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Abiogenesis
The generation of life from non-living matter
Accuracy
Closeness of agreement between an observed value and the correct value
Acentric
Chromosome/chromatids lacking a centromere
Acrocentric
Chromosome/chromatids with non-centrally located centromere
Activation Energy
Energy required for molecules in 1 M of substance to move from ground state to
transition state
ADCC
Antibody Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity
Adjuvant
A substance added to vaccines that improves the host immune response
Afferent
Moving/ carrying inward to central part, i.e. blood vessels, nerves
Agranulocyte
Of leukocyte Lymphocyte, Monocyte
Agronomy
The study of soil management and crop production
Algorithm
A systematic procedure for solving a problem
Aliphatic/Acyclic
Of organic compounds Straight/ branched chains
Allele
Particular form of a gene at a specific locus
Allograft
Of graft Same species
Allometry
Evolution Relation between the size of an organism and the size of any one of it’s
parts (allometric relation)
Allopatric Speciation
New species formation due to a geographic barrier
Allopolyploid
Of polyploidy Chromosomes having originated from more than one species
Amensalism
Of symbiosis Where one organism suffers, whilst the other is unaffected
Amorphous
Irregular/ undefined shape/ structure
Amphipathic
Hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecule
Amplicon
A piece of DNA that has been synthesised using an amplification technique
Anabolism
Synthesis of compounds (See Assimilation)
Analyte
Substance undergoing analysis
Aneuploidy
Of polyploidy
chromosomes
Anion
Atom with a negative charge (gain)
Anisogamy
Where there is variation in gamete size for a species
Anomer
Of sugar Stereoisomer
A cell containing an abnormal/ non-integer number of
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Antibody
Immunoglobulin protein recognising epitopes, in primary immune response
Antigens
Substances that are capable of inducing a specific immune response
APC
Abb. Antigen Presenting Cell
Apomorphy
Of taxonomy A derived or specialised character
Apoptosis
Programmed cell death
Asporogenous
Not producing spores
Assay
Procedure for determining the amount of a particular constituent of a mixture
Assimilation
Transforming external substances into those integral to the body (See Anabolism)
Atom
Indivisible!
Autografts
Of graft Same individual
Autopolyploid
Of polyploidy Chromosomes having originated from a single species
Autosome
Chromosome not involved in sex determination
Autotroph (Lithotroph)
Of nutrition Carbon source = inorganic carbon dioxide, i.e. producers
Auxin
Of plants Hormones allowing growth through cell elongation
Bacteriocins
Exotoxins which kill other bacteria
Bacteriophage
Viruses that have a specific affinity for and infect bacteria
Baculovirus
Most prominent virus to infect insects
Biocide
A chemical that kills organisms
Biofilm
Layered culture of micro-organisms growing on a surface
Biogenesis
The theory that life always originates from previously existing life
Bioremediation
The use of plants or micro-organisms to clean up pollution
Biramous
With two branches
Blood
Fluid in a closed circulatory system
Cartesian Plane
Area on which scatter plots are plotted
Catabolism
Destructive metabolism (See Disassimilation)
Catalyst
A substance that accelerates a chemical reaction w/o itself being consumed or
changed
Cation
Atom with a positive charge (loss)
Cellulolytic
Concerned with the hydrolysis of cellulose
Cerebellum
Of the brain Muscle tone and balance
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Cerebrum
Of the brain Thought and higher function
Chelator
An organic chemical that bonds with, and removes, free metal ions from solutions
(See Siderophore)
Chemiosmosis
Using proton movements to produce ATP
Chemotaxis
Directed movement of singled-celled organisms towards certain chemicals
Chemotroph
Of nutrition Energy source = electron donating compounds, i.e. glucose (see
Phototroph)
Chirality
Of molecules exhibiting optical activity (See Optical Isomers)
Chloramphenicol
A broad spectrum antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis
Chromatography
Of analysis Passing of a mobile analyte through a stationary phase
Cis-Trans Isomers
Two forms of a geometric isomer
Cladistics
Determining evolutionary relationships of organisms based on derived similarities
Cleidoic
Self-contained, i.e. an egg
Cloaca
Primitive common passage for faecal, urinary and reproductive discharge
Co-Metabolism
Metabolic transformation of a substance as a by-product of the metabolism of
another substance
Commensalism
Of symbiosis Where one benefits, whilst the other is unaffected
Complement
Serum proteins
Congenital
Present at/ before birth, i.e. disorder
Connexon
Of gap junctions Protein made of connexins as an intercellular channel
Contigs
Long contiguous DNA sequence built from short fragments
CNP
Copy Number Polymorphism- Copy Number Variations (CNVs), alternatively
referred to as Large-segment Copy-number Variations (LCVs)
Cortex
Outermost layer (of an organ)
Covalent
Sharing of electrons
Cytogenetics
Study of the structure of chromosomes
Cytokine
Small proteins, or biological factors, that have are released by cells and effect cellcell interaction (similar to hormones)
Cytolytic
Capable of causing cell lysis
Cytoskeleton
Cytoplasm w/o organelles and internal membranes
Cytosol
Fluid of cell cytoplasm
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Dalton
Unit of atomic mass
Denominator
Number of parts into which one whole is divided (bottom)
Dicentric
Chromosome/chromatids with two centromeres
Differentiate
To show difference – specialisation of cells
Dimer
A molecule that consists of two similar sub-units
Disassimilation
Within an organism, the decomposition of complex substances into simpler ones,
to be excreted (See Catabolism)
Dissociation
Separation of a molecule into two or more atoms
Duplicon
A duplication, or portion thereof, that is traceable to an ancestral or donor location;
a secondary duplication event can be composed of multiple duplicons
Also sometimes referred to as a low copy repeat (See LCR)
Duplication Block
A group of juxtaposed duplicons that might be duplicated as part of a larger
secondary duplication
Also sometimes referred to as a low copy repeat (See LCR)
Ecdysis
The act of shedding/ casting of an outer cuticular layer
Ectosymbiont
Physically separated symbionts (see Symbiosis)
Efferent
Moving/ carrying outward from a central part, i.e. blood vessels
Electronegativity
Tendency of an atom to become negatively charged
Electrophoresis
Of analysis or purification Separation on gel based on size, charge, shape, using
an EMF
EMF
ElectroMotive Force
Enantiomers
Two forms of a chiral compound, optical isomer (See Chirality)
Endergonic
Of reaction Requiring energy
Endogeny
Growth from within
Enthalpy
Internal energy of system
Entomology
The study of insects
Entropy
Disorder/randomness in a system
Enumeration
Of counting
Epistasis
Where one gene masks or interferes with the phenotypic expression of another
Epitope
The part of an antigenic molecule to which a T-cell receptor responds
Epizoon
A parasite living on animals
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Equilibrium
Concentration of reactants and products in a balanced system
Erythrocyte
Red blood cell
Erythropoiesis
Production of erythrocytes
Euploidy
Of ploidy Normal number of chromosomes within a cell for a particular species
Eutrophication
The gradual increase of nutrients in an ecosystem, mostly aquatic
Evo-Devo
Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Exergonic
Of reaction Releasing energy
Exo/epispore
Outer coat of a spore
Exotoxins
Released toxins
Extrapolation
Extension of best-fit line beyond data provided
Facultative
Aerobic/anaerobic
Flocculation
Of water treatment The precipitation of a solute out of a solvent
Follicle
A small sac/ vesicle
Free Radical
Highly reactive molecule with an unsatisfied electron valence pair
Fungicide
An agent that kills fungi (See Biocide)
Ganglia
A mass of nerve tissue or nerve cell bodies
Genomics
Study of an organism’s genome and the use of its’ genes
Genotype
Internally coded inheritable information of a cell, its genetic constitution
Geometric Isomer
Of stereoisomer Of molecules with differences in the position of their functional
groups (See Cis-Trans Isomers)
Glycolysis
Anaerobic energy generation: glucose to pyruvate
Glycoside
Compound containing glucose
Glycosylation
Of lipid bilayer Addition of sugar units
Granulocyte
Of leukocyte Neutrophil, Eosinophil, Basophil
Ground State
The state of nucleus/atom/molecule at lowest energy (all other states being excited)
Halophile
Thriving in a salty environment
Hapten
An isolated epitope that alone will not induce an immune response
Hassall’s Bodies (Thymic
Corpuscle)
Of thymus Keratinised epithelial cells, found around degenerating lymphocytes
Heterotroph (Organotroph)
Of nutrition Carbon source = organic compounds, i.e. consumer
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Homeostasis
Internal equilibrium maintained by cell
Homology
Of genes Indicating a common evolutionary origin
Humoral
Pertaining to bodily fluid, i.e. blood, lymph and bile
Hydrogen Bonding
Low energy attraction between hydrogen and another element
Hydroxy-
Alcohol
Hyphae
Of fungi Branching tubes which make up body of a multi-cellular fungus
Idiotype
Antigenic specificity defined by unique sequences of antigen combing site, i.e.
anti-idotype antibodies (See Epitope)
Immunisation
The increase of an organisms reaction to an antigen
IntERcellular
Between cells
Interspersed Repeats
Repeated sections of DNA sequence separate from one another (as opposed to
tandem)
IntRAcellular
Within a cell/ body of cells
Intraperitoneal
Within the abdominal cavity
Inversion
Of meiosis Reinsertion of a chromosomal segment with 180 degree orientation
alteration
Isograft (Syngraft)
Of graft Genetically identical individuals
Isomer
Variation of a molecule, having the same chemical formula, but different atom
arrangement, structural isomerism and stereoisomerism
ITIM
Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Inhibitory Motif
Karyotype
Complete set of chromosomes for a cell
Lamins
Of nucleus Proteins that form structure between chromatin and inner nuclear
envelope
Ligase Chain Reaction
Or
LCR
Low Copy Repeats- sometimes used synonymously with segmental duplication.
Denoting a group of juxtaposed duplicons (a duplication block), individual
segmental duplication events or individual duplicons. The term emphasizes the low
copy number of repeats relative to most transposable elements (2-50 copies)
Lentic
Standing water environment
Leukocyte
White blood cell
Ligase
Of enzyme Catalysing the linking together of two molecules
Lithotroph
(See Autotroph)
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London Van der Waal
Electromagnetic interactions due to vibrations of molecules
Lotic
Running water environment
LPS
LipoPolySaccharide
Lymphocyte
Of leukocyte Main cells in fighting infection: T- and B- cell types
Lysogeny
Of phage Survival in bacterium due to DNA integration in host chromosome
M
Moles per litre of solution
MAC
Abb. Membrane Attack Complex
Macromolecule
Large, complex, ordered substance
Macrophage
Of mammals Long-lived, phagocytic cell
Medulla
Inner part (of an organ)
Meiosis
Of nuclear division With two successive divisions and no replication
Metabolism
Anabolism + Catabolism
Metacentric
Chromosome/ chromatids with centromere at/ near centre
Metastatic
Spread of disease from organ/ place of origin
Microaerophilic
Requiring oxygen at levels lower than typical
Molecule
Two or more atoms
Monomer
Single molecule, sub-unit of a polymer
Monosomy
Of diploid cell Where a homologous chromosome pair is represented by only one
chromosome of the pair
Multipotent Cell
Progenitor cell that can give rise to a variety of cell types
Murine
Of mice
Mutarotation
Equilibrium of forms of glucose, when dissolved in water
Mutualism
Of symbiosis Where both benefit
Mycelium
Of fungi Mass of hyphae
Mycorrhiza
Symbiotic relationship with plant root cells and fungi
Myeloid
Collective term for non-lymphocyte groups of white blood cells
Nascent
In the process of/ developing
Neutrophil
Of mammals Short-lived phagocytic cell
Numerator
Number of parts of whole (top)
Oligosaccharide
Sugar chain
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Oligotroph
An organism that can grow in a nutrient-poor environment
Ontogeny
Origin and development of an organism
Optical Isomers
Of stereoisomer
Enantiomers)
Organotroph
(See Heterotroph)
Orthology
Of genes Close sequence similarity between species
Oxidant
Accepts electrons
Paralogy
Of genes Similarity of sequences within a species, indicating a close evolutionary
relationship
Parasitism
Of symbiosis Where one benefits, and the other suffers
Parsimony
The least complicated explanation for an observation
PCR
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Phenetic
Classification Based on observed characteristics
Phenotype
Outward physical manifestation, resulting from interaction between genotype and
environment
Phototroph
Of nutrition Energy source = light (see Chemotroph)
Phyllosphere
Area where micro-organisms interact with leaf surfaces
Phylogenetic Systematics
(See Cladistics)
Phylogeny
Origin and evolution of a species
Plasmid
Autonomously replicating, extrachromosomal, cytoplasmic DNA
Plasmodesma
Of plants Cytoplasmic tube linking the protoplasts of two cells (See Protoplasm)
Plastids
Plant cell organelle with a double membrane, e.g. chloroplasts
Ploidy
The number of copies of the basic number of chromosomes, i.e. haploid, diploid
Pluripotent
Of tumours Having the capacity to effect more than one organ/ tissue
Polar
Molecule with a permanent electric dipole
Polymer
A macromolecule made of repeating (monomer) units
Polymerase
Of enzymes Catalysing the synthesis of nucleotides (DNA and RNA)
Polymerisation
Creation of polymers
Polymorphonuclear
Of leukocytes Having nuclei of varied forms
Polypeptide
Consisting of two or more amino acids
Polyploidy
Of Ploidy A cell containing more than two copies of its chromosomes, i.e. triploid,
Of molecules that are mirror images of one another
(See
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Potable
Of water Drinkable
Precision
Degree to which repeated measurement of same unit result in same value
Primary messenger
Extra-cellular signal molecule binding to membrane receptor
Primer
Pre-existing polynucleotide strand, the starting point for DNA replication
Prion
Virus-like protein particle that lacks nucleic acid
Proteolysis
Breakdown of proteins
Protista
Of kingdom Eukaryotic, unicellular organisms
Protoplasm
Cell contents
Protozoa
Of Protista Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms
Pseudogene
Nucleotide sequence that once used to code for a gene
Radioactive
Of radiation Giving off energy through space
Recombination
Of genes Chromosomal interchange in meiosis
Reductant
Donates electrons
Reduction Potential
The inherent tendency of a compound to act as an electron donor/acceptor
Restriction Endonuclease
(See Restriction Enzyme)
Restriction Enzyme
(Restriction Endonuclease)
Of bacterial enzymes For cutting DNA at specific sites
Retrograde
Moving backwards
Reverse Transcriptase
Of enzymes RNA directed DNA synthesis, making dsDNA from ssRNA (See
Polymerase)
Rhizosphere
Zone of soil where interactions occur between plant roots and micro-organisms
Ruminant
Chewing again what has been swallowed
Saccharolysis
Breakdown of sugar molecules
Saprophytes
Of nutrition Organisms that eat dissolved organic material (from that decaying)
Saturated
Pure single bonds
Second Messenger
Non-protein, water soluble, intracellular effectors
Segmental Duplication
Of DNA Duplications of size 1 kb and sequence similarity 90%
Serology
A blood test to detect specific antibodies
Siderophore
Of chelator Natural ion binding compounds
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Sigma Factor
For bacteria A protein that promotes attachment to specific DNA initiation sites
by RNA polymerase
SNP
Single nucleotide polymorphism- A single nucleotide difference between
orthologous sites
Specificity
Ability of immune response to interact with specific antigens
Spectrometry
(Spectroscopy)
Of analysis Identification through spectrum emitted or absorbed
Spontaneous Generation
The theory that life originated spontaneously
Sporangium
“Spore case” for asexual spores
Spore
Resistant dehydrated form of a reproductive cell – can withstand great
environmental stress
Sporulation
Formation of spores
Stereochemical
Pertaining to hypothetical space relations of atoms within a molecule
Stereoisomer
Molecules with same molecular formulae and bond sequence, but different spatial
arrangements, i.e. geometric isomer or optical isomer
Stochastic
Random/probalistic event
Stringency
The reaction conditions that dictate the annealing of ss nucleic acids (pH,
temperature) A low stringency allows a higher degree of mismatch between the
two strands
Subcutaneous
Under the skin
Supergene
Group of linked genes lying next to one another on a chromosome
Supernatant
The soluble liquid fraction of a sample (following centrifugation)
Symbiosis
A type of organism-organism interaction, where one lives in intimate association
with another
Sympatric Speciation
New species formation without a geographic barrier, from genetic mutation
Synapomorphy
Of taxonomy An apomorphy shared by two or more groups, defining a cladistic
grouping
Syngamy
Union of two gametes
Synteny
The preserved order of genes between related organisms
Syntrophy
In which two organisms pool their resources to catabolise a substance neither could
do alone
Tagma
Functional section of an arthropod
Thermodynamics
Study of energy
Thermophilic
Thriving at a high temperature
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Thymocyte
A lymphocyte within the thymus
Tissue
A group of similar cells united to perform a specific function
Totipotency
The ability of a cell to differentiate and develop
Transferrin
Of mammals A protein that carries iron
Transition State
Activated state of a molecule, having partly undergone a chemical reaction
Transposition
The movement of a piece of DNA about the genome
Transposon
Mobile DNA sequence that codes for it’s insertion
Trisomy
Addition of an extra chromosome (See Aneuploidy)
Uniramous
With one branch
Unsaturated
With double/triple bonds
Valency
Tendency to combine with other elements
Virion
Single virus particle
Xenobiotic
Chemical/ concentration of chemical, not naturally found in an organism, i.e.
antibiotics
Xenograft
Of graft Different species
Zooglea
Of water treatment A mass of bacteria held together by a gel
Zwitterion
Of amino acid Dipolar ion, capable of carrying both charges