Biology Words

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  • Created by: Holly
  • Created on: 27-03-13 14:40
Absorption
The movement of digested food through the intestinal wall into the blood stream.
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Adaptation
This word describes how the features or characteristics of organisms enable them to successfully compete within their environment.
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Aerobic
Respiration in the presence of oxygen. (glucose + oxygen ® carbon dioxide + water + energy)
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Alveoli
Smallest part of the lung (resembling a bunch of grapes), where gaseous exchange occurs.
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Anaerobic
Respiration in the absence of oxygen eg Yeast (glucose ® alcohol + carbon dioxide + energy), and eg humans (glucose ® lactic acid + energy)
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Antibiotic
Helpful type of drugs available on prescription from the doctor, used to treat bacterial infections.
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Antibodies
Substances which can destroy invading pathogens. They are produced by white blood cells and are specific to a particular bacterium.
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Antitoxin
A substance which can counteract toxins, produced by white blood cells.
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Artery
Blood vessel which carries blood away from the heart eg aorta.
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Asexual
Reproduction which results in genetically identical offspring because only 1 parent was involved eg yeast.
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Bacteria
Simple cellular life forms, which possess cytoplasm, string and plasmid rings of DNA, cell membrane and cell wall. Bacteria may be harmless and useful to man, or they may be pathogenic because they produce toxins.
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Biomass
The weight (mass) of all the organisms in a population, community or habitat.
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Capillary
Smallest type of blood vessel in the body which forms a link between the arteries and veins.
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Carbohydrates
A macronutrient; a group of organic chemicals containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Include large molecules of starch and small molecules like glucose. A source of chemical energy for organisms.
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Carbon cycle
An important nutrient cycle which describes how atoms of carbon are naturally recycled in the environment.
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Cell membrane
A very thin skin which surrounds the cytoplasm of both animal and plant cells, it controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
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Cell wall
The outer layer of plant cells, made from cellulose
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Chlorophyll
The green colouring in plants which absorbs the light energy which plants use to photosynthesis.
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Chloroplast
Spherical body found inside plant cells where photosynthesis takes place.
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Chromosomes
Strings of DNA found in pairs inside the nucleus of cells, they control inherited features.
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Consumer
An organism which obtains its food by eating either producers or other consumers or both.
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Diabetes
A disease where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin so dangerously high levels of glucose exist in the blood and body fluids.
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Diaphragm
A sheet of muscle and fibrous tissue stretched across the bottom of the ribcage.
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Diffusion
The movement of molecules from where they are concentrated to where they are less concentrated.
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Digestion
The process of breaking food down mechanically and chemically so it is more soluble and ready to be absorbed
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Effector
A muscle or gland which brings about a response to a stimulus.
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Effector Neurone
A type of neurone which carries the impulse from the spinal cord to the effector muscle.
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Enzyme
Chemical catalysts which speed up biochemical reactions. They can be extra cellular eg digestive enzymes or intracellular eg catalyse.
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Epidemic
An outbreak of a disease affecting many people and spreading from person to person.
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Evolution
The gradual change in the characteristics of a species so that it best suits its environment. Particular genes or accidental changes in the genes of plants or animals may give them characteristics which enable them to survive better.
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Evolutionary tree
A diagram which summarises the evolutionary relationships between different organisms.
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Gametes
Specialized cells used in sexual reproduction, the male cell is called sperm, the female cell is called egg.
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Genes
Unit of inheritance, found on the chromosomes, each one controls one particular characteristic.
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Genetic engineering
In genetic engineering, genes from thechromosomes of humans and other organisms can be ‘cut out’ using enzymes and transferred to cells of other organisms.
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Genetically modified
Genes can be transferred to the cells of animals, plants or microorganisms at an early stage in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics.
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Glucose
A simple sugar, rich in energy made by plants in their leaves, and used by animals as food.
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Geotropism
This is the movement that plants show in response to gravity. Shoots show negative geotropism and roots show positive geotropism.
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Haemoglobin
A red chemical which gives red blood cells their colour and helps them to carry oxygen around the body.
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Homeostasis
The control mechanism(s) which keep the internal environment of an organism steady, hence healthy.
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Insulin
A hormone which helps to control the level of sugar (glucose) in the body.
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Lactic acid
Chemical produced in muscles which have been respiring anaerobic ally.
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Lichen
An organism formed from the symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. Used as an indicator species for pollution as they are sensitive to sulphur dioxide.
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Natural selection
The mechanism of evolution, where only the fittest organisms survive to reproduce and pass on their genes.
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Neurones
Another name for a nerve cell, which are specialised for the conduction of impulses, they carry messages around the body. Nerve cells connect the receptors to the central nervous system; types include sensory, relay and motor.
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Organ
A collection of tissues grouped together to make a structure with a specific job to do eg the eye.
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Palisade
Specialized plant cells found in leaves which are long and contain many chloroplasts their function is photosynthesis.
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Pancreas
An organ near the stomach which makes digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin.
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Pathogen
A micro organism which causes disease; bacteria, virus or protozoa.
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Phloem
ube (or vessel) found inside plant stem root or leaves which transport soluble food substances around plant.
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Photosynthesis
The process in which green plants use the sun's energy to make their food. (carbon dioxide + water --- glucose + oxygen)
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Phototropism
This is the movement that plants show in response to light. Shoots show positive phototropism and move towards light and roots show negative phototropism and move away from the light.
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Receptors
Specialized cells found in sense organs, which can detect stimuli which are then passed through the nervous system
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Reflex
A rapid response to a stimulus which takes place automatically eg blinking.
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Specialisation
An increase in the complexity of cells
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Starch
A carbohydrate made up of glucose molecules linked together, it is insoluble.
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Stimulus
An event in the surroundings or in the inside of an organism which provokes a response.
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Stomata
Tiny pores on the underside of most leaves through which gases pass through and through which water is lost.
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Synapse
The junction between 2 neurones, chemical neurotransmitters diffuse across the physical gap between the 2 neurones.
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Throax
This is the name of the upper body cavity, which contains the respiratory system.
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Tissue
Groups of similar cells which can perform a single task eg muscle tissue.
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Vaccination
A procedure used to stimulate a persons immune system by introducing a small harmless dose of a pathogen into the person’s body.
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Vein
Blood vessel which returns blood to the heart.
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Virus
Simple cellular life forms, which possess no cytoplasm, instead consist of a string of RNA, and a protein coat. Viruses invade host cells utilising the host DNA and chemicals to reproduce before bursting out killing the host in the process.
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White blood cell
A type of cell found in the blood and lymph nodes, they play an important role in defending the body against pathogens by producing antibodies, antitoxins or by phagocytosis.
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Xylem
Tube (or vessel) found inside plant stem root or leaves which transport water and soluble minerals around the plant.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

This word describes how the features or characteristics of organisms enable them to successfully compete within their environment.

Back

Adaptation

Card 3

Front

Respiration in the presence of oxygen. (glucose + oxygen ® carbon dioxide + water + energy)

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Smallest part of the lung (resembling a bunch of grapes), where gaseous exchange occurs.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Respiration in the absence of oxygen eg Yeast (glucose ® alcohol + carbon dioxide + energy), and eg humans (glucose ® lactic acid + energy)

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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