Biology Vocabulary
GROUP 1
Protein- contains carbon (C), hydrogen(H), oxygen(O), nitrogen(N); provides shape, support and movement
Carbohydrate- contains carbon(C), hydrogen(H), oxygen(O); provides energy to living cells; starch, glucose,
glycogen, chitin
Amino acid- monomer/building block of proteins that are linked together by strong peptide bonds
Nucleic acid- organic molecule; DNA or RNA; carries important information for cell function
Nucleotide- monomer of DNA and RNA; made of a nitrogen base, sugar and a phosphate group
Lipid- contains carbon(C), hydrogen(H), oxygen(O); provides protection, insulation and energy storage (PIES);
insoluble/hydrophobic; fats
Organic compound-contains carbon(C); essential to living organisms; macromolecule, organic molecule
Fatty acid- monomer/building block of lipids
Acid- located 0 to 6 on the pH scale; sour to taste
Enzyme- speeds up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy; protein
Base- located 8 to 14 on the pH scale; bitter to taste
A-/An- not or non
Meso- middle
Anti- against; opposite
Amphi- two, both; on both sides
Endo- inside
Aero- of air; oxygen
GROUP 2
Lysosome- digestive enzyme of the cell; cell’s “clean-up crew”
Vacuole- fluid filled sacs that store extra nutrients and store waste; plant cells contain 1 large vacuole, animal
cells contain many small vacuoles
Endoplasmic reticulum- intracellular highway that provides passageway for proteins
Mitochondria- powerhouse of the cell; converts food into energy
Differentiation- the process of a less specialized cell becoming more complex;
cell
tissue
organ
organ system
ribosome- site of protein synthesis
golgi apparatus- processing, packaging and secreting organelle of the cell
chloroplast- site of photosynthesis and is ONLY found in plant cells
selectively permeable- ability to control what comes and goes from the cell
nucleus- organelle where DNA and RNA are made; contains genetic information and drives out all cell
activities; “control center” of the cell
prokaryote- cell that DOES NOT have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles; bacteria
eukaryote- cell that DOES have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles; plants, animals
GROUP 3
carrier protein- protein found within a cell membrane that assists molecules across; used in facilitated
diffusion
concentration gradient- a change in concentration
ATP- energy source; adenosine triphosphate
Equilibrium- when substances are in equal parts on both sides of a membrane; the “happy place”
Active transport- requires energy to move molecules across a plasma membrane; moves molecules from
areas of LOW concentration TO areas of HIGH concentration
Homeostasis- process of maintaining a stable environment; facilitated by the plasma membrane
Osmosis- when water molecules move across a plasma membrane from an area of HIGH concentration TO an
area of LOW concentration
Passive transport- does not require energy to move molecules across a plasma membrane; examples are
diffusion, osmosis, facilitated transport
Diffusion- movement of a dissolved substance across cell membranes from an area of HIGH concentration TO
an area of LOW concentration
Facilitated diffusion- type of passive transport that requires a carrier protein to assist the molecule across the
plasma membrane
GROUP 4
Aerobic respiration- process that uses oxygen (O2) to create energy in animal cells
Photosynthesis- 6CO2 + 6H2O
C6H12O6 + 6O2
Cellular respiration- C6H12O6 + 6O2
6CO2 + 6H2O
Heterotroph- must obtain glucose from an outside source; animals, fungi and bacteria
Autotroph- produces own glucose; plants
Lactic acid fermentation- process that converts pyruvic acid into lactic acid
GROUP 5
Double helix – shape of DNA; spiral staircase; deduced by Watson & Crick based on x-ray images by Rosalind
Franklin
DNA – stores genetic information; deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA polymerase – enzyme that adds the complementary base pairs during DNA replication
Replication – process of making a copy of DNA; occurs in the nucleus
Codon – 3 base pair
RNA – based on genetic information from DNA; used by ribosomes in the cytoplasm to make proteins
Translation – process that makes a protein from mRNA; occurs in the ribosomes in the cytoplasm
Transcription – process that makes mRNA from a replicated DNA strand; occurs in the nucleus
Genetic code – chart used to find the amino acids for each codon in mRNA; a translator
Protein synthesis – making a protein
DNA fingerprint – used to solve for crimes or to measure the genetic relationship between species
Gel electrophoresis – process used to create a DNA fingerprint; separates DNA fragments
GROUP 6
Chromosome – make of DNA and proteins (histones), and held together at the center by a centromere
Cytokinesis – division of the cytoplasm
Sexual reproduction – production of offspring from a combination of genetic material from two parent
organisms
Asexual reproduction – production of offspring that does not involve the union of gametes
Cell cycle – series of events leading up to cell division
Binary fission – cell reproduction in prokaryotes (bacteria)
Mitosis – asexual reproduction resulting in 2 identical diploid daughter cells
Meiosis – sexual reproduction resulting in 4 haploid cells
Prophase – 1st phase of mitosis; nucleus disappears, spindle fibers appear
Metaphase – 2nd phase of mitosis; chromosomes line up in the center of the cell
Anaphase – 3rd phase of mitosis; chromosomes are pulled apart at centromere by spindle fibers
Telophase – 4th phase of mitosis; nucleus comes back, spindle fibers disappear, cleavage furrow
GROUP 7
Pedigree – diagram of the genetic history of an individual
Genetic disorder – a disease that has a genetic basis
Genetics – study of genes
Recombinant DNA – a DNA segment from at least two different organisms
Transgenic disorder – genetic disorder caused by the swapping of genetic material between species
Phenotype – external appearance of an organism that is determined by the individual’s genotype
Genotype – genetic makeup of an organism
Heterozygous – gene pair where two alleles DO NOT code for the same trait
Homozygous – gene pair where two alleles code for the same trait
GROUP 8
Natural selection – organisms best suited to their environment reproduce more successfully than other
organisms
Evolution – concept that species have changed over time
Spontaneous generation – theory that life comes from non-living material; abiogenesis
Biogenesis – theory that life only comes from other living things
Punctuated equilibrium - speciation occurs during brief periods of rapid genetic change
Genetic drift – alteration of allele frequencies by chance events
Vestigial structure - structures that once had a function in an organism but are now considered “useless
features”
Homologous structure - similar features that originated in a shared/common ancestor
Competition - use of the same resource by two or more species
GROUP 9
Pheromone – chemical substance made and released by an animal (especially mammals and insects) that
affect the behavior or physiology of other of its species
Exponential growth – population growth model that describes a population that increases rapidly after only a
few generations; the larger the population gets, the faster it grows
Taxis – motion or orientation of a cell, organism or part in response to an external stimulus
Bioaccumulation – accumulation of a substance (like pesticides) in an organism; rate of absorption is greater
than the rate of loss
Carrying capacity – number of individuals the environment can support over a long period of time; includes a
limiting factor
Ecology – study of the interactions between the organisms and their environment
Parasitism – one organism obtains nutrients from a host organism; one benefits, one suffers
Mutalism – relationship between organisms where both receive benefits
Imprinting – behavior learned at an extremely young age
GROUP 10
Angiosperm – plants that produce flowers, and seeds that are covered by a fruit; ex. apple tree
Gymnosperm – vascular plants that produce seeds that are not covered by fruit; ex. conifers (pine trees)
Fungi – multicellular or unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic (external digestion), mostly asexual
reproduction; cell walls made of chitin; structural unit is called a hyphae
Protist – mostly unicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic or heterotrophic, asexual reproduction
Phloem – in vascular plants; carry sugar in water from the photosynthetic parts to the storage areas of a plant
Xylem – vascular tissue in plants that carries water from the roots to the rest of the plant
Virus – not considered living; must be in a host cell to reproduce
Antigen – substance that the immune system recognizes as a potential pathogen and that provokes an
immune response