Glossary

3D-bioprinting The three-dimensional printing of biological tissue and organs through the layering of stem cells

abiotic non-iiving conditions or things

acid rain Any rainfall which is more acid than normal rainfall (pH 5.5-6.0). It is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

active site Region of an enzyme where the substrate binds

active transport Movement of substances from lower to higher concentration (i.e. against their concentration gradient). This needs energy from respiration

adaptation The process by which organisms adjust to changes in their environment in order to aid in their survival

adenine A base that pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA

aerobic respiration Biochemical process that releases energy from a sugar in the presence of oxygen

algae Protoctists that contain chlorophyll but lack roots, leaves and transport tissue. Includes many singIe-celled forms and the seaweeds

alien species A non-native species living outside its normal range which has arrived there through human activity (either deliberate or accidental)

allele Different versions of the same gene

alveolus (pl. alveoli) Air sac in the lung where gas exchange takes place

amino acid Building block of proteins

anabolic reactions When complex molecules are built up from smaller ones

anaerobic respiration Respiration in the absence of oxygen, producing either lactic acid (humans) or ethanol (plants and yeast)

analogous features Similar in structure but of different evolutionary origin

anaphase Stage of cell division where chromatids separate and move to different ends of the cell

ancestor An early form of species from which others have evolved

ancestral Relating to/evolved from an ancestor.

antibiotic Compounds produced by some micro-organisms which selectively inhibit or kill other micro-organ/sms; an antibiotic medicine prevents or stops the growth and spread of bacteria

antibody Proteins produced by the immune system that target and help to destroy specific pathogens

aquatic Relating to water

artery Blood vessel that carried blood away from the heart to tissues and organs of the body

artificial selection Selection in breeding carried out deliberately by humans

asexual reproduction Reproduction not involving gametes or fertilization

atrium (pl. atria) The upper chambers of a heart, into which blood flows

autoimmune disease A disease that is caused when a body's immune system produces antibodies that attack the body’s own cells

autotroph A ‘self-feeder’ an organism that can make its own food (glucose) from simpler substances

bacteria (sing. bacterium) Microscopic organisms without a true nucleus

balanced A state of stability/the components of a system are in equilibrium base The unit in DNA that contains the genetic code

behavioral Characteristics, such as how an animal lives with others in its group

bile Substance produced in the liver that neutralizes stomach acid and emulsifies fats in the small intestine

biodiversity The variety of different types of life found on Earth

biofuel A fuel produced from biological raw materials, such as plant crops or animal waste

biotechnology The industrial and commercial application of biology

biotic Things associated with or that come from living things cancer The uncontrolled replication of cells

capillary Very thin blood vessel that supplies oxygen and nutrients direct to body tissues, and removes waste

carbohydrase Enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars

carbohydrates Molecules that provide a ready source of energy for the body. They come in simple forms such as glucose, and in complex forms, such as starches and cellulose

carbon capture Mechanisms by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is removed

carbon offset A reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, using carbon capture techniques, in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere by e.g. burning fossil fuels

carbon sink Something that absorbs more carbon, usually in the form of carbon dioxide, than it emits, for example a tropical rainforest

carnivore an animal that eats only other animals

catabolic reactions Where complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones

catalyst A substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction, but remains unchanged at the end

cell The basic building blocks of structure in an organism. Cells are the smallest unit of life and are made from other cells by division

cell membrane Partially permeable structure that controls the passage of substances in and out of a cell

cell wall A tough, flexible, fully permeable structure located outside the cell membrane of plants, fungi, bacteria and plant-like Protoctista. It supports the cell and prevents it from bursting when water enters

cellulose A macromolecu/e made of 2000-3000 glucose units joined together. It is the main molecule in plant cell walls

central nervous system (CNS) one of the two main systems of the nervous system; the CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for processing information that comes from and goes to all parts of the body

centromere The part of a chromosome that joins the two chromatids together, and to which spindle fibres attach during cell division characteristic A distinguishing feature of an organism

chemoreceptor Specialized sensory neurons that respond to chemical stimuli such as the presence of smell or taste molecules, or changes in the concentration of carbon dioxnde

chemosynthesis The process of producing organic forms of chemical energy (carbohydrates) from non-organic forms of chemical energy

chitin A long macromolecu/e made from glucose and amino acid, used in the construction of the cell wall of fungi and the exoskeleton of arthropods

chlorophyll The main photosynthetic pigment of green plants

chloroplast Organelle that is the site of photosynthesis and contains chlorophyll

chromatid One of two copies of a chromosome after it has replicated

chromosome A long length of DNA, packaged with protein, containing many genes

classification The process of dividing organisms into groups with similar characteristics

climate change See global warming clone A group of genetically identical individuals (or cells)

cloning Making a genetically identical copy of an organism

common ancestor The most recent species from which two or more different species have evolved

communicable disease A disease that is spread between individuals through air or body fluids; also known as an 'infectious disease’

community A group of populations of organisms living and interacting with each other in a habitat

comparative anatomy The study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species, used to study the evolution of species

complementary bases Two bases that have shapes that can fit together. Adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine with guanine in DNA

concentration The quantity of a substance in a defined space or volume

concentration gradient The difference in concentration between one area and another

cross-breed To produce an animal or plant by deliberately mating individuals of different breeds or varieties

crossing-over Exchange of genetic material between chromosomes during meiosis

cycle A series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order

cytokinesis Division of cytoplasm after the nucleus has divided into two

cytoplasm Site of many chemical reactions controlled by enzymes. Contains organelles such as mitochondria

cytosine A base found in DNA and RNA that pairs with guanine

decomposers Bacteria and fungi that feed on dead plant and animal material

deforestation The removal of trees from an area of land

deletion The removal of a base from DNA

denature A structural change in a protein that results in the substrate being unable to fit the active site, stopping activity

deoxygenated With oxygen removed

destarch Remove starch from a plant by keeping it in the dark

detritivore Decomposer, such as a fly, that breaks down and uses dead organic matter as a source of food and energy

diabetes Inability to control blood-sugar level due to lack of insulin

diaphragm A sheet of tissues, largely muscle, separating the thorax from the abdomen in mammals

diet The types of food an organism usually eats

differentiate Make or become different in the process of growth or development

diffusion The movement of molecules from higher to lower concentration

digestion The process of breaking large insoluble molecules into small soluble ones

diploid Cells with nuclei that have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent

distribution Location of a species around the world

diversity The amount of biological variety in an area. It can be measured in terms of species, habitat or genetic diversity

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid a molecule common to all life on Earth. it contains the code that determines the structure of living things

DNA ligase An enzyme which can connect pieces of DNA together dominant An a/Ie/e that always shows through, and that causes the homozygous form and the heterozygous form to look the same as each other

ecological footprint The area of land and water required to provide sustainably all resources at the rate at which they are being consumed by a given population

ecosystem A community of organisms that depend on each other and the environment they live in

egg Female sex cell

embryo The earliest stages in development of a new organism

embryonic Relating to an embryo

emission The production and release of something, e.g. a gas

emulsification Break fats into very tiny droplets

endangered species A species at risk of extinction

endemic species A species found in a particular area and nowhere else. See also native species

environment The external surroundings of an organism that act on it and affect its survival

environmental Relating to the environment

enzyme A biological catalyst

enzyme-substrate complex Structure formed when a substrate combines with an enzyme at its active site

ethical Relating to beliefs about whether something is right or wrong

eutrophication The addition of nitrates or phosphates to a body of water resulting in an increase in algal growth and reduced dissolved oxygen

evolution The cumulative and gradual change in the genetic characteristics of successive generations of a species; the cumulative gradual changes eventually give rise to species different from the common ancestor

evolve The process of having undergoing evolution

ex situ conservation The preservation of species outside their natural habitats, usually in zoos which carry out captive breeding and reintroduction programmes

excretion Get rid of waste produced by chemical reactions in cells

exploitation Using something for maximum gain extinction The irreversible loss of species

fatty acid One of the building blocks of fat, along with glycerol. Made from a long chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms

fauna Animals

fertilization The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote

fertilizer A chemical or natural substance added to soil to increase the yield of a crop

fibre Substance in food made from cellulose cell walls

flora Plants food chain Linear sequence of what eats what in an ecosystem

food web Graphica| representation of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem to show the complex connections of what eats what in each trophic level

fossil The remains or impression of an ancient species preserved in rock

fossil fuels The remains of dead plants and animals formed millions of years ago: coal was formed from dead plant material; oil and gas were formed from dead marine organisms

fungus (pl. fungi) Heterotrophic, non-motile, multicel/u/ar (usually) organisms with a myce/ium of hyphae and chitin cell walls. They constitute a separate kingdom

gamete Sex cell (e.g. ovum, sperm)

gas exchange Process through which oxygen and carbon dioxide are transferred in opposite directions across a specialized surface

gene Sections of DNA found in the nucleus of all cells

gene pool Ail the different types of gene found within every individual of a species

generation A group of organisms born and living around the same time

genetic Relating to genes and heredity

genetic code The order of bases in DNA that determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein

genetic disease Disease caused by changes in the genetic code, rather than by pathogens

genetic engineering/genetic modification (GM) DNA IS modified so that a unique set of genes is produced

genome The whole of the genetic information of an Organism

ginorne mapping Methods used to find the exact ocation of a gene on a chromosome

genotype The ’genetic makeup’ of a person; the genetic 'n Ormation in the cell

of t€th warming An Increase in the average temperature e Earth’s atmosphere

glu C::\?on Hormone produced by the pancreas that erts

glycerol into glucose glycerol One of the agds building blocks of fat, along with fatty

glycogen Storage moiecule of glucose in animals and bacteria

gradient Change in quantity of something (e.g. temperature, pressure, or concentration) from one area to another

gravitotropism Adaptive response in plants that causes them to move and grow in response to gravity

greenhouse effect A natural process in which greenhouse gases allow short-wave radiation to pass through the atmosphere but trap some outgoing longwave radiation. It increases global temperatures by about 33°C, allowing life on Earth to exist

greenhouse gas Gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which absorb infrared radiation; this can lead to global warming

growth Achieve a permanent change in size

guanine A base found in DNA and RNA that pairs with cytosine

habitat The place where a species lives haploid Cells having one set of chromosomes herbivore An animal that eats only plants

herbivory The process of searching for, finding and eating plants

heredity Passing characteristics genetically from one generation to the next

heterotroph An organism that feeds on other organisms to obtain its food

heterozygous Two different alleles for a particular characteristic in each cell

hierarchy A structure made from many different levels. In biology it relates to the different levels of classification from kingdom to species

homeostasis Maintaining a constant internal environment homeostatic Relating to homeostasis homologous features Similarity due to common ancestry

homozygous Two identical alleles for a particular characteristic in each cell

hormone A chemical messenger in living things

host An organism on or in which a parasrte lives; the host provides nutrients and other benefits to the parasite at the expense of the host’s welI-being

Human Genome Project (HGP) An international scientific research project; its aim was to determine the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs which make up the DNA of humans

hyphae Each of the branching filaments that make up the myce/ium of a fungus