cells
ROUGH/SMOOTH ER- a system of membranous tubes and sacs containing ribosomes which function in the manufacture of membrane-bound proteins, a system of membranous tubes and sacs that functions in lipid synthesis.
RUBISCO- Ribulose- an enzyme that is used in the Calvin cycle
RUBP- important 5-carbon intermediate in the Calvin cycle taking place during photosynthesis
SECONDARY SUCCESSION- This starts from the previously built up substrata with existing living matter.
SOLUTE- The substance that dissolves to form a solution
SOLUTION- homogeneous mixture composed of one or more substances, known as solutes, dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent
SOLVENT- A substance that dissolves other substances, thus forming a solution
STAGE- The surface of a compound microscope that the sample is placed on for viewing
STEROID- A lipid found in plants and animals that share a common underlying chemical structure
STOMA/STOMATA- a microscopic opening in the surface of a leaf that allows gases to pass in and out. The breathing pores on the surface of a plant's leaves
STROMA- solution that surrounds the thylakoids in a chloroplast
SUBSTRATE- a part, substance, or element that lies beneath and supports another part, substance, or element; the reactant in reactions catalyzed by enzymes
SYMBIOSIS- relationship in which 2 different organisms live in close association with each other
TAIGA- a region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions
TEMPERATE FOREST- a forest that grows in regions with moderate temperatures, found north and south of tropical forests.
THEORY- An explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.
THYLAKOID MEMBRANE- Membrane surrounding a thylakoid
THYMINE- One of the pyrimidine nitrogenous bases of DNA. Thymine pairs with adenine.
TOTAL MAGNIFICATION- oscular x objective
TRANSCRIPTION/TRANSLATION- the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA, the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm
TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS- living organism that has had a foreign gene added to it by means of genetic engineering.
TRANSPIRATION- The evaporation of water from plants
TRIGLYCERIDE- a combination of glycerol and fatty acid that circulates in the blood
TROPHIC LEVEL- a feeding level in a food chain
TROPICAL RAIN FOREST- a hot biome near the equator, with much rainfall and a wide variety of life
TUNDRA- A treeless plain characteristic of the arctic and subarctic regions
TURGOR PRESSURE/TURGID- Pressure caused by the cytoplasm pressing against the cell wall. the condition of a cell, tissue or plant when it is filled with water so that it is firm; not wilted.
UNICELLULAR- one celled organism
URACIL- A nitrogenous base normally found in RNA but not DNA; uracil is capable of forming a base pair with adenine.
VESICLE- A small sac containing fluid and other material
WATER CYCLE- The recycling of water between the earth and the atmosphere
WATSON AND CRICK- discovered structure of DNA molecule in 1953
WAX- any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water