Download Vocabulary: Biology

Vocabulary: Biology
1. Classifying – Grouping together items that are alike in some way.
2. Binomial nomenclature – The scientific system of naming an
organism using two terms, the first being the genus and the
second the species.
3. Scientific name – The name of an organism used by scientists,
consisting of a genus and species. Example: Canis familiaris is a
dog.
4. Genus – A taxonomic classification that generally consists of a
group of species exhibiting similar characteristics.
5. Species – A group of similar organisms whose members can mate
with one another and produce fertile offspring.
6. Domain – The highest level in systems of classification of life,
above kingdom. The three domains are Archaea, Bacteria, and
Eukarya.
7. Kingdom - The second highest level of classification of life. The six
kingdoms are Plants, Animals, Fungi, Protists, Archaebacteria, and
Eubacteria.
8. Prokaryote – Organism whose cells lack a nucleus and some other
cell structures.
9. Eukaryote – Organism with cells that contain a nucleus and other
cell structures.
10. Autotroph – An organism that makes its own food.
11. Heterotroph – An organism that cannot make its own food.
12. Unicellular – An organism made of a single cell.
13. Multicellular – An organism made of more than one cell.
14. Asexual reproduction – when an organism duplicates its DNA and
divides to form an offspring which is genetically identical
15. Sexual reproduction – when 2 organisms share part of their DNA
and form an offspring which is genetically similar to the parent
but NOT identical
16. Binary fission – asexual reproduction in bacteria
17. Conjugation – sexual reproduction in bacteria
18. Cell – smallest unit of life that can perform all life processes;
“basic unit of life”
19. Cell membrane – layer that surrounds the cell; acts as a barrier;
controls what substances go in and out
20. Cell wall – rigid outer structure that surrounds the cell membrane
in a plant cell ONLY; provides protection
21. Chloroplast – produces food for the plant cell through the process
of photosynthesis
22. Cilia – numerous hairs that surround a unicellular organism; used
for movement and to sweep food into its mouth
23. Cytoplasm – jelly-like fluid inside the cell that cushions and
supports the organelles
24. DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid; within the nucleus; genetic
information that guides/controls the cell’s functions
25. Endospore – hard outer covering a bacteria will form around itself
during poor conditions
26. Flagella/um – whip-like tail on a unicellular organism used for
movement
27. Hyphae – root-like structures that a fungus uses to grow into its
food, releases digestive chemicals, then sucks the digested food
up through the hyphae
28. Invertebrate – animals without a backbone
29. Mitochondria – part of the cell that converts food into energy for
the cell; “powerhouse”; “mighty mitochondria”
30. Nucleus – the control center of the cell that directs the cell’s
functions; “brain”
31. Organism – a living thing
32. Pilus/pili – the sticky hairs on a bacteria that it uses to either hold
itself still or attach itself to its food; “sticky hairs”
33. Protozoan – the general name for animal-like protists; amoeba
and paramecium are examples
34. Pseudopod –an amoeba pushes its cytoplasm against its cell
membrane changing its shape to form a “fake foot” which is used
to move the amoeba and engulf its food
35. Taxonomy – study of classification
36. Vacuole – part of cell used to store food, water, or waste
37. Vertebrate – animals WITH a backbone