The Biology glossary terms
absorption
The movement of a simple substance across the lining of the digestive system.
amino acids
The structural unit of proteins.
aquatic
Living in water.
asexual
Describes an organism that reproduces without sex.
autotrophic
Describes an organism that makes its own organic compounds (food) from simple inorganic substances. Most *
binomial
Consists of two names.
blood system
A system of the body made up of blood, heart and a series of tubes that transport blood around the body.
bolus
A rounded mass of partly digested food.
caecum
Beginning of the large intestine.
cell
A small enclosed unit that makes up all living things. The structural unit of organisms.
* A feature that helps identify something. A distinguishing mark or trait.
chlorophyll
Green pigment that traps light.
colon
Part of the large intestine.
cytoplasm
Everything in the cell apart from the nucleus and the cell membrane.
dichotomous
Dividing into two parts.
digestion
The physical (mechanical) and chemical breakdown of food into useable forms.
* A carbohydrate made up of two monosaccharide molecules joined together.
electron micrograph
Photograph taken of an image under an electron microscope.
eukaryotes
Organisms whose cells have a nucleus and other * organelles.
faeces
Wastes of the digestive system. They are expelled from the body via the anus.
field of view
The area of the image visible in the eyepiece of a microscope.
fertile
Can produce offspring.
function
What something does.
gamete
A sex cell.
glucose
A monosaccharide that is used as an energy source for many organisms.
* Describes an organism that cannot make its own organic compounds (food). It must ingest or absorb organic material from its environment.
hierarchy
An organism can be classified on eight different levels (Kingdom, Phylum etc.). These levels are known as a hierarchy.
infertile
Cannot produce offspring.
ingestion
Taking food into the body.
* Animals that do not have a backbone.
key
An outline of the distinguishing characteristics of a group of organisms, used as a guide in *
kingdom
Largest classification group (i.e. Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista and Prokaryotae).
lumen
Cavity within a tube.
lymphatic system
A system made up of tubes, nodes and lymph. Involved in transport of products of lipid digestion from the small intestine to the blood. Helps fight infection.
magnification
How much larger an object appears compared to its real size.
* A simple sugar consisting of one sugar molecule.
multicellular
Organisms that are composed of many cells.
nucleus
An organelle that contains the genetic information and serves as the control centre of the cell.
nutrients
Substances needed by an organism for energy, growth, survival and development.
organelle
A structure within a cell with a specific function.
organic
Containing complex carbon.
organism
Any living thing made up of one or more cells.
parasites
Organisms that survive off the living tissue of other organisms.
peristalsis
Describes rhythmical contraction and relaxation of muscles. Pumping material through a tube.
pharynx
A part of the digestive tract. The throat area in humans.
phloem
In plants a tissue involved in the transport of mineral ions, sucrose and amino acids up and down a plant.
*
A chemical process needing light, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll and water to produce oxygen and glucose.
pollen
Reproductive structure in flowering plants and conifers.
* A carbohydrate containing more than two monosaccharides joined together.
predators
Organisms that kill and eat other organisms (prey).
prokaryotes
Organisms whose cells do not have a nucleus or other * organelles.
protist
A member of the kingdom Protista.
rectum
Last part of the large intestine.
segmented
Made of *
species
The basic unit of classification. Individuals are structurally similar and can interbreed and produce viable and fertile offspring.
spores
Usually unicellular. A reproductive structure. Usually germinating without fusing with another cell.
stimuli
Changes in the environment that may evoke a response.
stimulus
A change in an environment that may evoke a response.
* A fat made up of one glycerol and three fatty acids.
unicellular
Organisms that are composed of a single cell.
vertebrates
Animals that have a backbone.
viable
Can survive.
wastes
Unwanted substances that a cell produces and must dispose of.
xylem
In plants a tissue involved in the transport of water and mineral ions up a plant.
zygote
The first cell of a new individual formed by the fusion of two gametes.
I really liked this course. Very interesting
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