Essential Biology Vocab

Front 1

Nonliving factor in an ecosystem, such as moisture, temperature, wind, sunlight, soil, and minerals.

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abiotic

Front 2

Inherited trait that is selected for over time because it allows organisms to better survive in their environment.

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adaptation

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Process that requires oxygen to occur.

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aerobic

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Any of the alternative forms of a gene that occurs at a specific place on a chromosome.

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allele

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Molecule that makes up proteins; composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.

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amino acid

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Process that does not require oxygen to occur.

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anaerobic

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Process by which offspring are produced from a single parent; does not involve the joining of gametes.

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asexual reproduction

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A high-energy molecule that contains, within its bonds, energy that cell can use.

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ATP

Front 9

Chromosome that contains genes for characteristics not directly related to the sex of the organisms.

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autosome

Front 10

Organisms that obtains its energy from abiotic sources, such as sunlight or inorganic chemicals.

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autotroph

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Virus that infects bacteria.

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bacteriophage

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Variety of life within an area.

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biodiversity

Front 13

Regional or global community of organisms characterized by the climate conditions and plant communities that thrive there.

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biome

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All organisms and the part of Earth where they exist.

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biosphere

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Living things, such as plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

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biotic

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Molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; includes sugars and starches.

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carbohydrate

Front 17

Number of individuals that the resources of an environment can normally and persistently support.

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carrying capacity

Front 18

Process of producing ATP by breaking down carbon-based molecules when oxygen is present.

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cellular respiration

Front 19

Process by which ATP is synthesized by using chemicals as an energy source instead of light.

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chemosynthesis

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Organelle composed of numerous membranes that are used to convert solar energy into chemical energy; contains chlorophyll.

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chloroplast

Front 21

Long, continuous thread of DNA that consists of numerous genes and regulatory information.

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chromosome

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Process in which two or more species evolve in response to changes in each other.

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coevolution

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Ecological relationship in which one species receives a benefit but the other species is not affected one way or another.

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commensalism

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Collection of all of the different populations that live in one area.

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community

Front 25

Ecological relationship in which two organisms attempt to obtain the same resource.

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competition

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Difference in the concentration of a substance from one location to another.

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concentration gradient

Front 27

Organism that obtains its energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms.

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heterotroph

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Process by which committed cells acquire the structures and functions of highly specialized cells.

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differentiation

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Movement of dissolved molecules in a fluid or gas from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

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diffusion

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Cell that has two copies of each chromosome, one from an egg and one from a sperm.

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diploid

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Nucleic acid molecule that stores genetic information in all organisms.

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DNA

Front 32

Allele that is expressed when two different alleles are present in an organism’s genotype.

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dominant

Front 33

Model that compares the structure of a DNA molecule, in which two strands wind around one another, to that of a twisted ladder.

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double helix

Front 34

Collection of organisms and nonliving things such as climate, soil, water, and rocks in an area.

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ecosystem

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Cell that has a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

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eukaryotic cell

Front 36

Change in a species over time; process of biological change by which descendants come to differ from their ancestors

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evolution

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Hydrocarbon chain often bonded to glycerol in a lipid.

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fatty acid

Front 38

Sex cell; and egg or sperm cell.

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gamete

Front 39

Specific region of DNA that codes for a particular protein.

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gene

Front 40

Study of the heredity patterns and variation of organisms.

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genetics

Front 41

Collection of all of an organism’s genetic information that codes for traits.

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genotype

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Anaerobic process in which glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate and two net ATP are produced.

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glycolysis

Front 43

Combined biotic and abiotic factors found in the area where an organism lives.

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habitat

Front 44

Cell that has only one copy of each chromosome.

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haploid

Front 45

Characteristic of having two different alleles that appear at the same locus of sister chromatid.

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heterozygous

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Regulation and maintenance of constant internal conditions in an organism.

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homeostasis

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Characteristic of having two of the same alleles at the same locus of sister chromatid.

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homozygous

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Chemical signal that is produced in one part of an organism and affects cell activity in another part.

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hormone

Front 49

Nonpolar molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; includes fats and oils.

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lipid

Front 50

Form of nuclear division that divides a diploid cell into haploid cells; important in forming gametes for sexual reproduction.

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meiosis

Front 51

All chemical processes that synthesize or break down materials within an organism.

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metabolism

Front 52

Bean-shaped organelles that supplies energy to the cell and has its own ribosomes and DNA.

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mitocondria

Front 53

Process by which a cell divides its nucleus and contents.

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mitosis

Front 54

Change in the DNA sequence.

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mutation

Front 55

Ecological relationship between two species in which each species gets a benefit from the interactions.

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mutualism

Front 56

Mechanism by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offspring on average than do other individuals.

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natural selection

Front 57

Polymer of nucleotides; the genetic material of organisms.

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nucleic acid

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Organelle composed of a double membrane that acts as the storehouse for most of a cell’s DNA.

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nucleus

Front 59

Group of different types of tissues that work together to perform a specific function or related functions.

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organ

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Monomer that forms DNA and has a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogen-containing bases.

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nucleotide

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Two or more organs that work in a coordinated way to carry out similar functions.

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organ system

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Membrane-bound structure that is specialized to perform a distinct process within a cell.

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organelle

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Any individual living thing.

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organism

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Diffusion of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

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osmosis

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Ecological relationship in which one organism benefits by harming another organism.

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parasitism

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Collection of all of an organism’s physical characteristics.

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phenotype

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Process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy; produces sugar and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water.

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photosynthesis

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All of the individuals of a species that live in the same area.

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population

Front 69

Cell that does not have a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles.

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prokaryotic cell

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Polymer composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds; folds into a particular structure depending on bonds between amino acids.

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protein

Front 71

Model for predicting all possible genotypes resulting from a cross, or mating.

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Punnett square

Front 72

Allele that is not expressed unless two copies are present in an organism’s genotype.

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recessive

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Organelle that links amino acids together to form proteins.

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ribosome

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Nucleic acid molecule that allows for the transmission of genetic information and protein synthesis.

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RNA

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Process by which two gametes fuse and offspring that are genetic mixture of both parents are produced.

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sexual reproduction

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Group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.

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species

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Cell that can divide for long periods of time while remaining undifferentiated.

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stem cell

Front 78

Something that causes a physiological response.

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stimulus

Front 79

Ecological relationship between members of at least two different species that live in direct contact with one another.

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symbiosis

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Group of cells that work together to perform a similar function.

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tissue

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Cell that forms when a male gamete fertilizes a female gamete.

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zygote

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Protein that catalyzes chemical reactions for organisms.

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enzyme

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Smallest basic unit of matter.

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atom

Front 84

Large carbon-based molecule formed by monomers.

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polymer

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Molecular subunit of a polymer.

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momomer

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Double-layer of phospholipids that forms a boundary between the cell and the surrounding environment and controls the passage of materials into and out of the cell.

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cell membrane

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Rigid structure that gives protection, support and shape to cells in plants, algae, fungi and bacteria.

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cell wall

Front 88

Jellylike substance inside cells that contain molecules and in some cells organelles.

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cytoplasm

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Organelle that is used to store materials such as water, food or enzymes, that are needed by the cell.

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vacuole

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Energy-requiring movement of molecules across a membrane from an region of lower concentration to an region of higher concentration.

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active transport

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Movement of molecules across the cell membrane without energy input from the cell.

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passive transport

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Condition or quality of allowing some, but not all, across a barrier or membrane.

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selective permeability

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The creation of proteins by cells that uses DNA, RNA and various enzymes. It include the processes of transcription and translation.

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protein synthesis

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Process by which DNA is copied.

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replication

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Process of copying a nucleotide sequence of DNA to form a complimentary strand of mRNA.

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transcription

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Process in which mRNA is decoded and protein is produced.

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translation

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The acquisition of traits genetically transmitted from parents to offspring.

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inheritance

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Characteristic that is inherited.

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trait

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The totality of fossilized artifacts and their placement within the earth's rock strata. It provides information about the history of life on earth.

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fossil record

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The movement of a chemical through the biological and geological, or living and nonliving, parts of an ecosystem.

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biogeochemical cycle