-
- author "Vera"
- tags ""
- folders ""
- description ""
- fileName "General Science Vocab"
- absorption
- process by which end products of digestion move from the small intestine into the blood.
-
acid
a compound that dissociates in water to form hydrogen ions.
-
active transport
energy-requiring process that moves materials through a cell membrane.
-
adaptation
a characteristic of an organism that enables it to survive.
-
aerobic respiration
an energy releasing proces of cells that require oxygen.
-
allergen
a foreign substance that causes an allergic reaction.
-
allergy
overreaction of the immune system to a foreign substance
-
amino acid
the organic building unit of polypeptides and proteins
-
anaerobic respiration
an energy releasing process that don't require oxygen
-
antibiotic
a substance produced by certain organisms that prevents the growth and multiplication of microorganisms
-
antibody
a substance produced by the body that counteracts an antigen
-
aorta
the largest artery of the body, carries oxygenated blood ftom the left ventricle of the heart to most body organs
-
atom
an atom has a nucleus that contains neutrons and protons, electrons move around the nucleus
-
atomic number
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element
-
autonomic nervous system
the branch of the nervous system that regulates certain internal responses
-
base
a compound that forms a salt and water following reaction with an acid
-
biome
a large climate region compromised of a group of ecosystems
-
calorie
the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celcius
-
carbohydrate
an organic compound that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. includes sugars, starches, glycogen, and cellulose
-
catalyst
a substance that changes (usually speeds up) the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being permanently changed
-
cell membrane
the living outer layer of a cell through which substances pass into and out of the cell, also called the plasma membrane.
-
cellular respiration
the reactions within a cell that release and store energy
-
cerebellum
the part of the human brain located behind and below the cerebrum that controls muscular coordination.
-
cerebrum
largest part of the human brain. it is involved in sensation, memory, voluntary action, and intelligence.
-
chemical bond
the force of attraction that holds atoms together and stores chemical energy.
-
chemical reaction
any processes that result in the production of different substances with new properties.
-
chlorophyll
a complex green pigment that captures light energy for use in photosynthesis.
-
chromosome
a structure composed primarily of DNA that contains the genes
-
commensalism
a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is not harmed
-
compound
two or more elements combined chemically in definite proportions by weight
-
cytoplasm
most of the cellular material located between the nucleus and the cell membrane
-
dendrite
an extension of the cell body of a nerve cell that forms a synapse with an adjoining nerve cell
-
density
mass per unit of volume
-
differentiation
the transformation of embryotic cells into the specialized cells of different tissues
-
diffusion
the movement of molecules from a region of greater concetration to a region of lesser concentration
-
digestion
a chemical process that changes complex food molecules to simple food molecules
-
diploid number
the normal, or species, number of chromosomes characteristic of the body cells of an organism, it is usually designated as 2n
-
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
the hereditary material in cells
-
dominant trait
a hereditary trait that shows itself when its form of its gene is present
-
ecology
the study of the relationships between the organisms and their environment
-
element
a substance that cannot be chemically changed into a simpler substance. all atoms of an element have the same number of protons.
-
embryo
an organism in the early stages of growth and differentiation
-
enzyme
an organic catalyst that lowers the activation energy of a reaction, thus speeding up the reaction
-
eukaryote
any cell or organism that has a membrane enclosing its genetic material
-
evolution
change over time
-
excretion
the removal of metabolic wastes from cells and from body fluids
-
fission
division of a parent cell into two or more daughter cells.
-
fungus/fungi
an organism, sometimes parasitic, often saprophytic-living off the nutrients in dead organisms; examples are molds, mildews, and mushrooms
-
gas
a substance that takes the shape and fills the volume of its container.
-
gene
the portion of a chromosome that carries the genetic information for a specific trait.
-
half-life
the time required for half the atoms in a radioactive specimen to change to stable end products.
-
histamine
a chemical compound formed by cells in response to certain antigens; produces allergy symptoms
-
homeostasis
the tendency of a living system (organism) to maintain the stability of its internal environment
-
hydrolysis
a reaction in which a large complex molecule reacts with water to form two simpler molecules
-
immunity
the ability of the body to combat disease-causing organisms
-
imprinting
a behavior pattern exhibited by certain animals in response to a.stimulus received early in life.
-
inorganic
relating to substances that were never alive; relating to compounds that lack carbon and hydrogen
-
invertebrate
an animal without a backbone
-
kinetic energy
the energy of motion
-
lipid
any fat or oil; a fat soluble organic compound composed of fatty acid molecules and glycerol molecules
-
liquid
a substance that takes the shape of the vessel that contains it but doesn't necessarily fill its volume.
-
lymph nodes (lymph glands)
small structures located along the lymph vessels that help protect the body by producing some white blood cells and filtering out bacteria
-
malleable
the ability of a metal to have its shape permanently changed by applying force
-
marsupial
a pouched mammal
-
mass
the measure of the amont of matter in an object; the mass of an object remains the same regardless of the force of gravity.
-
meiosis
a cell division process that reduces the diploid number (2n) of chromosomes to the haploid, or monoploid, or number n.
-
metabolism
the sum of the building up and tearing down reactions that occur in cells
-
mitosis
the cell division processes that duplicates nuclear material (chromosomes) and distributes the material equally between daughter cells.
-
molecule
the smallest unit of an element or a compound, two or more atoms covalently bonded.
-
Newton's First Law of Motion
a body will stay in its present state of rest or motion until acted upon by an outside force.
-
Newton's Second Law of Motion
the change in acceleration of a body proportional to the force applied
-
Newton's Third Law of Motion
for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
-
nucleic acids
DNA and RNA (composed of nucleotides); they both control heredity and protein synthesis.
-
What is a lactose?
a carbohydrate
-
What are two types of simple carbohydrates?
monosaccharides and disaccharides
-
nucleus
the cell organelle that controls the cell's activities and contains DNA.
-
nutrients
molecules that provide energy and or raw materials for growth such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, and vitamins.
-
organ
several tissues that work together to perform a function
-
organic
relating to compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen
-
osmosis
the movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a region of greater concentration to a region of lesser concentration
-
ovary
the egg-producing female reproductive of plants or animals
-
ovule
a reproductive structure in seed plants; after fertilization the ovule develops into a seed
-
oxidation
the chemical union of oxygen with a substance; a loss of electrons
-
parasitism
a symbiotic relationship in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
-
pepsin
a protein-splitting enzyme in gastric juice
-
periodic event
an event that occurs at regular time intervals
-
permeability
the extent to which a membrane allows different molecules to pass through it
-
pH
a measure of the acidity of a solution; a pH of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is basic
-
phagocyte
a white blood cell that engulfs and ingests foreign matter
-
phloem
tissue in plants that conducts food.
-
photosynthesis
the process in which energy is used to form carbohydrate and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water
-
plasma
the liquid portion of blood; contains water and dissolved materials
-
progesterone
a hormone that builds up the lining of the uterus and stimulates the growth of blood vessels in the uterus.
-
prokaryote
any cell that lacks a membrane enclosing its genetic material
-
protein
a complex organic molecule composed of a chain of amino acids
-
radioactive
refers to elements that emits particles and radiation during the spontaneous disintegration of their nuclei
-
recessive trait
a hereditary trait that doesn't appear in an individual if the dominant form of the gene is present
-
reflection
occurs when light bounces off a surface; when light is reflected from a flat mirror, the angle of incidence (light striking a mirror) equals the angle of reflection (light leaving the mirror)
-
reproduction
the life activity by which organisms produce offspring
-
respiration (cellular)
the process in which carbohydrates react with oxygen which releases energy and produces water and carbon dioxide.
-
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
a single chain of nucleotides patterned foreignrom a DNA template
-
seed
a ripened.ovule; contains an embryo plant and stored food
-
semicircular canals
structures located in each inner ear that detect changes in body movement and help to maintain balance
-
solid
matter that has a definite shape and volume
-
solution
a homogeneous mixture formed when one substance dissolves in another
-
solvent
a substance in.which.a solute dissolves to form a solution
-
spore
an asexual cell that can.withstand unfavorable conditions and is capable of producing a new organism
-
stamen
the male reproductive organ of a flower; consists of the filament and the anther which produces pollen grains
-
stimulus
any change in an organism's internal or external environment
-
symbiosis
a permanent relationship between two different organisms living together; one organism lives neither on, in, or near the other
-
synapse
the space between the end brush of one neuron and the cell body of another neuron across which a nerve impluse (signal) passes.
-
systemic circulation
the circulation of blood through all parts of.the body except the lungs
-
taiga
the land.biome south.of.the tundra which is characterized by coniferous forests
-
thorax
in insects, the region of the body between the head and abdomen, in humans, the chest region.
-
tissue
a group of similar.cells that carry out to a specialized activity.
-
tropism
an autimatic response of a plant or part of a plant to an environmental stimulus such as sunlight or gravity.
-
tundra
the land biome located north of the taiga biome, which is characterized by permanently frozen subsoil.
-
umbilical cord
a structure in mammals that connects a fetus with a placenta.
-
uterus
a muscular organ in female mammals in which an emryo develops.
-
vertebra
one of the bones of the.spinal column
-
vertebrate
an animal with a backbone
-
virus
an infectious particle showing some of characteristics of life that survives only as a parasite in a host cell.
-
viscous
describes a material flows slowly
-
vitamin
an organic nutrient that usually can't manufactured by the body; most function to assist enzymes
-
water cycle
the movement of water from the atmosphere to the ground, through organisms, and back to the atmosphere
-
weight
the measure of the gravitational force that.attracts an object; the weight of an object changes as the force of gravity changes
-
xylem
water-conducting tissues in plants
-
yolk
stored food material in an.egg cell
-
zygote
a fertilized egg cell
|
|
