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Crossing Over
The reciprocal exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids during synapsis of meiosis I.
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Diploid Cells
A cell containing two sets of chromosomes (2n), one set inherited from each parent.
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Haploid Cells
A cell containing only one set of chromosomes (n).
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Meiosis
A two-stage type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that results in cells with half the chomosome number of the original cell.
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Mitosis
Nuclear division proess; prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
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Mitotic Phase
Phase of cell cycle that includes mitosis and cytokinesis
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Nucleus
Chromatin, nucleolus, nuclear envelope.
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Parthenogensis
Is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male.
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Sister Chromatids
Replicated forms of chromosomes joined together by the centromere and separated during mitosis and meiosis II.
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Somatic Cell
Any cell in a multicelluar organism except a sperm or egg cell.
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Chromosome Theory of Inheritance
A basic principle in biology stating that genes are located on chromosomes and that the behavior of the chromosomes during meiosis accounts for inheritance patterns.
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DNA
A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins.
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Genes
A discrete unit of heriditary information consisting of a specific necleotide sequence in DNA(or RNA, in some viruses).
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Genetics
The scientific study of heredity and hereditary variation.
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Heterozygous
Haveing two different alleles for a given genetic character.
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Homozygous
Having two identical alleles for a given trait.
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Phenotype
The physical and physiological traits of an organism.
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Punnet Square
A diagram used in the study of inheritance to show the results of random fertilization.
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Recessive Allele
In a heterozygote, the allele that is completely masked in the phenotype.
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Aerobic
Containing oxygen; referring to an organism, enviroment, or cellular process that requires oxygen.
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Anaerobic
Lacking oxygen; referring to an organism, enviroment, or cellular process that lacks oxygen and may be poisoned by it.
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ATP
An adenine-containing nucleoside triphosphate that releases free energy to be used by the cell.
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Cell Wall
A protective layer external to the plasma membrane in plant cells, bacteria, fungi, and protists. In plant cells, the wall is formed of cellulose fibers inbedded in a polysaccharide-protein matrix.
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Central Vacuole
A membranous sac in a mature plant cell with diverse roles in reproduction, growth, and development.
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Chlorophyll
A green pigment located within the chloroplasts of plants.
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Chloroplasts
An organelle fond only in plants and photosynthetic protists that absorbs sunlight and uses it to drive the synthesis of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water.
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Domains
A taxonomic category above the kingdom level. The three domains are Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.
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Heterotrophs
An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or their by-products.
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Hydrophobis
Having an affinity to water.
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1st Law of Thermodynamics
The principle of conservation of energy. Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
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Abiotic Factor
A non-living part of an ecosystem. Ex: water, sunlight, climate
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Biosphere
The biosphere is the part of the earth, including air, land, surface rocks, and water, within which life occurs.
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Biotic Factor
A living part of an ecosystem. Ex: Plants, animals(birds), insects(worms).
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Competition
Organisms compete for the limited number of biotic and abiotic factors.
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Ecology
The study of how living things interact with each other and their enviroment.
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Population
Organisms of one species living together in the same place at the same time.
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Symbiosis
A close relationship between two organisms in which at least one of the organsims benefits.
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Carbohydrates
A sugar (monosaccharide) or one of its dimers (disaccharides) or polymers (polysaccharides).
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Endergonic Reaction
A nonspontaneous chemical reaction in which free energy is absorbed from the surroundings.
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Exergonic Reaction
A spontaneous chemical reaction in which there is a net release of free energy.
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Fatty Acid
A long carbon chain carboxylic acid. Vary in length and in the number and location of double bonds.
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Nucleic Acid
A polymer (polynucleotide) consisting of many nucleotide monomers; serves as a blueprint for proteins and, throught the actions of proteins, for all cellular activities. The two types are DNA and RNA.
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Prokaryotic Cell
A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles; found only in the domains Bacteria and Archaea.
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Protein
A three-dimensional biological polymer constructed from a set of 20 different monomers called amino acids.
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Substrate
The reactant on which an enzyme works.
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