Biology Keywords:

Absorption Movement of digested food molecules through the wall of the intestine
into the blood or lymph.
Active immunity The body produces its own antibodies in response to an antigen, either
on the surface of a pathogen or in vaccine.
Active transport The movement of molecules or ions in or out of a cell through the cell
membrane from a region of their higher concentration to a region lower
concentration against the concentration gradient, using energy released
during respiration.
Adaptive features An inherited feature that increases an organism’s fitness by helping it
survive and reproduce in its environment.
Adaptation A feature/characteristic of an organism that helps it to survive in its
environment.
Adrenaline Hormone produced by the adrenal glands that prepares the body for
emergencies and stress, for example by increasing the glucose
concentration of the blood
Aerobic respiration The process that happens in cells to release a relatively large amount of
energy from food substances, such as glucose, in the presence of oxygen.
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome, a collection of diseases that
result from a weakening of the body’s immune system following
infection by HIV
Alleles A variable or variant of a gene/ Any of two or more alternative forms of
genes.
Alveoli Tiny air sac in the lungs where exchange of gases between air and blood
occurs
Amniotic fluid The liquid that is contained within the amnion and which protects the
fetus from mechanical damage.
Anabolic steroids A hormone-like substance that increases the production of protein to
build up muscles.
Anaerobic respiration The process that happens in cells to release a relatively small amount of
energy from glucose in the absence of oxygen.
Antagonist muscles A pair of muscles which brings about movement at the joint. When one
contracts, the other relaxes. (e.g. biceps and triceps)
Artificial selection The selection of plants and animals for breeding because of their useful
characteristics, e.g. high crop yield (aka selective breeding)
Asexual reproduction Reproduction without the formation of gametes. New individuals are
genetically identical (clones) to the parents.
Assimilation The movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body
where it is used, becoming part of the cells.
Auxin A plant growth hormone which controls cell elongation.
Balanced diet A diet that provides sufficient energy for a person’s needs and all food
nutrients in the correct proportions.
Binary fission A type of asexual reproduction in which one cell divides into two.
Bacteria reproduce by binary fission.
Binomial system A method for naming organism in which each is given two names: a
genus name and a species name (Good spaghetti) , e.g. Homo sapiens
Carnivores An animal that eats other animals (A meat-eater)
Catalyst A substance that speeds up the rate of reaction by lowering the
activation energy, without itself being changed.
Codominance A condition where both alleles express themselves in a hybrid, as they
are both either dominant or recessive to one another.
Chromosome A thread-like structure of DNA, containing genetic materials in a form of
genes. They are found in nucleus and are visible only when a cell divides.
Community All the animals, plants and microorganisms that are found in a particular
habitat.
Consumer An organism that gains its energy by feeding on other organism.
Cross-pollination The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of flower to the stigma of a
flower on a different plant of the same species
Deamination The process, which takes place in the liver, where the nitrogen
-containing part of amino acid is removed to form ammonia. It is the
breakdown of excess amino acids to make ammonium and carbohydrate.
Decomposers Microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi that gain their energy by
breaking down dead organisms and waste material.
Development An increase in complexity as an embryo grows and gains new tissues,
organs and organ system
Diffusion The net movement of molecules or ions from high concentration to low
concentration down the concentration gradient as a result of random
movement.
Digestion The breakdown of large, insoluble food molecules into small, water
molecules using mechanical and chemical processes.
Diploid nucleus A nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes. (e.g. body cells)
DNA The molecule that forms the genetic material. The sequence of bases in
DNA codes for sequence of amino acids in protein.
Dominant An allele that is expressed if the allele is present and even if only one of
the allele is present. (e.g. T & G)
Drug Any substances taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical
reactions in the body.
Ecosystem All the living organisms (community) in a place, and their interactions
between them and their physical environment.
Egestion The passing out of food that has not been digested or absorbed, as
faeces, through the anus
Enzymes They are biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reaction in the body
by lowering the activation energy, without itself being changed.
Excretion The removal of toxic materials, waste products of metabolism and
substances in excess of requirement from the organism’s body
Food Chain This shows the feeding relationships in a community beginning with a
producer. Each organism is fed on by the next organism in the chain.
Food chains shows the flow of energy and nutrients.
Food Web A network of interconnected food chains showing the energy flow
through an ecosystem.
Genetic engineering Changing the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing or
inserting individual genes.
Genotype The genetic makeup of an organism in terms of the alleles it possesses.
Gravitropism A growth response by a plant to the stimulus of gravity.
Growth A permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number
or cell size or both.
Haploid number A nucleus containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes (sperm, egg)
Herbivore An animal that feed on only plants.
Heterozygous A genotype where two of the alleles are different.
Homeostasis Maintenance of a constant internal environment. This involves
controlling factors, such as temperature and the concentration of
glucose in the blood.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) The virus that causes AIDS. It attacks and destroys lymphocytes reducing
the body’s ability to defend itself against diseases.
Homologous chromosomes A pair of matching chromosomes that carry genes for the same
characteristics in the same position.
Homozygous A genotype where both of the alleles are the same. (e.g. TT or tt)
Hormones A chemical messenger produced by the endocrine glands that is
transported in the blood and alters the activity of one or more specific
target organs. Hormones are destroyed by the liver.
Implantation The embedding of an embryo into the lining of the uterus.
Immunity Protection against diseases provided by the immune system, including
lymphocytes and phagocytes.
Ingestion The process of taking in food into the body.
Inheritance The transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next.
Limiting factor The factor that is in the shortest supply and restricts processes, such as
the rate of photosynthesis or the rate of growth.
Meiosis A type of division of the nucleus to reduce the chromosome number by
half. Diploid nuclei give rise to haploid nuclei. Also called a reduction
division.
Mitosis A type of division of the nucleus that gives rise to genetically identical
cells in which the chromosome number is maintained by the exact
duplication of chromosomes.
Movement An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of
position or place.
Mutation A change in a gene or in a chromosome.
Natural selection Factors such as competition and predation affect the survival of a
species. As a result, only those individuals adapted to survive have the
greater chance to pass on their genes to the next generation.
Negative feedback The mechanism used in homeostasis for maintaining near constant
conditions in the body.
Nutrition Taking in nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions,
containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair,
absorbing and assimilating them.
Organ A number of tissues working together to carry out functions in the body.
Organ systems A number of different organs working together to carry out functions for
the body.
Osmosis The diffusion of water molecules from a region of high water potential to
low water potential, down the concentration gradient through a partially
permeable membrane.
Oxygen debt The extra oxygen that is needed by the body to respire lactic acid
produced during anaerobic respiration.
Phenotype The physical/characteristics of an organism due to both of its genotype
and environment.
Photosynthesis Process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials
using energy from light.
Phototropism A growth response of a plant to the direction of light.
Pollination The transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma.
Population A group of individuals of the same species living in the same habitat at
the same time.
Producers An organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy
from the sunlight through photosynthesis. (plants)
Recessive An allele that is expressed only when there is no dominant allele of the
gene present. (example: tt)
Reproduction Processes that make more of the same kind of organism.
Respiration A complex series of reactions, taking place in all living cells, that break
down nutrient molecules to release energy from food.
Sense organ A receptor organ that is sensitive to a particular stimulus/stimuli, e.g.
touch, light, sound, temperature, chemical.
Sexual reproduction The process involving fusion of haploid nuclei to form a diploid zygote
and the production of genetically different offspring.
Tissue A group pf similar cells that work together to perform the same function.
Translocation The movement of sucrose and amino acid in the phloem
Transpiration The evaporation of water from the surfaces of mesophyll cells in the
leaves followed by diffusion of water vapour through the stomata into
the atmosphere.
Tropic level The position of an organism in a food chain, food web, pyramids of
numbers, biomass or energy. For example, herbivores are primary
consumers and form the second tropic level.
Withdrawal symptoms Side effects that a person feels when they give up an addictive drug.