Biology Topics
- Abiogenesis
- Term applied by Thomas Huxley in 1870 to the theory that living matter may be produced from non-living.
- Adaptation
- The way living things have changed in order for them to live and survive in their environment.
- Adipocyte
- An animal cell specialized for the storage of triacylglycerols.
- Adulterants
- Chemical impurities or substances that by law do not belong in a food, or pesticide.
- Aerobe
- An organism that uses oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor in respiration.
- Aerobic
- Requiring or occurring in the presence of oxygen.
- Aerobiology
- The study of the distribution of living organisms freely suspended in the atmosphere.
- Aerodontalgia
- A toothache brought on by a change in ambient pressure.
- Aeroemphysema
- A swelling condition caused by the formation of gas in the tissues of the body
- Aero-Otitis Media
- An inflammatory reaction of the middle ear resulting from a difference in pressure between the gas in the middle ear and the surrounding atmosphere.
- Agent Orange
- A toxic herbicide and defoliant used in the Vietnam conflict, containing 2,4,5-trichlorophen-oxyacetic acid and 2-4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid with trace amounts of dioxin.
- Agriculture
- The science or art of farming.
- Agronomics
- The science of the distribution and management of land.
- Agronomy
- The science of soil management and crop production.
- Air Pollution
- The presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects.
- Air Pollution Episode
- A period of abnormally high concentration of air pollutants, often due to low winds and temperature inversion, that can cause illness and death.
- Algae
- A large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms.
- Algaecide
- A chemical that when added to a solution prevents the growth of fungus and algae.
- Algal Bloom
- Sudden spurts of algae growth, which can affect water quality adversely and indicate potentially hazardous changes in local water chemistry.
- Allergen
- A substance that causes an allergic reaction in individuals sensitive to it.
- Allosteric Activator
- Any molecule which positively modulates the activity of an allosteric enzyme.
- Allosteric Enzyme
- A regulatory enzyme, with catalytic activity modulated by the noncovalent binding of a specific molecule at a site other than the active site.
- Allosteric Site
- The specific site on the surface of an allosteric enzyme molecule, distinct from the active site, to which a modulator molecule binds.
- Ammonotelic
- Organisms which excrete excess nitrogen in the form of ammonia.
- Amphibolic Pathway
- A metabolic pathway used in both catabolism and anabolism.
- Amphipathic
- Containing both polar and nonpolar domains.
- Amylum
- Another name for starch.
- Anabolism
- The phase of intermediary metabolism concerned with the energy-requiring biosynthesis of cell components from smaller precursors.
- Anaerobe
- An organism that lives without oxygen and uses another chemical species as a terminal electron acceptor.
- Anaerobic
- Occurring in the absence of air or oxygen.
- Anaplerotic Reaction
- An enzyme-catalyzed reaction that can replenish the supply of intermediates in a metabolic pathway, most commonly the citric acid cycle.
- Anthocyanin
- A family of pigments that give flowers, fruits, and leaves of some plants their red or blue colouring.
- Antibiotic
- An organic compound secreted by many species of microorganisms and fungi which is toxic to other species.
- Antibody
- A protein produced by the body′s immune system in response of an invading substance or organism.
- Anticodon
- A specific sequence of three nucleotides in a tRNA, complementary to a codon for an amino acid in a mRNA.
- Antigen
- Any molecule which causes the synthesis of a specific antibody in vertebrates.
- Antiport
- Cotransport of two solutes across a membrane in opposite directions.
- Aquatic Ecotoxicity
- The study of how chemicals affect the water environment and the organisms living there.
- Arginine
C6H14N4O2
A semiessential or conditionally essential amino acid in mammals.
- Asbestosis
- Fibrosis of the lungs caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres.
- Autophagosome
- A vesicle which encloses material from inside the cytoplasm such as spent organelles or other structures and polymers to be degraded.
- Axon
- The branched ending of the extended section of a neuron.
- Bacteria
- A group of small living organisms made of just one cell.
- Bactericide
- A pesticide used to control or destroy bacteria, typically in the home, schools, or hospitals.
- Balsam
- Light oily aromatic extracts from trees which cure into resins.
- Biochemical Conversion
- The use of enzymes and catalysts to change biological substances chemically to produce other products.
- Biocide
- Chemical substance capable of killing living organisms, usually in a selective way.
- Biodegradeable
- Waste materials that can be broken down by organisms.
- Bioelectrochemistry
- Electrochemistry of biological systems and biological compounds.
- Biosensor
- Either a sensor to detect a biological substance or a sensor which incorporates the use of biological molecules such as antibodies or enzymes.
- Biota
- The animal and plant life of a given region.
- Blood Pressure
- The pressure of blood in the main arteries in an animal.
- Blood Vessel
- A tube that carries blood around the body of an animal.
- Bone
- Primarily based on phosphate and carbonate.
- Brain
- An organ in the body which makes decisions and controls muscles in the body.
- Brakish Water
- Water having less salt than sea water, but undrinkable, having salinity values ranging from about 0.5 to 17 parts per thousand.
- C10H16N2O8
- Chemical formula for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid.
- C19H22N2OS
- Chemical formula for Acepromazine.
- Calvin Cycle
- The cyclic pathway used by plants to fix carbon dioxide and produce triose phosphates.
- Cancer
- A disease caused by mutations in the cells of an organism.
- Capsid
- The protein coat of a virus particle.
- Carbohydrate
- A class of organic compounds including sugars and starches.
- Carbonate Water Hardness
- Water hardness due to the presence of calcium and magnesium carbonates and bicarbonates.
- Carnivore
- An animal that eats only meat.
- Cell
- The functional basic unit of life.
- Cell Differentiation
- Specialization of cell structure and function during embryonic growth and development.
- Cell Membrane
- The membrane around a cell.
- Cell Wall
- A rigid layer surrounding most bacterial cells, plant cells and some protists.
- Centromer
- Constricted region of a chromosome which serves as a site for microtubule attachment.
- Chemotroph
- An organism that obtains energy by metabolizing organic compounds derived from other organisms.
- Chemotropism
- Movement of a plant in response to chemicals.
- Chlorination
- The application of chlorine to drinking water, sewage, or industrial waste to disinfect or to oxidize undesirable compounds.
- Chlorophylls
- A family of green pigments functioning as receptors of light energy in photosynthesis.
- Chloroplasts
- Chlorophyll-containing photosynthetic organelles in some eukaryotic cells.
- Chromatin
- Dense complex consisting of double helix DNA and histones.
- Chromosome
- An organized structure of DNA and protein that is found in cells.
- Circulatory System
- A system which carries substances around the body.
- Clathrin
- A protein that plays a major role in the formation of coated vesicles.
- Clone
- Two or more organisms that have the same genes.
- Codons
- Organic bases in sets of three that form the genetic code.
- Coenzyme
- An organic cofactor required for the action of certain enzymes.
- Cofactor
- An inorganic ion or a coenzyme required for enzyme activity.
- Collagen
- The most abundant protein in mammals.
- Compost
- Plant remains which are allowed to rot.
- Conjugated Protein
- A protein containing one or more prosthetic groups.
- Cousteau, Jacques
- French marine biologist, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, photographer and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water.
- Cover Slip
- Very thin square piece of glass or plastic placed over the specimen on a microscope slide.
- Cristae
- Infoldings of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
- Cytochromes
- Heme proteins serving as electron carriers in cellular respiration, photosynthesis, or other redox reactions.
- Cytokinesis
- The final separation of daughter cells following mitosis.
- Cytoplasm
- A jelly like material found in a living cell.
- Cytoskeleton
- The filamentous network providing structure, organization and motion to the cytoplasm: includes actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments.
- Cytosol
- The fluid content of the cytoplasm, excluding the membrane bound organelles.
- Darwin, Charles
- Darwin struck upon the theory of evolution.
- Denaturation
- A loss of chemical function, usually due to some heat or chemically-induced structural change.
- Dendrochronology
- Tree-ring dating is the method of scientific dating based on the analysis of tree-ring growth patterns.
- Deoxyribonucleic Acid
- The biological macromolecule that carries the genetic information of all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
- Digestion
- The breaking down of food.
- Diploid
- Having two sets of genetic information; describing a cell with two chromosomes of each type.
- Disinfectant
- A substance that kills or stops the growth of microbes.
- Dissolved Oxygen
- The amount of oxygen dissolved in a solvent (usually water).
- DNA
- The biological macromolecule that carries the genetic information of all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
- DNA Chimera
- A DNA containing genetic information derived from two different DNA molecules.
- DNA Cloning
- The production of large numbers of identical DNA molecules or cells from a single ancestral DNA molecule, nucleus or cell.
- DNA Library
- A random collection of cloned DNA fragments designed to include all or most of the genome of a given organism.
- DNA Ligase
- An enzyme that creates a phosphodiester bond between the 3′ end of one DNA segment and the 5′ end of another.
- DNA Polymerase
- An enzyme that catalyzes template-dependent synthesis of DNA from its dNTP precursors.
- DNA Replicase System
- The entire complex of enzymes and specialized proteins required in biological DNA replication.
- DNA Supercoiling
- The coiling of DNA upon itself, into a more condensed structure.
- DNA Transposition
- The movement of a gene or set of genes from one site in the genome to another.
- Double Helix
- The natural coiled conformation of two complementary, antiparallel DNA chains by the formation of A-T and G-C base pairs.
- Drinking Water
- Water of sufficiently high quality that it can be consumed or used without risk of immediate or long term harm.
- Ecology
- The study of living things in their environment.
- Ecosystem
- A community of living things together with their environment.
- Electrophysiology
- The study of the electrical properties of living tissue.
- Embryo
- A young animal growing inside it′s mother or growing inside an egg.
- Emulsion
- A colloid formed from tiny liquid droplets suspended in another, immiscible liquid. E.g. Milk.
- Endocytosis
- Uptake of particles of food by the cell through invagination of the exterior side of the plasma membrane.
- Endosome
- A vesicle formed by fusion of several other vesicles which were imported into the cytoplasm by receptor mediated endocytosis.
- Enkephalin
- Molecules produced naturally by the central nervous system to numb pain.
- E-number
- A code that refers to a food additive.
- Enzyme
- Protein or protein-based molecules that speed up chemical reactions occurring in living things.
- Epitope
- A portion of an antigenic macromolecule recognized and bound by a specific antibody.
- Essential Fatty Acids
- The group of polyunsaturated fatty acids produced by plants, but not humans and are thus required in the human diet.
- Eukaryotic Cell
- A cell found in complex organisms that contains membrane-bound compartments in which specific metabolic activities take place.
- Eutrophication
- The absorption of excessive nutrients in a body of water, which causes a dense growth of plant life.
- Evapotranspiration
- The combined process of evaporation from the surface of the Earth and transpiration from vegetation.
- Evolution
- A theory that tries to explain the variety of all living things.
- Excretion
- The removal of waste substances from living things.
- Exobiology
- The study of biological processes that have or could have evolved away from the Earth.
- Eye
- An organ which is sensitive to light.
- Facultative Anaerobe
- An organism that can live in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
- Fallopian Tube
- A tube in female mammals which carries the egg cell from the ovary to the uterus.
- Fat
- A solid substance that is used by animals as a store of food energy.
- Fatty Acid
- Carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon side chains.
- Fermentation
- A class of biochemical reactions that break down complex organic molecules into simpler materials.
- Fertilisation
- The joining of the male and female gametes.
- Fertiliser
- A substance added to soil to provide nutrients for plants.
- Flagella
- Long, rotating filaments enabling the bacteria to move in any direction.
- Flagellum
- A cell appendage used in propulsion.
- Foetus
- A young animal growing inside it′s mother, a foetus will have the same overall shape and parts of it′s parents.
- Food Additive
- A substance that is added to foods to improve colour or to make it last longer.
- Food Chain
- A list of organisms showing how each depends on another for food.
- Food Web
- A diagram showing how organisms depend on lots of other living things for food.
- Fungicide
- A substance that kill fungi.
- Fungus
- A simple organism, e.g moulds, mildews, mushrooms, and toadstools.
- Gamete
- A reproductive cell, in humans the male cell is a sperm the female cell is the ovum.
- Gene
- Part of a chromosome found inside the cells of living organisms.
- Genetic Engineering
- A man-made method of altering the genes to change the characteristics of an organism.
- Genome
- The complete set of genetic information of an organism.
- Genotype
- The genetic information of an organism, as distinct from its physical expression (phenotype).
- Geotropism
- Movement of a plant in response to gravity.
- Germination
- The growth of a new plant from a seed.
- Gestation Period
- The length of gestation, the time from conception to birth. For humans this is 266 days.
- Gill
- An organ used by fish to get oxygen from water so that they can ′breathe′.
- Gland
- An organ in an organism which makes a particular substance.
- Glutamate Receptors
- Protein molecules that helps gate the flow of ions across a nerve cell′s membrane.
- Glycogen
- The storage polysaccharide of animals.
- Gnotobiotics
- Study of germ-free animals.
- Haploid
- Having only one copy of each chromosome.
- Haptotropism
- Response of a plant to touch such as tendrils on a climbing plant wrapping themselves around other plants or supports.
- Heart
- A muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, a human heart is about the size of a fist.
- Herbivore
- An animal that feeds on plants.
- Heterozygous
- Having two different alleles of the same gene.
- Homologous Chromosome
- One of two copies of a chromosome.
- Homozygous
- Having two identical alleles of the same gene.
- Hormone
- A molecule produced by endocrine glands that controls specific biological processes like growth and metabolism.
- Human Biology
- Lists all Human Biology topics in the Encyclopaedia
- Hydrotropism
- Movement of a plant in response to water.
- Iris
- The pigmented fibrovascular tissue known as a stroma. It is the most forward portion of the eye and the only one seen on superficial inspection.
- Kidney
- An organ in the body which is used for excretion.
- Lipophilic
- Refers to a substance′s solubility in fat.
- Locus
- The set of all points meeting some specified condition.
- Lysosomal Enzymes
- Hydrolytic enzymes that can degrade any type of biological polymers.
- Lysosome
- An organelle that contains hydrolytic enzymes.
- Macroscopic
- Anything big enough to be seen with the naked eye.
- Meiosis
- Process of cellular division which produces egg or sperm cells.
- Messenger RNA
- Synthesized in the nucleus in a process called transcription using a DNA segment as a template.
- Metabolism
- A sequence of biochemical reactions that converts fuel molecules into energy used to drive other biological processes.
- Metabolite
- A compound produced by metabolic reactions.
- Microscope
- An instrument to see objects too small for the naked eye.
- Microscopic
- Refers to objects that are too small for the unaided eye to see.
- Microscopy
- The investigation of microstructural elements using some type of microscope.
- Mitosis
- Process of cellular division which maintains the number of chromosomes.
- m-RNA
- Abbreviation of Messenger RNA.
- Natural Heat
- A term that has generally referred to the heat produced within the body, usually the heat produced by the heart and the circulatory system.
- Neurotransmitter
- A substance released from the axon terminal of a nerve cell which travels across the synaptic cleft to bind to a specific receptor.
- Nucleoid
- In prokaryotes a region of the cell which contains chromosomal DNA.
- Obligate Anaerobes
- An organism that dies when exposed to oxygen.
- Ocular
- Pertaining to or in relation with the eye.
- Oculogyric
- Referring to movements of the eyes.
- Oleoresin
- A natural plant product that contains oil and resins, an example is turpentine.
- Ovum
- An unfertilized gamete, the female sex cell.
- Paracetamol
- Another name for Acetaminophen.
- Paraheliotropism
- Movement of a plant in response to light.
- Pesticide
- A chemical or biological agent that kills pests.
- Phagosome
- A vesicle which encloses material from coming from the outside of the cell by endocytosis .
- Pharmacognosy
- Identification, isolation, and characterization of biologically active substances in living things.
- Pharmacology
- The study of drugs, which includes determination of biological activity, biological effects, breakdown and synthesis, and delivery.
- Phenotype
- The observable characteristics of an organism.
- Phosphorylation
- Formation of a phosphate derivative of a biomolecule.
- Photochemical Reaction Centre
- The part of a photosynthetic complex where the energy of an absorbed photon causes charge separation, initiating electron transfer.
- Photophosphorylation
- The enzymatic formation of ATP from ADP coupled to the light-dependent transfer of electrons from water in photosynthetic cells.
- Photoreduction
- The light-induced reduction of NADP in photosynthetic cells.
- Photosynthesis
- Process by which green plants convert light to energy by transforming carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates.
- Phototroph
- An organism that can use the energy of light to synthesize its own fuels from simple molecules such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water.
- Phytochemicals
- Materials extracted from plant tissue.
- Phytochemistry
- The study of substances found in plants.
- Plasma Membrane
- The exterior membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
- Plasma Proteins
- The proteins present in blood plasma.
- Plastid
- In plants, a self-replicating organelle; may differentiate into a chloroplast.
- Platelets
- Small, enucleated cells that initiate blood clotting which arise from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.
- PM10
- Particles measuring 10µm or less.
- PM2.5
- Particles measuring 2.5µm or less.
- Potable Water
- Another name for drinking water.
- Prebiotic
- Related to the period before life appears on a planet.
- Prokaryotic Cell
- A prokaryotic cell has no nucleus and no cellular organelles.
- Protist
- A diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms.
- Quadrat
- A square frame with sides of 1 metre which is used to enable the sampling of organisms.
- Reaction Time
- The time taken to react to an event.
- Receptor Site
- A molecule or surface in a cell that recognizes and binds to a specific messenger molecule, leading to a biological response.
- Respiration
- The process of generating energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, with the electrons transferred to oxygen as the final electron acceptor.
- RF Radiation Hazard
- A health hazard caused by exposure to electromagnetic radiation or highenergy particles.
- Ribonucleic Acid
- One of the three major macromolecules, along with DNA and proteins, that are essential for all known forms of life.
- Ribosomal RNA
- A basic building block for ribosomes.
- Ribosome
- Site of protein synthesis.
- r-RNA
- Abbreviation of Ribosomal RNA.
- Silent Mutation
- A mutation in a gene that causes no detectable change in the biological characteristics of the gene product.
- Simple Protein
- A protein yielding only amino acids on hydrolysis.
- Sinus
- A hollow or cavity; a recess or pocket.
- Sol
- A colloid with solid particles suspended in a liquid.
- Sour Water
- Waste waters containing fetid materials, usually sulphur compounds.
- Starch
- A polysaccharide used by plants to stockpile glucose molecules.
- Sterols
- A class of lipids containing the steroid nucleus.
- Stroma
- The space and aqueous solution enclosed within the inner membrane of a chloroplast.
- Svedberg
- A unit of measure of the rate at which a particle sediments in a centrifugal field.
- Thermotropism
- Movement of a plant in response to temperature.
- Toxic Vapours
- Vapors emitted by a substance that can do bodily harm.
- Transfer RNA
- A form of RNA that binds to amino acids.
- Translational Repressor
- A repressor that blocks translation of a mRNA.
- Transpiration
- Passage of water from the roots of a plant to the atmosphere via the vascular system and the stomata of the leaves.
- Transposition
- The movement of a gene or set of genes from one site in the genome to another.
- Transposon
- A segment of DNA that can move from one position in the genome to another.
- Triglyceride
- An ester of glycerol and three fatty acids.
- t-RNA
- Abbreviation of Transfer RNA.
- Tropism
- The movement of a plant in response to a stimulus.
- Units
- Lists all Units topics in the Encyclopaedia
- Unsaturated Fat
- A lipid containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.
- Urea Cycle
- A metabolic pathway in vertebrates, for the synthesis of urea from amino groups and carbon dioxide.
- Ureotelic
- Organisms which excrete excess nitrogen in the form of urea.
- Uricotelic
- Organisms which excrete excess nitrogen in the form of uric acid.
- Urine
- Liquid waste that leaves the body, compostition 96% water, 2% urea, 2% salts.
- Virion
- A single virus particle.
- Vital Heat
- A term that has generally referred to the heat produced within the body, usually the heat produced by the heart and the circulatory system.
- Whey
- The liquid which remains after milk is curdled, usually in the process of cheese-making.
- Yeast
- A type of fungus that is used in baking and brewing.
- Zooplankton
- A broad categorisation spanning a range of organism sizes that includes both small protozoans and large metazoans.
- Zygote
- A single living cell that results when a female egg is fertilized by sperm.
- Zymogen
- An inactive precursor of an enzyme.
