Biology A2, Unit 4 Key Words

Front 1

Abiotic

Back 1

An ecological factor that makes up part of the non-biological environment of an organism, e.g. temperature, pH, rainfall and humidity.

Front 2

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Back 2

An activated nucleotide found in all living cells that acts as an energy carrier. The hydrolysis of ATP leads to the formation od ADP and inorganic phosphate, with the release of energy.

Front 3

Aerobic

Back 3

Connected with the presence of oxygen. Aerobic respiration requires oxygen to release energy from glucose and other foods.

Front 4

Allele

Back 4

One form of a gene. For example, the gene for the shape of pea seeds has two alleles: one for 'round' and one for 'winkled'.

Front 5

Anaerobic

Back 5

Connected with the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic respiration releases energy from glucose or other foods without the presence of oxygen.

Front 6

Biodiversity

Back 6

The range and variety of living organisms within a particular area.

Front 7

Biomass

Back 7

The total mass of living material in a specific area at a given time. It is usually measured as dry mass because the amount of water in an organism is very variable

Front 8

Biotic

Back 8

An ecological factor that makes up part of the living environment of an organism. Examples include food availability, competition, and predation

Front 9

Climax Community

Back 9

The organisms that make up the final stage of ecological succession

Front 10

Co-dominance

Back 10

Condition in which both alleles for one gene in a heterozygous organism contribute to the phenotype

Front 11

Community

Back 11

The organisms of all species that live in the same area

Front 12

Conservation

Back 12

Method of maintaining ecosystems and the living organisms that occupy them. It requires planning and organisation to make best use of resources while preserving the natural landscape and wildlife

Front 13

Consumer

Back 13

Any organism that obtains energy by 'eating' another. Organisms feeding on plants are known as primary consumers and organisms feeding on primary consumers are known as secondary consumers

Front 14

Dominant allele

Back 14

A term applied to an allele that is always expressed in the phenotype of an organism

Front 15

Ecological niche

Back 15

All conditions and resources required for an organism to survive, reproduce and maintain a viable population

Front 16

Ecosystem

Back 16

More or less self-contained functional unit in ecology made up of all the interacting biotic and abiotic factors in a specific area