Glossary of biology

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This glossary of biology terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts of biology, its sub-disciplines, and related fields. For more specific definitions from other glossaries related to biology, see Glossary of ecology, Glossary of botany, and Glossary of genetics.

Video Glossary of biology

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Maps Glossary of biology

A

abiotic component

Any non-living chemical or physical part of the environment that affects living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems, such as the atmosphere and water resources.

abscisic acid

A plant hormone with the formula C₁₅H₂₀O₄.

abscission

The shedding of flowers, leaves and/or fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plant.

absolute zero

The lowest theoretically attainable temperature, at which the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules is minimal. It is equivalent to 0 kelvins, or -273.15 degrees Celsius, or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit.

absorption

A process in which one substance permeates another. A fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid. Skin absorption is a route by which substances can enter the body through the skin.

absorption spectrum

The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that has passed through a medium which absorbs radiation of certain wavelengths.

abyssal zone

The deep sea (2000 meters or more) where there is no light.

acclimatization

Adaptation to a new climate, as with a new temperature or altitude or environment.

acetylcholine

An organic molecule that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain and body of many types of animals, including humans.

acid precipitation

Rain or any other form of precipitation containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water.

acoelomate

An animal, such as a flatworm or a jellyfish, that lacks a fluid-filled body cavity between the body wall and digestive tract (the coelom) Rather, semi-solid mesodermal tissues between the gut and body wall hold the animal's organs in place.

actin

One of the proteins into which actomyosin can be split; can exist in either a globular or a fibrous form.

action potential

The local voltage change across the cell wall as a nerve impulse is transmitted.

activation energy

The energy that an atomic system must acquire before a process (such as an emission or reaction) can occur.

active site

The part of an enzyme or antibody where the chemical reaction occurs.

active transport

Transport of a substance (as a protein or drug) across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient; unlike passive transport, it requires an expenditure of energy.

adaptive immune system

One of two main immunity strategies found in vertebrates that inhibits or eliminates pathogens through the actions of highly specialized systemic cells and processes.

adaptive radiation

.

adenine

.

adenosine triphosphate

a nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions. The chemical formula for ATP is C₁₀H₁₆N₅O₁₃P₃.

adenylate cyclase

An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of cyclic AMP from ATP.

adipose tissue

.

aerobic

Depending on free oxygen or air.

aerobiology

The study of organic particles, such as bacteria, fungal spores, very small insects, pollen grains and viruses, which are passively transported by the air.

agriculture

The practice of cultivating land, growing food, and raising stock.

agrobiology

The study of plant nutrition and growth, especially as a way to increase crop yield.

allopatric speciation

.

allosteric enzyme

.

amino acid

A class of organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group.

amniote

Organisms that produce an egg composed of shell and membranes that creates a protected environment in which the embryo can develop out of water.

anatomy

The branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals.

aneuploidy

The presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell.

antibiotic

A type of antimicrobial drug used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. Also called an antibacterial.

anticodon

A unit made up of three nucleotides that correspond to the three bases of the codon on the mRNA.

arachnology

The scientific study of spiders, scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and harvestmen, collectively called arachnids.

artificial selection

Professionals study the genotype and phenotype of parent organisms in the hope of producing a hybrid that possesses many of the desirable characteristics found in their parents. Also known as selective breeding.

asexual reproduction

A type of reproduction involving a single parent that results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.

astrobiology

The branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life.

atom

The smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element.

autoimmunity

The system of immune responses of an organism against its own healthy cells and tissues.

autotrophic

auto means "self" and trophe means "nourishing or producing".

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B

B cell

A type of lymphocyte in the humoral immunity of the adaptive immune system.

bacteria

An enormous and diverse clade of microscopic, prokaryotic, single-celled organisms which lack a true nucleus. They represent one of the three biological domains.

bacteriophage

A virus that infects and multiplies within bacteria.

Barr body

The inactive X chromosome in a female somatic cell, rendered inactive in a process called lyonization, in those species in which sex is determined by the presence of the Y (including humans) or W chromosome rather than the diploidy of the X or Z.

basal body

An organelle formed from a centriole, and a short cylindrical array of microtubules. Also called a basal granule, a kinetosome, and in older cytological literature, a blepharoplast.

behavioral ecology

The study of the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures.

benthic zone

The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean or a lake, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers.

bile

A dark green to yellowish-brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, which aids the digestion of lipids in the small intestine. Also called gall.

binary fission

The process by which one prokaryotic cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

biocatalysis

The process of catalysis in biological systems. In biocatalytic processes, natural catalysts, such as protein enzymes, perform chemical transformations on organic compounds.

biochemistry

The branch of biology that explores the chemical processes within and related to living organisms.

biodiversity

A contraction of "biological diversity" generally referring to the variety and variability of life on Earth.

bioengineering

The application of concepts and methods of biology to solve real-world problems related to the life sciences or the application thereof.

bioenergetics

The study of the transformation of energy in living organisms.

biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area.

bioinformatics

The application of computer technology to the management of biological information.

biological organization

.

biology

The study of living organisms.

biomass

Organic matter derived from living or recently living organisms. Biomass can be used as a source of energy and it most often refers to plants or plant-based materials which are not used for food or feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass.

biomathematics

An interdisciplinary scientific research field with a range of applications, focusing on the use of mathematical tools to study biological systems.

biome

A very large ecological area on the Earth's surface containing fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment. Biomes are often defined by abiotic factors such as climate, topographical relief, geology, soils, and water resources.

biomechanics

The study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of the methods of "mechanics", which is the branch of physics involving analysis of the actions of forces.

biomedical engineering

The application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes (e.g. diagnostic or therapeutic).

biomedical research

The pursuit of answers to medical questions. These investigations lead to discoveries, which in turn lead to the development of new preventions, therapies, and cures for problems in human and veterinary health. Biomedical research generally takes two forms: basic science and applied research.

biomimetic

See bionics.

biomolecule

.

bionics

The application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. Also known as biomimetics, biognosis, biomimicry, or bionical creativity engineering.

biophysics

Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that applies the approaches and methods of physics to study biological systems. Biophysics covers all scales of biological organization, from molecular to organismic and populations.

biotechnology

Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use" (UN Convention on Biological Diversity).

bipedal

A form of terrestrial locomotion where an organism moves by means of its two rear limbs or legs.

blastocyst

A mammalian blastula in which some differentiation of cells has occurred.

blood

The red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body.

blood-brain barrier

A semipermeable membrane separating the blood from the cerebrospinal fluid, and constituting a barrier to the passage of cells, particles, and large molecules.

botany

The study of plants.

Bowman's capsule

A cup-like sac at the beginning of the tubular component of a nephron in the mammalian kidney that performs the first step in the filtration of blood to form urine. A glomerulus is enclosed in the sac. Also known as capsula glomeruli or glomerular capsule.

building biology

A science that leads to natural healthy ecological homes, schools, and workplaces that exist in harmony with the environment.

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C

Calvin cycle

.

capsid

A covering of viroids.

carbon fixation

The conversion process of inorganic carbon (carbon dioxide) to organic compounds by living organisms.

carbonate

Any member of two classes of chemical compounds derived from carbonic acid or carbon dioxide.

cell

The structural and functional unit of all living organisms; an autonomous self-replicating unit that may exist as a functional independent unit of life (as in the case of unicellular organisms), or as a sub-unit alongside other cells, each of which is specialized for carrying out particular functions towards the cause of the organism as a whole (as in multicellular organisms).

cell biology

Explains cell structure, organization of the organelles they contain, their physiological properties, metabolic processes, signaling pathways, life cycle, and interactions with their environment. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level as it encompasses prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.

cell membrane

The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.

cell nucleus

The "control room" for the cell. The nucleus gives out all the orders.

cell plate

Grown in the cell's center, it fuses with the parental plasma membrane, creating a new cell wall that enables cell division.

cell theory

The theory that all living things are made up of cells.

centriole

A cylindrical cell structure[1] composed mainly of a protein called tubulin that is found in most eukaryotic cells.

centroid

The intersection of the three medians of a triangle (each median connecting a vertex with the midpoint of the opposite side). It lies on the triangle's Euler line, which also goes through various other key points including the orthocenter and the circumcenter.

centrosome

An organelle that is the main place where cell microtubules get organized, occurring only in plant and animal cells and regulating the cell division cycle.

chemical bond

A lasting attraction between atoms that enables the formation of chemical compounds. The bond may result from the electrostatic force of attraction between atoms with opposite charges, or through the sharing of electrons as in the covalent bonds.

chemical compound

A chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. The ratio of each element is usually expressed by chemical formula.

chemical equilibrium

The state in which both reactants and products are present in concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time in a chemical reaction.

chemical kinetics

The study and discussion of chemical reactions with respect to reaction rates, effect of various variables, re-arrangement of atoms, formation of intermediates, etc.

chemical reaction

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

chemistry

A branch of physical science that studies the composition, structure, properties and change of matter.

chloride

A compound of chlorine with another element or group, especially a salt of the anion Cl- or an organic compound with chlorine bonded to an alkyl group.

chlorophyll

.

chloroplast

Organelles, specialized subunits, in plant and algal cells, main role of which is to conduct photosynthesis, where the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight and converts and stores it in the energy-storage molecules ATP and NADPH while freeing oxygen from water.

cholesterol

An organic molecule, a sterol, a type of lipid molecule, and biosynthesized by all animal cells because it is an essential structural component of all animal cell membranes--essential to maintain both membrane structural integrity and fluidity.

chromate

Any salt or ester of chromic acid.

chromosome

A threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order.

clonal selection

.

cloning

The process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually.

conservation biology

The scientific study of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions.

cryobiology

The branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living things within Earth's cryosphere or in science.

cyclin-dependent kinase

A family of protein kinases which regulate the cell cycle, transcription, mRNA processing, and the differentiation of nerve cells.

cytochrome

.

cytosine

One of the four main nucleotide bases found in DNA and RNA, along with adenine, guanine, thymine, and uracil (in RNA); it is a pyrimidine derivative, with a heterocyclic aromatic ring and two substituents attached (an amine group at position 4 and a keto group at position 2).

cytoskeleton

.

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D

dalton

A unit of mass (also known as an atomic mass unit, amu), equal to the mass of a hydrogen atom (1.67 x 1024 g); when measured in grams, it is equal to the reciprocal of Avogadro's number.

Darwinian fitness

The genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation's gene pool relative to the average for the population, usually measured by the number of offspring or close kin that survive to reproductive age.

deciduous

Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and it is typically used in order to refer to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally (most commonly during autumn) and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe.

dehydration reaction

.

denaturation

A process in which proteins or nucleic acids lose the quaternary, tertiary and secondary structure which is present in their native state, by application of some external stress or compound such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, or an organic solvent.

dendrite

A short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body.

denitrification

A microbially facilitated process of nitrate reduction (performed by a large group of heterotrophic facultative anaerobic bacteria) that may ultimately produce molecular nitrogen (N₂) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products. Part of the nitrogen cycle.

deoxyribonucleic acid

The four bases found in DNA are adenine (abbreviated A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T); these four bases are individually attached to a sugar-phosphate complex to form a complete nucleotide, as shown for adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

deoxyribose

More precisely 2-deoxyribose, a monosaccharide with idealized formula H-(C=O)-(CH2)-(CHOH)3 - H. Its name indicates that it is a deoxy sugar, meaning that it is derived from the sugar ribose by loss of an oxygen atom.

depolarization

The process of reversing the charge across a cell membrane (usually a NEURON), so causing an ACTION POTENTIAL. In depolarization, the inside of the membrane, which is normally negatively charged, becomes positive and the outside negative. This is brought about by positive sodium ions rapidly passing into the axon.

desmosome

A desmosome (/'d?zm??so?m/; "binding body"), also known as a macula adhaerens (plural: maculae adhaerentes) (Latin for "adhering spot"), is a cell structure specialized for cell-to-cell adhesion.

DNA

An abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid; a type of nucleic acid that serves as the fundamental hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.

DNA replication

The replication of a DNA molecule; the process of producing two identical copies from one original DNA molecule, in which the double helix is unwound and each strand acts as a template for the next strand; nucleotide bases are matched to synthesize the new partner strands.

DNA sequencing

.

dynein

A motor protein (also called molecular motor or motor molecule) in cells which converts the chemical energy contained in ATP into the mechanical energy of movement.

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E

ecdysone

ecdysone is a steroidal prohormone of the major insect molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone, which is secreted from the prothoracic glands. Insect molting hormones are generally called ecdysteroids.

ecological efficiency

ecological efficiency describes the efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. It is determined by a combination of efficiencies relating to organismic resource acquisition and assimilation in an ecosystem. Primary production occurs in autotrophic organisms of an ecosystem.

ecological niche

an ecological niche is the role and position a species has in its environment; how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it reproduces. A species' niche includes all of its interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors of its environment.

ecological pyramid

an ecological pyramid (also trophic pyramid, eltonian pyramid, energy pyramid, or sometimes food pyramid) is a graphical representation designed to show the biomass or bio productivity at each trophic level in a given ecosystem. Biomass is the amount of living or organic matter present in an organism.

ecological succession

ecological succession is the term used to describe what happens to an ecological community over time. It refers to more or less predictable and orderly set of changes that happen in the composition or structure of ecological community.

ecology

The scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes biology, geography and Earth science.

ecophysiology

.

ecosystem

An interaction of living things and non living things in a physical environment.

ecotype

In evolutionary ecology, an ecotype, [note 1] sometimes called ecospecies, describes a genetically distinct geographic variety, population or race within a species, which is adapted to specific environmental conditions.

ectoderm

The outermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development, or the parts derived from this, which include the epidermis, nerve tissue, and nephridia.

ectotherm

An organism in which internal physiological sources of heat are of relatively small or quite negligible importance in controlling body temperature. Some refer to these organisms as "cold-blooded".

effector

.

effector cell

Plasma cells, also called plasma B cells, plasmocytes, plasmacytes, or effector B cells, are white blood cells that secrete large volumes of antibodies. They are transported by the blood plasma and the lymphatic system.

efferent

Conducted or conducting outwards or away from something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied).

egg

.

electric potential

The amount of work needed to move a unit charge from a reference point to a specific point against an electric field.

electrochemical gradient

An electrochemical gradient is a gradient of electrochemical potential, usually for an ion that can move across a membrane. The gradient consists of two parts, the electrical potential and a difference in the chemical concentration across a membrane.

electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum is the collective term for all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object has a different meaning, and is instead the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by that particular object.

electron

The electron is a subatomic particle, symbol e- or ?-, with a negative elementary electric charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no known components or substructure.

electron acceptor

An electron acceptor is a chemical entity that accepts electrons transferred to it from another compound. It is an oxidizing agent that, by virtue of its accepting electrons, is itself reduced in the process.

electron carrier

electron carrier. Any of various molecules that are capable of accepting one or two electrons from one molecule and donating them to another in the process of electron transport. As the electrons are transferred from one electron carrier to another, their energy level decreases, and energy is released.

electron donor

An electron donor is a chemical entity that donates electrons to another compound. It is a reducing agent that, by virtue of its donating electrons, is itself oxidized in the process.

electron microscope

The electron microscope is a type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to create an image of the specimen. It is capable of much higher magnifications and has a greater resolving power than a light microscope, allowing it to see much smaller objects in finer detail.

electron shell

An electron shell is the outside part of an atom around the atomic nucleus. It is a group of atomic orbitals with the same value of the principal quantum number n.

electron transport chain

The site in a mitochondrion of oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryotes. The NADH and succinate generated by the citric acid cycle are oxidized, providing energy to power ATP synthase. Photosynthetic electron transport chain of the thylakoid membrane.

electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. The Pauling scale is the most commonly used. Fluorine (the most electronegative element) is assigned a value of 4.0, and values range down to caesium and francium which are the least electronegative at 0.7.

element

A chemical element or element is a species of atoms having the same number of protons in their atomic nuclei (i.e. the same atomic number, Z). There are 118 elements that have been identified, of which the first 94 occur naturally on Earth with the remaining 24 being synthetic elements.

embryo

A developing stage of a multicellular organism.

embryo sac

The female gametophyte of a seed plant, within which the embryo develops. ... (in flowering plants) a large cell of the rudimentary seed, within which the embryo develops. ... An oval structure within an ovule of a flowering plant that contains the egg cell.

embryology

s the branch of biology that studies the development of gametes (sex cells), fertilization, and development of embryos and fetuses. Additionally, embryology is the study of congenital disorders that occur before birth.

enantiomer

Enantiomers are stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images. A molecule with 1 chiral carbon atom exists as 2 stereoisomers termed enantiomers (see the example below). Enantiomers differ in their configuration (R or S) at the stereogenic center.

endangered species

Endangered species are threatened by factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease and climate change, and usually, endangered species, have a declining population or a very limited range.

endemism

the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country, habitat type or other defined zone; organisms are said to be endemic to a place if they are indigenous to it and found nowhere else.

endergonic reaction

In chemical thermodynamics, an endergonic reaction (also called a nonspontaneous reaction or an unfavorable reaction) is a chemical reaction in which the standard change in free energy is positive, and energy is absorbed.

endocrine gland

Endocrine glands are glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood rather than through a duct. The major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus and adrenal glands.

endocrine system

The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.

endocytosis

a form of active transport in which a cell transports molecules (such as proteins) into the cell (endo- + cytosis) by engulfing them in an energy-consuming process.

endoderm

one of the three primary germ layers in the very early human embryo. The other two layers are the ectoderm (outside layer) and mesoderm (middle layer), with the endoderm being the innermost layer.

endodermis

.

endoplasmic reticulum

.

endosperm

.

endosymbiotic theory

.

endotherm

.

entomology

Entomology is the study of insects, but etymology is the study of words.

environmental biology

the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment. bionomics, ecology. biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms. palaeoecology, paleoecology - the branch of ecology that studies ancient ecology.

enzyme

Enzymes are biological molecules (proteins) that act as catalysts and help complex reactions occur everywhere in life. Let's say you ate a piece of meat. Proteases would go to work and help break down the peptide bonds between the amino acids.

epicotyl

.

epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. It is the cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare.

epigenetics

A subfield of genetics that studies cellular and physiological phenotypic trait variations that are caused by external or environmental factors which switch genes on and off and affect how cells read genes, as opposed to those caused by changes in the DNA sequence.

epinephrine

.

epiphyte

.

epistasis

.

estrogen

.

ethology

Ethology is the scientific and objective study of non-human animal behaviour rather than human behaviour and usually with a focus on behaviour under natural conditions, and viewing behaviour as an evolutionarily adaptive trait.

eukaryote

.

evolution

the change in genetic composition of a population over successive generations, which may be caused by natural selection, inbreeding, hybridization, or mutation.

evolutionary biology

Evolutionary biology is the subfield of biology that studies the evolutionary processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth starting from a single origin of life. These processes include the descent of species, and the origin of new species.

exocytosis

.

exon

.

exponential growth

.

expressivity

.

external fertilization

sperm units with egg in the open, rather than inside the body of the parents.

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F

Facultative anaerobe

An organism which is capable of producing energy through aerobic respiration and then switching to anaerobic respiration depending on the amounts of oxygen and fermentable material in the environment.

fermentation

.

foetus

A human embryo after eight weeks of development.

FIRST

An acronym meaning For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology; an organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989 in order to develop ways to inspire students in engineering and technology fields.

flagellum

.

flavin adenine dinucleotide

.

food chain

The chain of eating and getting nutrition which starts from a small herbivores animal and ends up at a big carnivorous organism.

founder effect

.

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G

ganglion

A cluster (functional group) of nerve cell bodies in a centralized nervous system.

gene

A gene is a locus (or region) of DNA that encodes a functional RNA or protein product, and is the molecular unit of heredity. The transmission of genes to an organism's offspring is the basis of the inheritance of phenotypic traits.

gene pool

.

genetic code

.

genetic drift

.

genetics

The study of heredity.

genetic variation

variations of genomes between members of species, or between groups of species thriving in different parts of the world as a result of genetic mutation. Genetic diversity in a population or species is a result of new gene combinations (e.g. crossing over of chromosomes), genetic mutations, genetic drift, etc.

genome

.

genotype

.

gizzard

.

guanine

.

gular

Of or pertaining to the throat.

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H

habitat

A place for animals, people and plants and non living things.

hadron

Any particle that is made from quarks, anti-quarks and gluons. (If you want to learn more about quarks and gluons.

hermaphrodite

A sexually reproducing organism with both male and female reproductive organs.

herpetology

The branch of zoology concerned with reptiles and amphibians.

heterosis

.

histology

The study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals.

hormone

.

human nutrition

.

hydrocarbon

An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups called hydrocarbyls.

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I

ichthyology

The branch of biology devoted to the study of fish, including bony fishes (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), and jawless fish (Agnatha).

immune response

The immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful.

immunogloblin

Glycoprotein molecules produced by plasma cells (white blood cells) which act as a critical part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens, such as bacteria or viruses, and aiding in their destruction. Also known as antibodies.

incomplete dominance

A form of intermediate inheritance in which one allele for a specific trait is not completely expressed over its paired allele. This results in a third phenotype in which the expressed physical trait is a combination of the phenotypes of both alleles.

insulin

Insulin helps keeps your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). ... After you eat food and your blood sugar level rises, cells in your pancreas (known as beta cells) are signaled to release insulin into your bloodstream.

interferon

A group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and also tumor cells. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their antiviral defenses.

integrative biology

A label frequently used to describe various forms of cross-disciplinary and multitaxon research. The term is ill-defined, but in fact it does rely on principles that are transforming 21st-century science.

interleukin

A group of cytokines (secreted proteins and signal molecules) that were first seen to be expressed by white blood cells (leukocytes).

internal fertilization

Fertilization that takes place inside the egg-producing individual.

International System of Units

(French: Système international d'unités; abbreviated SI) The modern form of the metric system, and the most widely used system of measurement.

invertebrate

A group of animals that have no backbone, unlike animals such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals, which all have a backbone.

ion

An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

ionic bond

The complete transfer of valence electron(s) between atoms. It is a type of chemical bond that generates two oppositely charged ions. In ionic bonds, the metal loses electrons to become a positively charged cation, whereas the nonmetal accepts those electrons to become a negatively charged anion.

isomer

A molecule with the same chemical formula as another molecule, but with a different chemical structure. That is, isomers contain the same number of atoms of each element, but have different arrangements of their atoms.

isotonic solution

Refers to two solutions having the same osmotic pressure across a semipermeable membrane. This state allows for the free movement of water across the membrane without changing the concentration of solutes on either side.

isotope

Each atomic number identifies a specific element, but not the isotope; an atom of a given element may have a wide range in its number of neutrons. The number of nucleons (both protons and neutrons) in the nucleus is the atom's mass number, and each isotope of a given element has a different mass number.

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J

jejunum

The midsection of the small intestine of many higher vertebrates like mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is present between the duodenum and the ileum.

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K

kinase

.

Krebs cycle

Also known as the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats and proteins into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of guanosine triphosphate (GTP). In addition, the cycle provides precursors of certain amino acids as well as the reducing agent NADH that is used in numerous other biochemical reactions. Its central importance to many biochemical pathways suggests that it was one of the earliest established components of cellular metabolism and may have originated abiogenically.

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L

lacteal

A lymphatic capillary that absorbs dietary fats in the villi of the small intestine.

lagging strand

On the lagging strand template, a primase "reads" the template DNA and initiates synthesis of a short complementary RNA primer. A DNA polymerase extends the primed segments, forming Okazaki fragments. The RNA primers are then removed and replaced with DNA, and the fragments of DNA are joined together by DNA ligase.

larva

A larva (plural larvae /'l?:rvi:/) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.

law of independent assortment

law of independent assortment. the principle, originated by Gregor Mendel, stating that when two or more characteristics are inherited, individual hereditary factors assort independently during gamete production, giving different traits an equal opportunity of occurring together.

lepton

A lepton is an elementary, half-integer spin (spin 1/2) particle that does not undergo strong interactions. Two main classes of leptons exist: charged leptons (also known as the electron-like leptons), and neutral leptons (better known as neutrinos).

leukocyte

A colourless cell which circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; sometimes called a white blood cell. There are several types, all amoeboid cells with a nucleus, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes.

ligament

The fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.

light-independent reactions

.

linked genes

when two genes are close together on the same chromosome, they do not assort independently and are said to be linked.

lipid

a substance that is insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Lipids are an important component of living cells. Together with carbohydrates and proteins, lipids are the main constituents of plant and animal cells. Cholesterol and triglycerides are lipids.

lipoprotein

a biochemical assembly that contains both proteins and lipids, bound to the proteins, which allow fats to move through the water inside and outside cells. The proteins serve to emulsify the lipid molecules.

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M

M phase

Mitosis and cytokinesis together define the mitotic (M) phase of an animal cell cycle - the division of the mother cell into two daughter cells, genetically identical to each other and to their parent cell.

macroevolution

Evolution on a scale of separated gene pools. Macroevolutionary studies focus on change that occurs at or above the level of species, in contrast with microevolution, which refers to smaller evolutionary changes (typically described as changes in allele frequencies) within a species or population.

macromolecule

A very large molecule, such as a protein, commonly created by polymerization of smaller subunits (monomers). They are typically composed of thousands or more atoms.

macronutrient

Nutrients needed in large amounts which provide calories or energy. Nutrients are substances needed for growth, metabolism, and for other body functions. There are three basic types of macronutrients: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

macrophage

A kind of swallowing cell, which means it functions by literally swallowing up other particles or smaller cells. Macrophages engulf and digest debris (like dead cells) and foreign particles through the process of phagocytosis, so macrophages act like scavengers.

mammalogy

The study of mammals, a class of vertebrates with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous systems.

marine biology

The study of organisms in the ocean or other marine bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather than on taxonomy.

mass balance

A mass balance, also called a material balance, is an application of conservation of mass to the analysis of physical systems. By accounting for material entering and leaving a system, mass flows can Be identified which might have been unknown, or difficult to measure without this technique.

mass number

The mass number (A), also called atomic mass number or nucleon number, is the total number of protons and neutrons (together known as nucleons) in an atomic nucleus.

mast cell

A cell filled with basophil granules, found in numbers in connective tissue and releasing histamine and other substances during inflammatory and allergic reactions.

medulla

The continuation of the spinal cord within the skull, forming the lowest part of the brainstem and containing control centres for the heart and lungs.

meiosis

A special type of cell division in which a dividing parent cell proceeds through two consecutive divisions, ultimately producing four gamete daughter cells in each of which the chromosome number is half of that in the original parent cell. This process is exclusive to sexual reproduction, and is required to produce egg and sperm cells.

membrane potential

When a nerve or muscle cell is at "rest", its membrane potential is called the resting membrane potential. In a typical neuron, this is about -70 millivolts (mV). The minus sign indicates that the inside of the cell is negative with respect to the surrounding extracellular fluid.

meson

Hadronic subatomic particles composed of one quark and one antiquark, bound together by the strong interaction.

messenger RNA

A large family of RNA molecules that convey genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

metaphase

The third phase of mitosis, in which duplicated genetic material carried in the nucleus of a parent cell is separated into two identical daughter cells. During metaphase, the cell's chromosomes align themselves in the middle of the cell through a type of cellular "tug of war".

microbiology

The study of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa. This discipline includes fundamental research on the biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of microorganisms, including the host response to these agents.

microevolution

.

microtome

.

mitosis

The process by which a eukaryotic cell nucleus splits in two, followed by division of the parent cell into two daughter cells. The word "mitosis" means "threads", and it refers to the threadlike appearance of chromosomes as the cell prepares to divide. Compare binary fission in prokaryotes.

molarity

A unit of concentration measuring the number of moles of a solute per liter of solution.

mole

The SI unit of measurement used to measure the number of things, usually atoms or molecules. One mole of something is equal to Avogadro's number.

molecule

The smallest particle in a chemical element or compound that has the chemical properties of that element or compound. Molecules are made up of atoms that are held together by chemical bonds. These bonds form as a result of the sharing or exchange of electrons among atoms.

molecular biology

The branch of biology concerning biological activity at the molecular level. The field of molecular biology overlaps with biology and chemistry and in particular with genetics and biochemistry.

molecular physics

Molecular physics is the study of the physical properties of molecules, the chemical bonds between atoms As well As the molecular dynamics. Its most important experimental techniques are the various types of spectroscopy; scattering is also used. The field is closely related to atomic physics and overlaps greatly with theoretical chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical physics.

monomer

.

motor neuron

.

mucous membrane

.

multicellular organism

.

muon

The muon is an unstable subatomic particle with a mean lifetime of 2.2 µS. Among all known unstable subatomic particles, only the neutron (lasting around 15 minutes) and some atomic nuclei have a longer decay lifetime; others decay significantly faster.

mycology

The branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicine, food, and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection.

myofibril

.

myosin

.

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N

natural selection

a process in nature in which organisms possessing certain genotypic characteristics that make them better adjusted to an environment tend to survive, reproduce, increase in number or frequency, and therefore, are able to transmit and perpetuate their essential genotypic qualities to succeeding generations.

neurobiology

Neurobiology is the study of cells of the nervous system and the organization of these cells into functional circuits that process information and mediate behavior. It is a subdiscipline of both biology and neuroscience.

neuromuscular junction

.

neuron

.

neurotransmitter

.

neutrino

A neutrino (/nu:'tri:no?/ or /nju:'tri:no?/) (denoted by the Greek letter ?) is a lepton, an elementary particle with half-integer spin, that interacts only via the weak subatomic force and gravity. The mass of the neutrino is tiny compared to other subatomic particles.

nucleic acid

.

nucleic acid sequence

.

nucleobase

.

nucleoid

.

nucleolus

.

nucleotide

.

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O

organ

A collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function.

organism

A contiguous living system.

oncology

The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

ornithology

The branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Etymologically, the word "ornithology" derives from the ancient Greek ????? ornis ("bird") and ????? logos ("rationale" or "explanation").

osmosis

The spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.

P

paleontology

The study of the history of life on Earth as reflected in the fossil record. Fossils are the remains or traces of organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and other single-celled living things) that lived in the geological past and are preserved in the crust of the Earth.

parallel evolution

.

parasitology

The study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life.

pathobiology

The study or practice of pathology with greater emphasis on the biological than on the medical aspects.

pathology

A medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids such as blood and urine, as well as tissues, using the tools of chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology and molecular pathology.

pH

A numeric scale used to specify the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of an aqueous solution. It is roughly the negative of the logarithm to base 10 of the concentration, measured in units of moles per liter, of hydrogen ions.

pharmacology

The science of drug action on biological systems. In its entirety, it embraces knowledge of the sources, chemical properties, biological effects and therapeutic uses of drugs.

phenotype

.

pheromone

.

phloem

The conducting tissue in plants responsible for the conduction of food particles.

physiology

the branch of biology dealing with the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts, including all physical and chemical processes.

phytochemistry

.

phytopathology

The science of diagnosing and managing plant diseases.

placebo

.

plant nutrition

.

plasmolysis

.

pollination

.

polygene

.

polymer

.

polymerase chain reaction

.

polyploid

.

population biology

The study of populations of organisms, especially the regulation of population size, life history traits such as clutch size, and extinction.

population ecology

A subfield of ecology that deals with the dynamics of species populations and how these populations interact with the environment. It is the study of how the population sizes of species change over time and space. Also called autoecology.

population genetics

The study of genetic variation within populations, involving the examination and modelling of changes in the frequencies of genes and alleles in populations across space and time.

predation

.

primase

.

primer

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progesterone

.

prokaryote

An organism which does not have a true nucleus.

protein

A polypeptide chain of amino acids. It is a body-building nutrient.

psychobiology

The application of the principles of biology to the study of physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior in humans and other animals. Also called behavioral neuroscience, biological psychology, and biopsychology.

Q

quark

An elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei.

R

reproduction

Giving birth to one of its kind, sexually or asexually.

ribosome

.

RNA

.

RNA polymerase

.

RNA primer

.

S

Schwann cell

.

sclerenchyma

.

sexual reproduction

A type of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism.

SI units

A system of fundamental physical units (SI units) widely used in the sciences and including the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela, and mole, together with a set of prefixes to indicate multiplication or division by a power of ten.

sociobiology

A field of scientific study that is based on the hypothesis that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context.

soil biology

.

soil microbiology

.

species

.

speciation

.

stem cell

.

steroid

.

structural biology

The branch of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics concerned with the molecular structure of biological macromolecules, especially proteins and nucleic acids, how they acquire the structures they have, and how alterations in their structures affect their function.

symbiogenesis

.

synthetic biology

An interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering. The subject combines various disciplines from within these domains, such as biotechnology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, systems biology, biophysics, computer engineering, and genetic engineering.

systematics

The scientific study of biodiversity. It is concerned with the discovering and naming of new species of organisms (nomenclature) and arranging these taxa into classification schemes (taxonomy). A large part of modern systematics concerns establishing the evolutionary relationships among various taxa (phylogenetics) using methods of comparative biology (e.g. physiology, behavior, biochemistry, morphology, genetics) and statistical analysis.

T

T cell

.

taxon

.

testosterone

.

thymine

.

transcription

Transcription is the first step of gene expression, in which a particular segment of DNA is copied into RNA (mRNA) by the enzyme RNA polymerase. Both RNA and DNA are nucleic acids, which use base pairs of nucleotides as a complementary language.

transfer RNA

.

translation

.

trophic level

.

U

unicellular organism

An organism which is made up of only one cell.

uracil

.

urea

.

uric acid

.

urine

.

uterus

.

V

vacuole

A membrane-bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal and bacterial cells.

valence

In several fields the valence of an element refers to the number of elements to which it can connect: Valence (chemistry), the valence of an atom. Valency (linguistics), the valence of a verb. Degree (graph theory), also called the valency of a vertex in graph theory.

valence band

The valence band is the highest range of electron energies in which electrons are normally present at absolute zero temperature, while the conduction band is the lowest range of vacant electronic states.

valence bond theory

Valence bond theory (VB) is a straightforward extension of Lewis structures. Valence bond theory says that electrons in a covalent bond reside in a region that is the overlap of individual atomic orbitals.

valence electron

A valence electron is an electron that is associated with an atom, and that can participate in the formation of a chemical bond; in a single covalent bond, both atoms in the bond contribute one valence electron in order to form a shared pair.

valence shell

The electrons in the outermost occupied shell (or shells) determine the chemical properties of the atom; it is called the valence shell. Each shell consists of one or more subshells, and each subshell consists of one or more atomic orbitals.

vasodilation

.

vegetative reproduction

The type of reproduction in which sexual process is not involved, also known as asexual reproduction.

vesicle

.

vestigiality

.

virology

Virology is the study of viruses - submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat and virus-like agents.

virus

.

W

water potential

.

white blood cell

A component of blood that functions in the immune system. Also known as a leukocyte.

whole genome sequencing

.

wobble base pair

.

wood

The inner layer of the stems of woody plants, composed of xylem.

X

xanthophyll

The yellow colored photosynthetic pigments.

xylem

The plant tissue responsible for the conduction of water from roots to aerial parts of the plant. It forms the woody part of the plant.

Y

yeast artificial chromosome

.

yolk

.

Z

Z lines

.

zoology

.

zygote

.

See also

• Biology
• Glossary of areas of mathematics
• Glossary of astronomy
• Glossary of botany
• Glossary of calculus
• Glossary of chemistry
• Glossary of ecology
• Glossary of engineering
• Glossary of genetics
• Glossary of geology
• Glossary of physics
• Glossary of probability and statistics

References

Source of article : Wikipedia