question

emergent properties

answer

new properties that emerge with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases

question

negative feedback

answer

a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the stimulus

question

positive feedback

answer

a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers mechanisms that amplify the change

question

inductive reasoning

answer

reasoning based on observed patterns

question

polymer

answer

large compound formed from combinations of many monomers

question

hydrolysis

answer

a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and changed into other compounds by taking up the elements of water

question

enzyme

answer

protein that acts as a biological catalyst

question

phospholipids

answer

a molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail

question

cellular respiration

answer

process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen

question

phosphorylation

answer

the transfer of a phosphate group, usually from ATP, to a molecule. Nearly all cellular work depends on ATP energizing other molecules by phosphorylation

question

chemiosmosis

answer

a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase enzyme.

question

fermentation

answer

the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen

question

gametes

answer

reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as body cells

question

meiosis

answer

a process in cell division during which the number of chromosomes decreases to half the original number by two divisions of the nucleus, which results in the production of sex cells

question

somatic cell

answer

cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes

question

crossing over

answer

the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis

question

transcription

answer

process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary sequence in mRNA

question

codons

answer

a three-nucleotide sequence of DNA or mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or termination signal; the basic unit of the genetic code.

question

RNA splicing

answer

process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining exons are joined together

question

mutations

answer

random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotides; the source of all genetic diversity

question

repetitive DNA

answer

nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in many copies in a eukaryotic genome.

question

transposons

answer

small mobile DNA segments

question

homeobox

answer

one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic development

question

genome project

answer

Research and technology development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing some or all of the genome of human beings and other organisms

question

adaptations

answer

the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in their environments

question

natural selection

answer

process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

question

vestigial structures

answer

remnant of a structure that may have had an important function in a species' ancestors, but has no clear function in the modern species

question

convergent evolution

answer

process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

question

protists

answer

single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any other kingdom

question

diatoms

answer

unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated silica embedded in an organic matrix

question

ciliates

answer

a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles called cilia

question

amoeba

answer

A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of pseudopodia

question

gastrula

answer

an embryonic stage in animal development encompassing the formation of three layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm

question

cephalization

answer

the concentration of nerve tissue and sensory organs at the anterior end of an organism

question

symmetry

answer

the way an animal's body parts match up around a point or central line

question

coelom

answer

fluid-filled body cavity lined with mesoderm

question

sustainable agriculture

answer

farming method that preserves long-term productivity of land and minimizes pollution

question

nitrogen fixation

answer

process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use (ammonia)

question

crop rotation

answer

the system of growing a different crop in a field each year to preserve the fertility of the land

question

epiphyte

answer

plant that is not rooted in soil but instead grows directly on the body of another plant

question

physiology

answer

processes and functions of an organism

question

epithelium

answer

membranous tissue covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body

question

thermoregulation

answer

the maintenance of body temperature within a range that enables cells to function efficiently

question

metabolic rate

answer

the amount of energy an animal uses in a unit of time

question

acquired immunity

answer

immunity that the body develops after it overcomes a disease, or through inoculation (such as vaccination)

question

macrophages

answer

engulf bacteria and cellular debris by phagocytosis

question

inflammatory response

answer

nonspecific defense against infection, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain

question

antigen

answer

substance that triggers an immune response

question

sexual reproduction

answer

process in which genetic material from two parents combines and produces offspring that differ genetically from either parent

question

parthenogenesis

answer

asexual reproduction in which females produce offspring from unfertilized eggs

question

gametogenesis

answer

the development and maturation of sex cells through meiosis

question

endometrium

answer

inner lining of the uterus

question

perception

answer

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

question

sliding filament model

answer

The theory explaining how muscle contracts, based on change within a sarcomere, the basic unit of muscle organization, stating that thin (actin) filaments slide across thick (myosin) filaments, shortening the sarcomere; the shortening of all sarcomeres in a myofibril shortens the entire myofibril

question

smooth muscle

answer

a muscle that contracts without conscious control and found in walls of internal organs such as stomach and intestine and bladder and blood vessels (excluding the heart)

question

exoskeleton

answer

the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs

question

compound

answer

a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight

question

hydrogen bond

answer

weak chemical bond formed by the attraction of positively charged hydrogen atoms to other negatively charged atoms

question

covalent bond

answer

a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

question

ion

answer

atom that has a positive or negative charge

question

eukaryotic cells

answer

contain a nucleus and other organelles that are bound by membranes

question

ribosomes

answer

non membrane bounded organelles responsible for protein synthesis

question

mitochondria

answer

powerhouse of the cell, produces energy (ATP) from oxygen and sugar

question

prokaryotic

answer

describes a cell that does not have a nucleus or anyother membrane-covered organelles; also called bacteria

question

thylakoids

answer

A flattened membrane sac inside the chloroplast, used to convert light energy to chemical energy

question

photosynthesis

answer

process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

question

autotrophs

answer

organisms that make their own food

question

CAM plants

answer

store the organic acids made at night in vacuoles and use them for photosynthesis during the day when stomata are closed

question

hybridization

answer

the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids

question

alleles

answer

different forms of a gene

question

heterozygous

answer

having two different alleles for a trait

question

pleiotrophy

answer

the ability of a single gene to have multiple effects

question

operon

answer

a group of genes that operate together

question

cell differentiation

answer

the process of cell specialization

question

homeotic genes

answer

any of the genes that control the overall body plan of animals and plants by controlling the developmental fate of groups of cells

question

oncogenes

answer

cancer-causing genes

question

community

answer

a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other

question

niche

answer

the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species)

question

mimicry

answer

the resemblance of an animal species to another species or to natural objects

question

keystone species

answer

a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem

question

geographic variation

answer

differences in the genetic composition of separate populations

question

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

answer

theory of a stable, nonevolving population in which frequency of alleles do not change; only occurs in large, isolated populations with random mating, and no natural selection or mutations

question

gene flow

answer

movement of alleles into or out of a population due to the migration of individuals to or from the population

question

disruptive selection

answer

form of natural selection in which a single curve splits into two; occurs when individuals at the upper and lower ends of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals near the middle

question

vascular tissue

answer

tissue that conducts water and nutrients through the plant body in higher plants

question

bryophyte

answer

nonvascular plant; examples are mosses and their relatives

question

seed

answer

embryo of a living plant that is encased in a protective covering and surrounded by a food supply

question

roots

answer

underground organs that absorb water and minerals

question

invertebrates

answer

animals without a backbone

question

hermaphrodite

answer

individual that has both male and female reproductive organs

question

complete metamorphosis

answer

the transformation of a larva into an adult that looks very different, and often functions very differently in its environment, than the larva

question

echinoderms

answer

invertebrates with an internal skeleton and a system of fluid-filled tubes called a water vascular system

question

complete flowers

answer

a flower that has all four basic floral organs: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpals

question

pollen grain

answer

male gametophyte in seed plants

question

dormancy

answer

period of time during which a plant embryo is alive but not growing

question

fruit

answer

a mature ovary of a flower that protects dormant seeds and aids in their dispersal

question

hemoglobin

answer

iron-containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body

question

sinoatrial node

answer

the heart's pacemaker, located in the wall of the right atrium

question

vasoconstriction

answer

narrowing of blood vessels

question

platelets

answer

tiny, disk-shaped bodies in the blood, important in blood clot formation

question

endocrine glands

answer

glands of the endocrine system that release hormones into the bloodstream

question

pheromones

answer

chemicals secreted by animal species that influence the behavior of other animals of the same species

question

insulin

answer

protein hormone that helps to decrease blood sugar

question

hypothalamus

answer

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

question

acrosomal reaction

answer

the discharge of hydrolytic enzymes from the acrosome, when the sperm contacts an egg

question

cleavage

answer

the process of cytokinesis in animal cells, characterized by pinching of the plasma membrane; specifically, the succession of rapid cell divisions without growth during early embryonic development that converts the zygote into a ball of cells

question

germ layer

answer

any of the 3 layers of cells differentiated in embryos following gastrulation

question

amniotes

answer

their embryos are protected by external membranes

question

demography

answer

study of populations

question

survivorship curve

answer

graph showing the number of survivors in different age groups for a particular species

question

emigration

answer

movement of individuals out of an area

question

exponential growth

answer

growth of a population that multiplies by a constant factor at constant time intervals

question

cohesion

answer

attraction between molecules of the same substance

question

adhesion

answer

an attraction between molecules of different substances

question

polar molecule

answer

molecule with an unequal distribution of charge, resulting in the molecule having a positive end and a negative end

question

hydrophobic

answer

avoids water molecules

question

peripheral proteins

answer

protein appendages loosely bound to the surface of the membrane and not embedded in the lipid bilayer

question

osmosis

answer

diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane

question

hypertonic

answer

when comparing two solutions, the solution with the greater concentration of solutes

question

endocytosis

answer

process by which a cell takes in a substance by surrounding it with the cell membrane

question

signal transduction pathway

answer

a series of steps linking a mechanical or chemical stimulus to a specific cellular response

question

hormones

answer

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

question

ligand

answer

a molecule that binds specifically to a receptor site of another molecule

question

protein kinase

answer

an enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from ATP to a protein

question

sex-linked gene

answer

gene located on the X or Y chromosome

question

barr body

answer

Inactivated X chromosome in females

question

nondisjunction

answer

error in meiosis in which homologous chromosomes fail to separate

question

linkage map

answer

a genetic map based on the frequencies of recombination between markers during crossing over of homologous chromosomes

question

caspid

answer

protein covering that surrounds a virus

question

pandemic

answer

disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population

question

vaccine

answer

a substance that stimulates the body to produce chemicals that destroy viruses or bacteria

question

prions

answer

infectious protein particles that do not have a genome

question

kinesis

answer

a change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus

question

migration

answer

movement from one place to another

question

habituation

answer

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation

question

altruism

answer

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

question

symbiosis

answer

living together in mutually helpful association of two dissimilar organisms

question

endospore

answer

type of spore formed when a bacterium produces a thick internal wall that encloses its DNA and a portion of its cytoplasm

question

conjugation

answer

form of sexual reproduction in which paramecia and some prokaryotes exchange genetic information

question

pathogens

answer

disease producing microorganisms

question

pollination

answer

the transfer of pollen from male reproductive structures to female reproductive structures in plants

question

flower

answer

the reproductive structure of an angiosperm

question

endosperm

answer

the food supply for a plant embryo found inside a seed

question

angiosperm

answer

a flowering plant, which forms seeds inside a protective chamber called an ovary

question

chordates

answer

an animal phylum that has a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and gill slits at some time in its life cycle

question

viviparous

answer

producing living young (not eggs)

question

endothermic

answer

dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat

question

placentals

answer

mammals who have offspring who develop inside placenta (humans)

question

phototropism

answer

tendency of plants to grow toward a source of light

question

gibberellins

answer

Plant hormones that promote stem and leaf elongation

question

apoptosis

answer

a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself

question

circadian rhythms

answer

the 24-hour biological cycles found in humans and many other species

question

excretion

answer

the process by which wastes are removed from the body

question

nephron

answer

any of the small tubules that are the excretory units of the vertebrate kidney

question

urea

answer

the chief solid component of mammalian urine

question

antidiuretic hormone

answer

hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland to prevent the kidneys from expelling too much water

question

reflexes

answer

an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that involves a nerve impulse

question

cerebral cortex

answer

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

question

short term memory

answer

activated memory that holds a few items briefly, before information is stored or forgotten

question

amygdale

answer

brain region that regulates emotions

question

phylogeny

answer

the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms

question

taxonomy

answer

study of the general principles of scientific classification

question

cladistics

answer

a system of phylogenetic analysis that uses shared and derived characters as the only criteria for grouping taxa

question

species

answer

taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

question

producers

answer

organisms that make their own food

question

ecology

answer

the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment

question

biological magnification

answer

increasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web

question

greenhouse effect

answer

process by which atmospheric gases trap heat close to Earth's surface and prevent it from escaping into space

question

hydrocarbons

answer

organic molecules that are composed of only carbon and hydrogen

question

isomers

answer

compounds with the same formula but different structure

question

adenosine triphosphate

answer

the molecule that stores energy that can be used by the cell

question

organic chemistry

answer

the chemistry of compounds containing carbon (originally defined as the chemistry of substances produced by living organisms but now extended to substances synthesized artificially)

question

catabolic

answer

A process in which large molecules are broken down

question

entropy

answer

a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system

question

endergonic reaction

answer

a non-spontaneous chemical reaction in which free energy is absorbed from the surroundings

question

substrate

answer

specific reactant acted on by an enzyme

question

chromatin

answer

long strands of DNA found in the eukaryotic cell nucleus; condense to form chromosomes

question

cancer

answer

a disease in which abnormal cells multiply out of control, spread into surrounding tissues and other body parts, and disrupt normal functioning of one or more organs

question

binary fission

answer

type of asexual reproduction in which an organism replicates its DNA and divides in half, producing two identical daughter cells

question

mitosis

answer

in eukaryotic cells, a process of cell division that forms two new nuclei, each of which has the same number of chromosomes

question

transformation

answer

modification of a cell or bacterium by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA

question

helicases

answer

enzymes that untwist the double helix at the replication forks

question

okazaki fragments

answer

short fragments of DNA that are a result of the synthesis of the lagging strand during DNA replication

question

telomerase

answer

an enzyme that catalyzes the lengthening of telomeres; the enzyme includes a molecule of RNA that serves as a template for new telomere segments

question

recombinant DNA

answer

DNA produced by combining DNA from different sources

question

plasmids

answer

the small, circular segments of DNA that are found in bacteria and that stay sparate from the bacterial chromosomes; used in genetic engineering

question

polymerase chain reaction

answer

technique that allows molecular biologists to make many copies of a particular gene

question

gel electrophoresis

answer

the separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel

question

microevolution

answer

evolution resulting from small specific genetic changes that can lead to a new subspecies

question

pre-zygotic barriers

answer

a reproductive barrier that impedes mating between species or hinders fertilization if interspecific mating is attempted

question

allopatric speciation

answer

the formation of new species in populations that are geographically isolated from one another

question

polyploidy

answer

the condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes

question

protobionts

answer

collections of abiotically produced molecules surrounded by a membrane-like structure

question

half-life

answer

the period of time in which half of a radioactive substance decays

question

endosymbiosis

answer

process through which early prokaryotic cells are thought to have engulfed other, smaller cells and eventually incorporated them as organelles; these cells evolved into modern-day eukaryotes

question

pangea

answer

the name of the single landmass that broke apart 200 million years ago and gave rise to today's continents

question

hyphae

answer

the branching, threadlike tubes that make up the bodies of multicellular fungi

question

molds

answer

a type of fungus that consists of chains of cells and appears as a fuzzy mass of thin filaments in culture

question

lichen

answer

symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism

question

club fungi

answer

a type of fungus that bears reproductive sperm externally, on club-shaped structures (basidia) at the tips of hyphae

question

tissue

answer

a part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells having a similar structure and function

question

stem

answer

supporting structure that connects roots and leaves and carries water and nutrients between them

question

apical meristems

answer

embryonic plant tissue in the tips of roots and in the buds of shoots that supplies cells for the plant to grow in length

question

stomata

answer

the small openings on the undersides of most leaves through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move

question

carnivore

answer

organism that obtains energy by eating animals

question

vitamins

answer

compounds that help regulate many vital body processes, including the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of other nutrients

question

malnourishment

answer

a nutritional imbalance caused by lack of specific dietary components or inability to absorb or utilize essential nutrients

question

peristalsis

answer

the process of wave-like muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along

question

ganglia

answer

groups of nerve cell bodies that coordinate incoming and outgoing nerve signals

question

neurotransmitters

answer

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons

question

action potential

answer

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon; the action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane

question

synaptic cleft

answer

space between two connecting neurons where neurotransmitters are released

question

biotic factor

answer

all the living things in an ecosystem

question

dispersal

answer

the movement of organisms from one place to another

question

cline

answer

a graded change in a trait along a geographic axis

question

biomes

answer

a broad, regional type of ecosystem characterized by distinctive climate and soil conditions and a distinctive kind of biological community adapted to those conditions

question

turgid

answer

swollen and distended or congested

question

plasmodesmata

answer

channels through cell walls that connect the cytoplasms of adjacent cells

question

aquaporins

answer

a transport protein in the plasma membrane of a plant or animal cell that specifically facilitates the diffusion of water across the membrane

question

transpiration

answer

the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants

question

conservation

answer

the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources

question

introduced species

answer

nonnative species that are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new habitat

question

bioremediation

answer

the use of living organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded ecosystems

question

minimum viable population

answer

the smallest population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive

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