Biology Vocabulary Words

disorder in which some of the body's cells lose the ability to control growth

process by which particles move from more concentrated to where they are less concentrated

light-independent reactions of photosynthesis in which energy from ATP and NADPH is used

physical characteristics of an organism

macromolecule that contains C, H, O, and N; makes up enzymes

network of interactions by the feeding relationships among organisms in ecosystem

fluid portion of the chloroplast; outside of the thylakoids

Process by which a cell divides into two new daughter cells

Particle that can replicate only by infecting living cells

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship

one of a number of different forms of a gene

Process by which cells release energy in the absence of oxygen

genetic makeup of an organism

diagram that shows the amounts of energy within each trophic level in a food chain or food web

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

Process that releases energy by breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen

Movement of individuals into an area occupied by existing population

compound made up of C, H, and O atoms; major source of energy for the human body

principle that bonds in DNA can form between adenine & thymine and between guanine & cytosine

Group of tissues that work together to perform clearly related functions

sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait

one of Mendel's principles that states: genes for different traits can segregate independently

how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment

heritable characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce

group of three nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify an amino acid into a protein

Process by which the bases of an mRNA is converted into the amino acids of a protein

Nerve cells; specialized for carrying messages throughout the nervous system

step in a food chain or food web

Region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids attach

selective breeding of plants and animals to produce desirable traits in offspring

group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

three bases on a tRNA molecule that are complementary to the three bases of a codon of mRNA

having two identical alleles for a particular gene

Relatively constant internal, physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain

small unit that can join together with other small units to form polymers

one of two identical "sister" parts of a duplicated chromosome

compound used by cells to store and release energy

factor that causes the growth of a population to decrease

process of copying DNA prior to cell division

Energy-requiring process moves material thru cell membrane against concentration difference

Macromolecules made mainly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxes

1st reactions in cellular respiration- a molecule of glucose is broken into 2 pyruvic acid

period of the cell cycle between cell divisions in which the cell grows

second stage of cellular respiration- pyruvic acid is broken down into CO2

saclike photosynthetic membranes found in chloroplasts

set of reactions in photosynthesis that use energy from light to produce ATP and NADPH

Process that requires oxygen

A process used by plants to capture light and use it to convert CO2 and H20 into O2 and sugars

part of eukaryotic cell division during which the cell nucleus divides

Organisms that obtain food by consuming other living things

large compound formed from combinations of many monomers

scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

structures that are similar in different species of common ancestry

macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus

Basic unit of all forms of life

Change over time; the process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms

structure that is inherited from ancestors but has lost much or all of its original function

structure in an animal cell that helps to organize cell division

organisms most suited to their environment survive and reproduce; survival of the fittest

synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template