Biology Vocabulary Glossary

● Abiotic Factor- A physical, non-living, aspect that affects an ecosystem.

● Active Site-The portion of the enzyme that binds to the substrate. It has a very specific shape
that matches with its substrate like a lock and key.
● Active Transport- This process uses energy to move a substance across a cell membrane
against its concentration gradient (from low to high concentration). This process uses cellular
energy known as ATP.
● Adaptation – An inherited trait/characteristic that increases an organism’s ability to survive
and reproduce in a specific environment.
● Aerobic-Processes that requires oxygen.
● Alcoholic Fermentation- A process used by bacteria and yeast to produce energy, when no
oxygen is available. Ethanol is produced by this process.
● Alleles- One form of a gene.
● Amino acids- The building blocks of proteins.
● Anabolic reaction- These reactions build large molecules from smaller ones by combining
them.
● Anaerobic- Processes that don’t require oxygen.
● Analyze- To study or determine the relationship(s) between data.
● Anaphase- during this phase of cell division chromosomes are pulled apart into sister
chromatids by shortening spindle fibers. Chromatids are moved to opposite end of the cell.
● –ase → This suffix at the end of the word indicates an enzyme.
● ATP (adenosine triphosphate)- an energy carrying molecule used by cells.
● Autoimmune disease-A disease that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy body
cells by mistake. Examples include: Type 1 Diabetes, rheumatoid Arthritis, and Crohn’s
disease
● Autotrophs-Organisms that use energy from the sun, or chemicals.
● Biodiversity-The total variety of organisms in an ecosystem.
● Biogeography –The study of past and present distribution of organisms.

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 ● Biological Magnification-The increasing concentration of harmful substances in organisms
that are higher up in a food chain or food web.
● Biology-the scientific study of life.
● Biomass-The total amount of living matter within a trophic level.
● Biotic Factor-A living part of an environment that affects an ecosystem.
● Blood glucose-The concentration of sugar in the bloodstream.
● Cancer-A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade
nearby tissues. Cancer is caused by genetic changes leading to uncontrolled cell growth and
tumor formation.
● Carbohydrate-An organic macromolecule made of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. It is the
major source of energy for the body.
● Carbon dioxide (CO2)- A molecule formed by a covalent bond between one Carbon and two
Oxygen.
● Carbon Dioxide fixation- the process by which carbon dioxide is incorporated into organic
compounds.
● Cardiovascular System-Transports oxygen, waste, nutrients, hormones, and heat, throughout
the body. Includes the heart, blood, veins, arteries, and capillaries.
● Carnivore- Organisms who obtain energy by eating other animals.
● Carrying Capacity-The maximum number of organisms that an environment can support.
● Catabolic reactions- These reactions break large molecules into smaller pieces.
● Catalase-an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of hydrogen peroxide.
● Catalyst- A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing
any permanent chemical change.
● Causation-The specific cause of a disease or disorder
● Cell Membrane- The part of all cells that surrounds the cytoplasm and controls the passage of
materials into and out of the cell.
● Cell- The basic unit of structure of all living things.
● Cell Wall- The non-living outside layer of a plant, fungus and bacterial cells. Its function is to
maintain shape, support, and protect the cell. (Not found in animal cells)

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 ● Cellular Respiration-This process allows all organisms to release energy stored in the
chemical bonds of food molecules (like glucose). All living things use this process!
● Centrioles-a structure in animal cells that helps to organize cell division.
● Chemical energy-energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds (atoms and molecules).
It is released in a chemical reaction, often producing heat as a byproduct (exothermic reaction)
● Chloroplast- An organelle which captures solar energy for making food during photosynthesis.
● Chromatids- Either of the two strands of a chromosome joined together by a single
centromere.
● Chromosomes-A structure found within the nucleus that is made of DNA and proteins. In
humans we have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
● Cilia-Short hairlike projections off a cell that help move substances.
● Circulatory system- Transports oxygen, waste, nutrients, hormones, and heat, throughout the
body. Includes the heart, blood, veins, arteries, and capillaries.
● Cladogram-A branching tree-like diagram used to illustrate evolutionary relationships among
organisms.
● Clone-an organism or cell produced to be genetically identical to another. Clones are
produced asexually in bacteria or through genetic engineering/nuclear transfer in a lab.
● Community-All the different populations of organisms that live together in an area.
● Concentration gradient- the difference in concentration of a substance over an amount of
space.
● Connective Tissue- Tissue characterized by the abundance of extracellular components
(such as fibers and intercellular substances). It connects, supports, or surrounds other tissues
and organs.
● Consumer-Organisms that rely on other organisms for food and energy, also called
heterotrophs.
● Control group- The group in an experiment who is given normal conditions and doesn’t
receive treatment with the independent variable.
● Controlled variables- Variables that are kept the same between the control group and the
experimental group in an experiment.

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 ● Correlation-This is the relationship between variables. Correlation is not the same as
causation.
● Crossing over-The process in which chromosomes exchange pieces of themselves during
prophase 1 of meiosis.
● Cytokinesis: during this phase of cell division, in animal cells, the cell membrane squeezes
the cytoplasm to both sides of the cell and splits it into two new cells. Cytokinesis occurs at the
same time as Anaphase and Telophase.
● Cytoplasm- The jelly-like material found between the nucleus and the cell membrane. Its job
is to circulate materials and support the floating organelles.
● Cytoskeleton- a network of protein filaments that gives a eukaryotic cell its shape and
organization and is involved in movement.
● Decomposer-Organisms that breakdown dead organic matter and waste to obtain energy.
● Denatured-When the chemical structure of an enzyme is damaged and it no longer functions.
● Dependent variable- The variable that is observed and measured for its response to the
independent variable.
● Differentiation-The process through which a cell undergoes changes in gene expression to
become a more specific type of cell. It allows multicellular organisms to different cell types and
body plans.
● Diffusion- the movement of a substance from high concentration to low concentration until
equilibrium is reached.
● Digestive system- Breaks down food and absorbs these nutrients into the body. Includes
esophagus, Liver, stomach, small and large intestines.
● Diploid-A cell that contains two sets of each chromosome. Human diploid cells contain 23
pairs of chromosomes for a total of 46.
● Disaccharide-A carbohydrates sugar is made of two monosaccharides linked together,
examples include lactose and fructose.
● DNA replication-The copying of DNA that occurs before cells divide.
● DNA-A double stranded, helix that contains genetic code for making proteins.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid is the genetic material inherited from parents.

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 ● Dominant trait-a trait that will appear in the offspring if one of the parents contributes it. These
traits are often represented by a capital letter like “T” for tall.
● Ecological Succession-A series of gradual changes that occur in an ecosystem after a
disturbance.
● Ecology-The study of interactions amongst organisms and between organisms and their
environment.
● Ecosystem-All the organisms that live in a place together with their non-living environment.
● Electron Transport Chain-The third set of reaction in cellular respiration, where a series of
electron carrier proteins in the mitochondrial membrane that shuttle high energy electrons to
make ATP.
● Endocrine system- Controls homeostasis, metabolism, growth, and body functions using
chemicals messengers called hormones. Includes glands, pancreas and hormones.
● Endocytosis-A process of cellular ingestion by which the cell membrane folds inward to bring
substances into the cell.
● Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) A network of folded channels and sacs. Usually connected to
the nuclear membrane. Its job is to fold and transport proteins.
● Energy- The ability to do work or make something happen.
● Enzyme- A protein that speeds up chemical reactions without itself being destroyed or altered
during the reaction.
● Epithelial Tissue- A type of tissue made up of densely packed cells that act as a covering or
lining of various bodily surfaces and cavities.
● Equilibrium-when the concentration of a substance is even throughout a space.
● Error- Inaccuracies or mistakes that affect the results of an experiment.
● Eukaryotic Cells- These cells have a nucleus enclosed by a nuclear membrane.
● Eutrophication-Occurs when excessive amounts of nutrients enter a body of water and cause
a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
● Evolution-Change in the genetics of a population over time. The process by which modern
organisms have descended from ancient organisms.
● Experimental Group- The group in an experiment who is given treatment with the
independent variable.

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 ● Exocytosis-is a form of active transport in which a cell transports molecules (such as proteins)
out of the cell by expelling them in an energy-using process
● Exponential Growth- A type of population growth in which the individuals reproduce at a rapid
rate in an environment where resources are unlimited.
● Extinct-A species that has died out and no living members remain.
● Facilitated Diffusion- The diffusion of a substance through a protein channel in the cell
membrane, from high concentration to low concentration.
● Fatty acids-Building blocks of lipids, made of long chains of carbon bonded to hydrogen.
● Fertilization-The process in sexual reproduction where male and female reproductive cells
join to form a new cell.
● Flagella- a whip like structure projecting from a cell that produces movement in a wavelike
motion.
● Food Chain-One series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by
eating or being eaten.
● Food Web- A network of interconnected food chains that show feeding relationships among
various organisms in an ecosystem.
● Fossil Record-The collection of preserved remains of ancient organisms in different time
periods.
● Gamete- Sex cells (sperm and egg) that are haploid and contain only one set of
chromosomes, not pairs. Human gametes have 23 unpaired chromosomes.
● Gene Regulation-Mechanisms that are used by cells to increase or decrease the production
of specific proteins.
● Genes-A sequence of DNA that gives the instructions for making one specific protein/trait.
● Genetically modified organism (GMO)- An organism whose genetic material/DNA has been
altered using genetic engineering techniques
● Genetics-The scientific study of heredity, the passing of traits from parents to offspring.
● Genome-the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
● Genotype-The genetic makeup of an organism, its alleles. These are represented by letters
like: TT, Tt, or tt

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 ● Glucose-A carbohydrate that is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the
muscles, to provide energy, or the liver, for storage. (C6H12O6), a monosaccharide (single
sugar) that provides energy.
● Glycolysis-The first set of reactions in cellular respiration, in which glucose is split in half
producing two pyruvic acid molecules.
● Golgi body (or Golgi apparatus) - A group of flattened sacs that look like a stack of pancakes.
This organelle modifies and packages proteins, then makes vesicles for transport and
secretion.
● Gradualism-the hypothesis that evolution occurs slowly by gradual changes.
● Habitat-An area where an organism lives, including the biotic and abiotic factors that affect it.
● Haploid-A cell that contains only one set of genes, gametes are haploid.
● Heart Rate-The number of times the heart beats over time. The average resting heart rate for
an adult is 60-100 beats per minute.
● Herbivore- An organism that obtains its energy by eating only plants.
● Heterotrophs-Organisms that gain energy by eating other living things.
● Heterozygous-Having two different alleles for a trait. Example= Tt.
● Homeostasis- Maintaining stable internal chemical and physical conditions within an
organism.
● Homologous structure –Structures that are similar in different species. These structures
show that there are common genes between the species.
● Homozygous-Having two of the same alleles for a trait. Example= TT or tt
● Hormone-A chemical released by from a gland into the bloodstream that changes the activity
of a cell or organ in the body.
● Hypertonic- A solution with more solutes (stuff) than a cell. If a cell is put in this solution water
will leave the cell by osmosis and the cell will shrink.
● Hypothalamus-A structure within the brain that links the endocrine and nervous systems. It
plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis by controlling temperature, water balance,
emotions and release of hormones.
● Hypothesis-A testable statement that predicts the outcome of an experiment.

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 ● Hypotonic- A solution with fewer solutes (stuff) than a cell. If a cell is put in this solution water
will enter the cell by osmosis and the cell will swell up.
● Immune system- Protects the body from pathogens and disease and produces antibodies.
Includes lymph nodes, spleen, white blood cells, and antibodies.
● Independent assortment-Genes for different traits separate independently during meiosis.
● Independent variable- The variable that is changed in an experiment in order to determine its
effects. There should only be one independent variable in an experiment.
● Inference-A conclusion reached based on observation and evidence.
● Inorganic compound-A compound that lacks Carbon and Hydrogen bonds.
● Insulin-A hormone released by the pancreas when blood glucose is high. This hormone helps
glucose enter the cells, where it can be used for energy or stored.
● Integumentary system- Protects the body from invaders, controls body temperature, and
protects from UV rays from the sun. Includes the skin, hair, and nails.
● Interphase-Period of the cell cycle between divisions. It is divided into 3 phases: G1-cell
growth, S-DNA replication, and G2-Organelles replication. Cells spend the majority of their
time in interphase.
● Invasive species-Animals from ecosystem that are introduced into a different ecosystem, also
called non-native species.
● Isotonic- A solution with equal solutes (stuff) as a cell. If a cell is put in this solution water will
move back and forth in and out of the cell but the cells size won’t change.
● Karyotype- A diagram that arranges and classifies the chromosome pairs of an organism
based on the number, size, shape, and other characteristics of the chromosomes.
● Keystone Species-A single species whose behaviors shape an ecosystem.
● Krebs cycle-The second set of reactions in cellular respiration, in which pyruvic acids are
broken down into carbon dioxide and energy carrying molecules.
● Lactase-an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of the milk sugar lactose.
● Lactic Acid Fermentation-A process used in muscles for energy when no oxygen is
available. Lactate is produced by this process.
● Law of conservation of mass/matter -This law states that matter can neither be created nor
destroyed so mass in a closed system will remain constant.

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 ● Light Independent/Dark Reactions-These reactions occur in the stroma. ATP and NADPH
are used to break CO2 and reassemble the carbons into glucose.
● Light Reactions- During these reactions energy from sunlight is captured and used to move
electrons through an electron transport system in the thylakoid membrane. Water molecules
are split apart to produce oxygen and energy carriers (ATP and NADPH).
● Limiting Factor- Factors that cause population growth to decrease.
● Lipid-An organic macromolecule made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. It stores energy
and provides insulation.
● Lysosome-A special type of vacuole that has enzymes to breakdown wastes.
● Macromolecule-A large molecule that contains two or more types of atoms bonded together.
● Matter- Anything that has mass and takes up space.
● Meiosis- The process of forming haploid, sex cells by doing two divisions of chromosomes.
This process makes four haploid cells.
● Metabolism- Chemical reactions that occur in the body to build or break down materials.
● Metaphase- during this phase of cell division chromosomes line up across the center of the
cell and spindle fibers attach to the centromere of the chromosome and the spindle on each
side of the cell.
● Microtubules-protein rods that are part of the cell cytoskeleton.
● Mitochondria- An organelle that releases energy from food by doing cellular respiration. The
mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell.
● Mitosis- The process where a single cell divides into two identical cells, each containing the
same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This process makes two diploid cells.
● Molecular Bonds-Bonds that hold together atoms: when bonds are broken, energy is
released and when bonds are formed, energy is stored.
● Molecule-A group of two or more atoms bonded together.
● Monosaccharide-The building blocks of carbohydrates, often called simple or single sugars.
● mRNA-Messenger RNA is a single strand copy of DNA, that leaves the nucleus to give the
ribosome instructions for making a protein.

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 ● Muscular system- Allows for movement of the body and produces body heat. Includes
skeletal muscles, tendons that attach muscles to bones, heart muscle, and muscles within
organs.
● Muscular Tissue- A tissue characterized by the ability to contract upon stimulation; its three
varieties are skeletal, cardiac, and smooth.
● Mutations-Changes in the DNA.
● Natural Selection –The process by which an organism best suited for the environment
survives and reproduces most successfully. The survival of the fittest.
● Negative Feedback-Body systems responding to an imbalance in homeostasis.
● Nervous system- Receives incoming information from the senses, determines responses, and
sends messages to control the body’s responses. Includes the brain, spinal cord, sense
organs, and nerves.
● Niche-The range of physical and biological conditions that an organism can live within.
● Nitrogen Base-a nitrogen containing molecule that has the same chemical properties as a
base. They make up the building blocks of DNA and RNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine
and uracil
● Nondisjunction- the failure of chromosomes to separate and segregate into daughter cells at
division.
● Nuclear Membrane (also called the nuclear envelope) - a double-layered membrane that
surround the nucleus.
● Nucleic acid- An organic compound made of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and
Phosphorus. DNA and RNA are types of nucleic acids.
● Nucleotide- The building blocks of nucleic acids. They are composed of a sugar, a nitrogen
base, and a phosphate group.
● Nucleus- Controls most of the cell’s activities, stores DNA, and it is involved with cell
reproduction.
● Observation- Noticing processes or event using the senses, information gathered is recorded.
● Omnivore- An organism that obtains its energy by eating both plants and animals.
● Organelles- Small structures within the cell that carry out specific tasks.
● Organic compound-A compound containing Carbon and Hydrogen, and usually Oxygen.

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 ● Osmosis- The movement of water molecules from high concentration of water to low
concentration of water until equilibrium is reached. Water moves towards an area with more
stuff (solutes).
● Oxidation-Combining a substance with oxygen. Glucose is oxidized by oxygen to release
energy.
● Pancreas-An organ that is part of both the digestive and endocrine system. It lowers blood
glucose by releasing insulin.
● Passive Transport- This process moves a substance across a cell membrane down its
concentration gradient (from high to low concentration) and requires no energy.
● Pedigree-A chart that shows all of the known phenotypes for an organism and its ancestors. It
can be used to track traits and diseases through a family.
● pH-A measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. O-6 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and 8-14 is
basic.
● Phenotype-The physical appearance of a trait.
● Phospholipid-A type of lipid with two fatty acid tails. Phospholipids make up the majority of a
cell membrane, it is a phospholipid bilayer.
● Photosynthesis-the process that converts solar energy into chemical energy. The sun’s
energy is stored in the form of glucose (or other organic compounds).
● Pioneer Species-The first species to populate and area after a disturbance.
● Population-A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area.
● Positive Feedback-This occurs when the rate of a process increases as the concentration of
the product increases
● Polysaccharide- A carbohydrate molecule composed of many monosaccharides bonded
together. Examples include starch and cellulose.
● Primary Succession-Succession that occurs in an area after an ecosystem is fully destroyed
and no trace of the previous community is present.
● Producers- Organisms that capture energy from sunlight, or chemicals, and use them to
produce their own food, also called autotrophs.
● Product- The elements or compounds produced from a chemical reaction.
● Prokaryotic Cells- These cells have no nucleus (bacteria).

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 ● Prophase-during this phase of cell division DNA coils into chromosomes, the nuclear
membrane breaks down, and the spindle starts to form.
● Protein-An organic compound containing Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen. They are
important components cells and are used for building structures. Examples include enzymes,
hormones, and antibodies.
● Protein channel-A protein in the cell membrane that allows substance to enter or leave the
cell by facilitated diffusion. These channels don’t require energy, so they do passive transport.
● Protein Pump- This type of cell membrane protein binds with a molecule transported on one
side of the membrane, changes shape, and releases it on the other side. These pumps use
ATP energy and do active transport.
● Protein Synthesis-The process that makes proteins using instructions found in the DNA.
● Punctuated equilibrium-the hypothesis that evolution occurs by periods of rapid speciation
between long periods of little or no change.
● Punnett square- a square diagram used to calculate and depict all the combinations and
frequencies of the different genotypes and phenotypes among the offspring.
● Qualitative data- a measurement that isn’t expressed in numbers, but instead uses
description.
● Quantitative data- a measurement expressed in numbers.
● Reactant- The elements or compounds that go into a chemical reaction.
● Receptor protein- This protein molecule in a cell membrane binds to a substance and cause
a change in the activity of the cell.
● Receptor-A protein in the cell membrane that binds with a hormone and triggers a change in
the cells activity.
● Recessive trait-a trait that must be contributed by both parents in order to appear in the
offspring. Recessive traits can be carried in a person's genes without appearing in that person.
These traits are often represented with a lowercase letter like “a” for albino.
● Reflexes-A reflex is an involuntary, automatic action that your body does in response to a
stimulus/change.

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 ● Reproductive Isolation- The segregation of a species so that they can no longer interbreed,
differences form between the populations over generations and they evolve into two separate
species.
● Reproductive system- Produces gametes/sex cells (sperm and eggs), produces sex
hormones (testosterone, estrogen) and nurtures developing offspring. Male organs include
testes and penis. Female organs include fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina.
● Respiration Rate- The number of breaths taken over time. The average resting respiration
rate for an adult is 15-20 breaths per minute.
● Respiratory system- Brings in oxygen for cellular respiration and removes carbon dioxide.
Includes the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs and alveoli.
● Ribosome- Organelle like macromolecule which makes protein and contains a large amount
of RNA and protein. They can be attached to the endoplasmic reticulum or floating in the
cytoplasm.
● Scientific Theory-A well-tested explanation that uses observations and data to explain how
an event occurs and can be used to make predictions.
● Secondary succession-A type of succession that occurs after an ecosystem is partially
destroyed.
● Selectively permeable membrane- this type of membrane allows only certain substances to
enter a cell.
● Semiconservative replication-The method of DNA replication, in which the two strands of the
DNA helix separate, nucleotides are added to each side of the DNA molecule, so that each
new DNA double helix consists of one new strand and one old strand.
● Sexual selection-When individuals of a species select mates based on favorable traits.
● Skeletal system- Provides shape, protects organs, and supports the body. Provides places for
muscles to attach. Produces blood cells in the bone marrow. Includes bones, joints and
ligaments that attach bones together.
● Solar Energy-energy produced by the sun.
● Speciation-The formation of a new species.
● Species: a group of organisms with similar traits, who are able to mate with one another to
produce fertile offspring.

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 ● Spindle fibers-Protein structures that pull chromosomes into two daughter cells during mitosis
and meiosis.
● Stem Cells-Cells that have the ability to continually divide and to become different cell types in
the human body. Embryonic stem cells can become all cell types of the body. Adult stem cells
can only differentiate into certain cell types (like bone marrow and blood cells).
● Stimulus/stimuli-a change in the environment that triggers a response.
● Substrate-The substance on which an enzyme acts.
● Telophase- during this phase of cell division chromatids unwind and two new nuclear
membranes form.
● Tendon-A band of connective tissue that attaches muscles to bones.
● Tissue- A group of cells working together to perform specific functions in the body.
● Trait-a specific characteristic of an individual.
● Transcription-The process of copying DNA into RNA. This occurs in the nucleus.
● Transitional Fossil -Transitional Fossils show the “intermediate states” between an ancestral
form and that of its modern descendants.
● Translation-The process of making proteins using RNA instructions and amino acids provided
by tRNA. This occurs on the ribosome.
● TRNA-Transfer RNA brings amino acids to the ribosome in the correct order shown by the
mRNA.
● Trophic Levels-Each step in a food chain, or food web. Trophic levels make up a trophic
pyramid that includes producers and different levels of consumers.
● Urinary system- Removes wastes from the blood, maintains salt and water balance, and
forms urine. Includes kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
● Vacuole- Spaces in the cytoplasm which store non-living materials like water, wastes, or
pigments (colors).
● Vestigial Structure -Structures that are present in an organism but are reduced in size and
either have no use or have a less important function.

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