As Biology Unit 2 Module 3

Front 1

A group of organisms whose members are similar to each other in shape, physiology, biochemistry and behaviour, and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

Back 1

Species

Front 2

Process by which the present diversity of living organisms arose from simple primitive organisms, with new species arising by natural selection.

Back 2

Evolution

Front 3

The differences between individuals.

Back 3

Variation

Front 4

A departure from full health.

Back 4

Disease

Front 5

Term used to describe a large range of species in an area or a population of organisms that have significant genetic variation.

Back 5

Diversity

Front 6

A polymer of nucleotide molecules that form the instructions for the synthesis of proteins found within organisms. These nucleotides contain the 5-carbon sugar deoxyribose.

Back 6

DNA

Front 7

An assessment of the damage that may be caused to the (local) environment by a proposed development.

Back 7

Environmental impact assessment

Front 8

A length of DNA that carries the code for the synthesis of one (or more) specific polypeptide(s).

Back 8

Gene

Front 9

Process by which plants, some bacteria and some protoctists make food using carbon dioxide, water and sunlight energy.

Back 9

Photosynthesis

Front 10

Feature of a living organism that increases its chances of survival, for example thick fur on an animal that lives in a cold habitat.

Back 10

Adaptation

Front 11

An organic compound that contains both an amino group(–NH2) and a carboxyl group (–COOH). The monomers of protein molecules.

Back 11

Amino acid

Front 12

The number and variety of living things to be found in the world, in an ecosystem or in a habitat.

Back 12

Biodiversity

Front 13

All the living organisms and all the non-living components in a specific area, and their interactions.

Back 13

Ecosystem

Front 14

A protein molecule that acts as a biological catalyst.

Back 14

Enzyme

Front 15

The death of the last individual in a species.

Back 15

Extinction

Front 16

The place where an organism or population lives. It includes the climatic, topographic and edaphic factors as well as the plants and animals that live there.

Back 16

Habitat

Front 17

A polymer consisting of many amino acid monomers covalently bonded together.

Back 17

Protein

Front 18

The process in which energy is released from complex molecules, such as glucose, within cells and transferred to molecules of ATP.

Back 18

Respiration

Front 19

A single-stranded polynucleotide molecule that exists in three forms. Each form plays a part in the synthesis of proteins within cells.

Back 19

RNA

Front 20

The formation of a new species.

Back 20

Speciation

Front 21

The frequency of occurrence of plants in a sampled area, such as a quadrat.

Back 21

Abundance

Front 22

A version of a gene.

Back 22

Allele

Front 23

Speciation due to organisms of a species being separated by geographical barriers so that eventually they become so different that they cannot interbreed.

Back 23

Allopatric

Front 24

The production of genetically identical new organisms by a single ‘parent’ organism.

Back 24

Asexual reproduction

Front 25

An organism that makes its own food from simple inorganic molecules, such as carbon dioxide and water.

Back 25

Autotroph

Front 26

A system of naming living things using two Latin words – the genus name and the specific name.

Back 26

Binomial system

Front 27

A carbohydrate polymer (of b-glucose) that forms plant cell walls.

Back 27

Cellulose

Front 28

A linear DNA molecule wrapped around histone proteins found in the nucleus. Become visible in prophase of cell division.

Back 28

Chromosome

Front 29

Taxonomic group used in classification of living organisms. Below phyla but containing orders (consisting of families, genera and species).

Back 29

Class

Front 30

The organisation of living organisms (or other items) into groups according to their shared similarities.

Back 30

Classification

Front 31

Conservation in areas other than the natural habitat.

Back 31

Conservation ex situ

Front 32

Conservation in the natural habitat.

Back 32

Conservation in situ

Front 33

Variation where there is a range of intermediates, such as height, hair colour and intelligence in humans. Affected by multiple genes and environment

Back 33

Continuous variation

Front 34

The net movement of molecules or ions in a gas or liquid from an area of high concentration to an area where they are less concentrated.

Back 34

Diffusion

Front 35

Variation between living organisms within a species, where there are discrete categories and no intermediates, e.g. blood groups A, B, AB or O in humans.

Back 35

Discontinuous variation

Front 36

Classification level introduced by Carl Woese dividing the kingdom Prokaryotae into two and placing all Eukaryotes into a third.

Back 36

Domain

Front 37

An organism having cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Back 37

Eukaryote

Front 38

A measure of how far apart two organisms are on the evolutionary scale.

Back 38

Evolutionary distance

Front 39

Outside the cell - for example describes enzymes that work outside the cell.

Back 39

Extracellular

Front 40

Taxonomic group used in the classification of living organisms. Contains related genera.

Back 40

Family

Front 41

The sum total and variety of all the genes in a population or species at a given time.

Back 41

Gene pool

Front 42

The loss of genetic variation due to (artificial) selection.

Back 42

Genetic erosion

Front 43

Taxonomical group used in the classification of living organisms. Contains similar species.

Back 43

Genus

Front 44

Complete mental, physical and social wellbeing.

Back 44

Health

Front 45

Organism that gains nutrients from complex organic molecules. These molecules are digested by enzymes to simple soluble molecules.

Back 45

Heterotroph

Front 46

The strands that make up the body of a fungus.

Back 46

Hyphae

Front 47

Taxonomic group. Living organisms are grouped into one of five: Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.

Back 47

Kingdom

Front 48

All the chemical reactions that take place in an organism.

Back 48

Metabolism

Front 49

The organelle found in cells in which most of the ATP synthesis occurs. It is the site of aerobic respiration.

Back 49

Mitochondrion

Front 50

A crop of plants of a single species bred to be very similar.

Back 50

Monoculture

Front 51

A group of organisms that share a common ancestor and therefore belong to the same classification group.

Back 51

Monophyletic

Front 52

The mass of filaments (hyphae) that make up the body of a fungus.

Back 52

Mycelium

Front 53

The mechanism for evolution in which the best-adapted organisms in a population can outcompete those that are less well-adapted.

Back 53

Natural selection

Front 54

A large, membrane-bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells, which contains the genetic material in the form of chromosomes.

Back 54

Nucleus

Front 55

The total substances taken into an animal or plant for use in metabolism (the sum total of its diet).

Back 55

Nutrition

Front 56

Taxonomic group used in classification of living organisms. Contains similar families.

Back 56

Order

Front 57

Structure inside a cell. Each has a specific function and many are surrounded by membrane.

Back 57

Organelle

Front 58

An organism that lives in or on another living organism (its host), deriving nutrition from the host, benefiting at the expense of its host.

Back 58

Parasite

Front 59

The evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Back 59

Phylogeny

Front 60

A taxonomic group used in classification of living organisms. Contains similar classes.

Back 60

Phylum

Front 61

Thin areas in the lignified walls of xylem tissue cells that allow communication between adjacent cells.

Back 61

Pits

Front 62

A polymer consisting of many monosaccharide monomers covalently bonded together.

Back 62

Polysaccharide

Front 63

An organism with cells that do not contain a true nucleus.

Back 63

Prokaryote

Front 64

A square frame used for sampling in field work.

Back 64

Quadrat

Front 65

A study is that does not involve quantity (numbers). For example, simple observations to see if a particular species lives in a selected area.

Back 65

Qualitative

Front 66

A study involving quantity (numbers). For example, if you count the number of individuals of a species in a selected area.

Back 66

Quantitative

Front 67

Protein or glycoprotein molecules on cell surfaces, used for attachment of specific substances such as hormones or viruses.

Back 67

Receptor site

Front 68

The organelle on which proteins are synthesised inside the cell.

Back 68

Ribosome

Front 69

An external pressure that drives evolution in a particular direction.

Back 69

Selection pressure

Front 70

The substance that is used up in an enzyme-controlled reaction, leading to the formation of product. It fits into the active site of the enzyme at the start of the reaction.

Back 70

Substrate

Front 71

Development that does not cause excessive harm to the surrounding environment. The local biodiversity and people can continue to live and operate alongside the development.

Back 71

Sustainable development

Front 72

Speciation that occurs within one area – some factor other than geographical separation has prevented free interbreeding between members of the species.

Back 72

Sympatric

Front 73

The study of the principles behind classification.

Back 73

Taxonomy

Front 74

A line through a habitat used to help take samples and study the habitat.

Back 74

Transect

Front 75

Organism that has genetic material from another organism, usually by genetic engineering.

Back 75

Transgenic

Front 76

The loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant due to evaporation.

Back 76

Transpiration

Front 77

A preparation of antigens given to provide artificial immunity.

Back 77

Vaccine

Front 78

An organism that carries a disease-causing organism (pathogen) from one host to another. Also describes an agent (such as a plasmid) that can transfer genetic material.

Back 78

Vector

Front 79

The potential energy of water vapour in a gas – it is used to indicate how much water vapour is present.

Back 79

Water vapour potential

Front 80

A plant specially adapted to living in dry areas.

Back 80

Xerophyte

Front 81

Also called selective breeding – the process of improving a variety of crop plant or domesticated animal by breeding from individuals with desired characteristics.

Back 81

Artificial selection

Front 82

An animal that eats meat.

Back 82

Carnivore

Front 83

An animal that eats plant material.

Back 83

Herbivore

Front 84

The exact role of an organism in the ecosystem – its use of the living and non-living components of the ecosystem.

Back 84

Niche

Front 85

An animal that eats plant and animal material.

Back 85

Omnivore

Front 86

A taxonomic group, such as a class or a family, used to aid classification.

Back 86

Taxon (pl: taxa)