| abdomen |
the bottom part of an insect or arachnid that contains the
reproductive organs (Lesson 21) |
| abiotic |
non-living (referring to non-living factors of an organism's
environment) (Lessons 1, 2, 4) |
| abscisic acid |
a hormone that keeps plants from germinating or budding too
early by stimulating a period of dormancy (Lesson 15) |
| accessory pigment |
a pigment other than chlorophyll in a plant cell (Lesson
15) |
| acid rain |
a type of precipitation (snow, sleet, hail, fog, or rain) with
higher than normal amounts of gases called nitric and sulfur oxides
(Lesson 6) |
| active immunity |
long-term immunity that is given through vaccines (Lesson
29) |
| active virus |
a virus that immediately takes over cell operations and begins
making new viruses (Lesson 12) |
| adaptation |
any characteristic of an organism that makes it better suited to
live in its environment (Lessons 2, 10, 15, 19, Lab 2) |
| adrenal gland |
the gland that secretes hormones that help deal with stress
(Lesson 30) |
| aerobe |
an organism that needs oxygen to carry out respiration (Lesson
12) |
| aerobic |
a process or organism that needs oxygen to carry out respiration
(Lesson 15) |
| aggression |
threatening or forceful behavior used by one animal to establish
dominance over another (Lesson 5) |
| alga |
(plural: algae) a plant-like protist (Lesson
13) |
| algal bloom |
the rapid growth of a population of algae (Lesson 13) |
| allele |
an alternate form of a gene (Lesson 9) |
| allergen |
a substance that triggers allergies (Lesson 29) |
| allergy |
a disorder of the immune system that recognizes harmless
substances as harmful (Lesson 29) |
| alveolus |
(plural: alveoli) a tiny air sac in the lungs that
absorbs oxygen (Lesson 27) |
| amino acid |
a small molecule that joins with other amino acids to make up a
protein (Lessons 7, 28) |
| amniotic egg |
a self sufficient environment with a protective coating that
provides a developing organism with nutrition, waste removal, and
gas exchange (Lessons 22, 23) |
| amniotic sac |
a sac filled with fluid used to protect and cushion the embryo
or fetus (Lesson 30) |
| amphibian |
a group of organisms represented by frogs, salamanders, and
caecilians (Lesson 2) |
| anaerobe |
an organism that does not need oxygen to carry out respiration
(Lesson 12) |
| anaerobic |
a process or organism that does not need oxygen (Lesson
15) |
| angiosperm |
a vascular seed plant that produces seeds encased in fruit
(Lessons 17, 18) |
| Animalia |
all organisms in the animal kingdom that are multicellular,
eukaryotic, and heterotrophs (Lesson 19) |
| antenna |
(plural: antennae) a sensory organ that extends from an
animal's head (Lesson 21) |
| anther |
structure in a flower where pollen is produced; located at the
top of the filament (Lesson 18) |
| antibiotic |
a chemical produced by some bacteria or fungi that helps limit
the growth of harmful bacteria (Lessons 12, 29) |
| antibody |
a protein in the body that is produced to attach to specific
germs and kill them (Lessons 24, 29) |
| anus |
an opening in the body where waste is excreted (Lesson 28) |
| apoptosis |
a type of cell death (Lesson 8) |
| artery |
a muscular, elastic tube that carries blood away from the heart
to the cells, tissues, and organs of the body (Lesson 26) |
| arthritis |
a disease that causes inflammation in the joints (Lesson
25) |
| arthroscopy |
a minor surgery used to diagnose a joint injury (Lesson
25) |
| asexual
reproduction |
reproductive process that only requires only one parent to
produce offspring that are identical to the parent (Lessons 8, 12,
14, 19, 20) |
| asymmetrical |
not identical on both sides of a middle line (Lessons 19,
20) |
| atherosclerosis |
the
process in which deposits of fatty materials build-up in an
artery (Lesson 26) |
| atrium |
(plural:
atria) one of the upper two chambers of the heart that receives
blood and forces it into the lower chambers (Lesson 26) |
| auditory nerve |
a
nerve that carries impulses from the ear to the brain (Lesson
31) |
| auricle |
the
outer portion of the ear in which sound waves are gathered (Lesson
31) |
| autotroph |
an organism that makes its own food (Lessons 4, 11, 12, 13, 15,
19, Lab 1) |
| auxin |
a type of plant hormone that stimulates growth (Lesson 15) |
| axon |
the part of the cell body that transmits the signal to the
dendrites of another cell body (Lesson 31) |
| B cell |
a cell that produces specific antibodies for each specific germ
(Lessons 24, 29) |
| backbone |
a protective covering over the spinal cord that also provides
support to the animal |
| bacterium |
(plural: bacteria) a single-celled organism that lacks a
nucleus; lives off nutrients of other organisms (Lesson 12, 29, Lab
3) |
| bacteriophage |
a virus that attacks bacteria (Lesson 12) |
| ball-and-socket
joint |
the joint that gives the greatest range of motion; found in the
shoulder and hips (Lesson 25) |
| bark |
protects the plant and provides extra support (Lesson 17) |
| barnacle |
a marine crustacean that lives its adult life attached to
substrates such as rocks (Lesson 2) |
| behavior |
what an organism does and how it goes about doing it (Lesson
5) |
| bilateral symmetry |
the quality of having similar characteristics on each side of a
middle line (Lessons 19, 21) |
| binary fission |
simplest form of asexual reproduction in which one cell divides
to form two identical cells (Lessons 12, 13) |
| binomial
nomenclature |
the system of naming organisms in which the organism is given a
two-part name to indicate species; e.g., Canis lupus (Lessons
11, 12, 15) |
| biochemical
reaction |
a reaction that takes place in an organism (e.g. metabolism of
nutrients) (Lesson 1) |
| biodiversity |
the number of different species in a particular area (Lesson
2) |
| biogeochemical
cycling |
the cycling of matter between organisms and the environment
(Lesson 4) |
| biogeography |
the study of where organisms live (Lesson 1) |
| bioluminescence |
an organism's ability to produce its own light caused by a
chemical reaction in an organism's body (Lesson 5) |
| biomagnification |
increasing concentrations of a chemical in higher levels of a
food chain (Lesson 4) |
| biome |
a major ecosystem that is defined by its vegetation and
characterized by adaptations to that environment (Lessons 1,
2) |
| bioremediation |
the process by which other bacteria are used to break down
harmful substances into less harmful substances (Lesson 12) |
| biosphere |
the entire portion of Earth inhabited by life (Lessons 2,
21) |
| biotic |
living (referring to the living components of an organism's
environment) (Lessons 1, 4) |
| birth rate |
the number of births in a population over a certain period of
time (Lesson 3) |
| bladder |
the muscle that stretches to hold urine until it is released
(Lesson 28) |
| blood clot |
platelets that stick together and trap blood cells (Lesson
26) |
| blood pressure |
pressure of the blood against the wall of the arteries (Lesson
26) |
| blood transfusion |
when blood is taken from one person and given to another (Lesson
26) |
| blood vessel |
a tube that circulates blood throughout the body (Lesson
24) |
| body cells |
all cells other than sex cells (Lesson 8) |
| body plan |
the basic shape or structure an organism takes on as it develops
(Lesson 19) |
| bog |
made up of acidic and still water (Lesson 16) |
| bone marrow |
a gel substance found inside bones; produce red blood cells
which are important to the functioning of the human body (Lesson
25) |
| bony fish |
fish that have skeletons made of bone instead of cartilage,
scales, and jaws (Lesson 22) |
| brackish |
an aquatic environment with a mix of fresh and saltwater; used
to describe the water in an estuary (Lesson 2) |
| brain |
the body's control system (Lesson 31) |
| brain stem |
the part of the brain that connects the spinal cord to the
brain; controls involuntary functions (Lesson 31) |
| bronchi |
two tubes that connect the trachea to the lungs (Lesson
27) |
| bronchiole |
one of several tiny tubes located in the lungs that help spread
the air over the lungs as quickly as possible (Lesson 27) |
| brown alga |
(plural: brown algae) a plant-like multicellular protist
that grows in cool, rocky water (Lesson 13) |
| budding |
the process of asexual reproduction by which a small cell grows
from a parent organism and breaks off a new, complete, genetically
identical organism (Lessons 8, 14, 20) |
| calorie |
the amount of energy in a certain food (Lessons 24, 28) |
| cambium |
a third vascular tissue present in some plants that is located
in between xylem and phloem; it produces new xylem and phloem cells
(Lesson 17) |
| Cambrian Explosion |
the relatively short time over which many of the animals on the
fossil record appeared; about 525 million years ago (Lessons 19,
20) |
| camouflage |
the way an organism conceals itself in order to blend in with
the environment to hide from predators (Lessons 1, 2, 21) |
| cancellous bone |
a network of tiny bones located in compact bones; they are meant
to withstand stress from different directions (Lesson 25) |
| canopy |
the leafy roof that is comprised of the tallest trees in the
forest (Lesson 2) |
| capillary |
a small blood vessel that links the end of an artery to the
beginnings of a vein (Lesson 26, 27) |
| carbohydrate |
an organic compound that is made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
that provides energy for the cell (Lesson 7) |
| carbon monoxide |
an odorless gas that is formed when certain fuels are burned;
Large quantities can be toxic to humans. (Lesson 6) |
| carcinogen |
a substance that causes cancer (Lesson 29) |
| cardiac muscle |
a specialized type of muscle found in the walls of the heart
(Lesson 25) |
| carnivore |
an animal that eats other animals (Lessons 4, 19, 22, Lab
1) |
| cartilage |
strong tissue that holds joints together (Lessons 22, 25) |
| cartilaginous fish |
a type of fish with a flexible endoskeleton, scales, and a bony
jaw (Lesson 22) |
| catastrophism |
the concept which states that changes in the earth's geological
and biological history were due to widespread disasters like
flooding or drought (Lesson 10) |
| cell |
the basic unit of structure and function in an organism;
requires a microscope to see (Lessons 1, 19, Lab 4) |
| cell body |
the largest part of a neuron that receives signals from other
neurons (Lesson 31) |
| cell division |
when a cell divides from one cell into two cells (Lesson
8) |
| cell theory |
the theory devised by three scientists that states that: (1) all
organisms are made up of one of more cells; (2) a cell is the basic
unit of structure and function in an organism; and (3) All cells
come from previously existing cells (Lesson 7) |
| cellulose |
a carbohydrate that makes up the cell wall and gives support to
the cell (Lessons 7, 15) |
| cell wall |
a protective covering around the plasma membrane that protects
the cell and gives it shape and support; located only in bacteria,
some protists, fungi, and plant cells (Lessons 12, 14, 15, 16) |
| central nervous
system |
the system that sends and processes messages; includes the brain
and spinal cord (Lesson 31) |
| centriole |
an oblong structure in an animal cell that associates with
spindle fibers during cell division (Lesson 8) |
| centromere |
the location of the chromosome where the chromatids are held
together (Lesson 8) |
| cephalothorax |
the first section of an arachnid and some insects that contains
the head and the chest (Lesson 21) |
| cerebellum |
the part of the brain that controls muscle movement, balance,
and coordination (Lesson 31) |
| cerebrum |
the biggest part of the brain; controls voluntary movements
(Lesson 31) |
| cervix |
the narrow part of the uterus where it joins the vagina (Lesson
30) |
| cheliped |
the first set of a crustacean's legs that contain claws or
pincers (Lesson 21) |
| chemical digestion |
breaking down food through chemical reactions (Lesson 28) |
| chemical sense |
a sense that functions when it comes into contact with chemicals
(Lesson 31) |
| chest cavity |
the cavity in the body containing the heart and lungs (Lessons
24, 27) |
| chlorophyll |
a light-absorbing green pigment found in plant cells, some
algae, and bacteria cells that allows them to make food using
the sun's energy and other substances in their environment (Lessons
7, 15) |
| chloroplast |
portion of a plant cell that holds chlorophyll and in which
photosynthesis occurs (Lesson 15, 16, 17) |
| chromatid |
a strand of DNA that makes up one half of a duplicated
chromosome (Lesson 8) |
| chromosome |
a structure in the cell's nucleus that contains genetic material
(Lessons 8, 30) |
| cilium |
(plural: cilia) one of many short, hair-like structures
that are attached to cells and used to propel the organism, obtain
food, and to sense the environment; tiny hairs in the nose that help
clean the air that is inhaled (Lessons 13, 20, 21, 27,
29) |
| circulatory system |
the body system that consist of the heart, blood, and blood
vessels (Lessons 24, 26, 27) |
| classical
conditioning |
a new stimulus is placed with an old stimulus-response
relationship until this new stimulus elicits the old response
(Lesson 5) |
| classification |
a grouping of organisms, or other things, based on similar
characteristics (Lesson 11) |
| closed circulatory
system |
system in which blood travels through vessels to the rest of the
body (Lessons 20, 21, 22, 23) |
| club fungus |
classification of fungus that contains a type of spore shaped
like a club (Lesson 14) |
| cochlea |
a fluid-filled bone inside the ear that change sound waves to
nerve impulses (Lesson 31) |
| codominance |
when two different alleles for a trait are expressed in the
phenotype of a heterozygote (Lesson 9) |
| colony |
a collection of individual organisms of the same species that
live in the same place (Lesson 20) |
| commensalism |
a symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the
other is neither harmed nor benefited (Lesson 3) |
| community |
all of the populations that live and interact in the same area
(Lessons 1, 3) |
| community
ecologist |
a scientist who studies the effects of interactions such as
disease, competition, or predation on community structure (Lesson
1) |
| compact bone |
a bone that is dense and hard on the outside (Lesson 25) |
| competition |
a struggle between individuals for a common resource (Lesson
3) |
| complete
metamorphosis |
insect life cycle in which egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages
occur (Lesson 21) |
| complex
carbohydrate |
a carbohydrate made of hundreds or even thousands of sugar
molecules linked together; found in foods like potatoes and wheat
(Lesson 28) |
| compound fracture |
a broken bone that sticks out through the skin (Lesson 25) |
| compound |
a substance that is made up of two or more elements (Lesson
7) |
| condensation |
the process of water vapor turning into a liquid (Lesson
4) |
| conditioning |
learning that a certain stimulus will lead to a specific outcome
(Lesson 5) |
| cone |
the reproductive structure of a gymnosperm (Lesson 18) |
| coniferous tree |
a tree with leaves shaped like needles and cones instead of
seeds (Lessons 2, 18) |
| conjugation |
the process by which a unicellular organism transfers some of
its genetic material to another unicellular organism (Lessons 12,
13) |
| connective tissue |
materials that hold body tissues and organs in place (Lesson
24) |
| consumer |
an organism that obtains nutrients by feeding upon other
organisms (Lesson 4) |
| continental shelf |
the
gently seaword sloping surface that extends between the shoreline
and the continental slope (Lesson 2) |
| contour feather |
one of the several outer feathers that give birds a smooth,
aerodynamic shape for flight (Lesson 23) |
| contraction |
when muscles in the wall of the uterus begin to contract (Lesson
30) |
| control |
in an experiment, the standard or comparison (Intro, Lesson
1) |
| cornea |
the clear part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil (Lesson
31) |
| cotyledon |
a first seed leaf that sometimes stores food for the developing
plant (Lessons 17, 18) |
| courtship display |
a signal made by animals aimed at the opposite sex that is meant
to attract mates (Lesson 5) |
| crop |
the section of bird anatomy where the first stage of digestion
takes place, softening the food in preparation for the stomach
(Lesson 23) |
| crossing over |
the event that takes place during meiosis I whereby homologous
chromosomes exchange segments of genetic material (Lesson 8) |
| cross pollinate |
pollen from one flower is placed on a pistil of a different
flower (Lesson 9) |
| cuticle |
a waxy layer secreted by cells on the surface of a plant
(Lessons 15, 16, 17) |
| cycad |
a gymnosperm found in the tropics that is similar to palm trees
and ferns but produces cones (Lesson 18) |
| cyclic behavior |
any behavioral pattern that occurs regularly over a certain
period of time; e.g., migration and hibernation (Lesson 5) |
| cytokinesis |
the splitting of the cytoplasm of one cell so it becomes two;
takes place right after telophase in mitosis (Lesson 8) |
| cytoplasm |
the contents of the region inside the plasma membrane that
contains all of the vital parts of the cell (Lessons 7, 8, 12,
13) |
| dam |
a barrier built across a waterway that controls the flow of
water (Lesson 6) |
| daughter cell |
a cell that results from the process of cellular division
(Lesson 8) |
| death rate |
the number of deaths in a population over a certain period of
time (Lesson 3) |
| deciduous |
describes trees whose leaves fall at the end of the growing
season (Lesson 2) |
| decomposer |
an organism that breaks down the chemicals in dead organisms and
waste and returns material to the soil and water (Lessons 2, 4, 12,
14, 16, Lab 3) |
| deep zone |
the area of the ocean located beneath the surface zone; it is
much darker and cooler than the surface zone (Lesson 2) |
| deforestation |
the removal of trees in an area, usually to make room for
farming or construction on that piece of land (Lesson 2) |
| demography |
the statistical study of populations (Lesson 3) |
| dendrite |
a tiny branch extending from the cell body that transmits
impulses to the cell body (Lesson 31) |
| dermis |
the inner layer of skin beneath the epidermis (Lesson 25,
26) |
| detritivore |
an organism that feeds on organisms that are dead, decaying, or
breaking down (Lesson 19) |
| development |
the act of an organisms becoming more complex (Lesson 1) |
| dialysis |
a life support treatment used on patients with renal failure; a
machine replaces the kidney when filtering the blood (Lesson
28) |
| diaphragm |
the muscle located at the bottom of the chest cavity; helps air
move in and out the lungs (Lesson 27) |
| diatom |
unicellular plant-like protist that lives in fresh or saltwater
environments (Lesson 13) |
| dichotomous key |
a series of questions scientists use to identify an organism
(Lesson 11) |
| dicot |
an angiosperm that has two seed leaves (Lesson 18) |
| diffusion |
the movement of substances from an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower concentration (Lesson 7) |
| digestion |
the breaking down of food; converts the food into energy the
body can use (Lesson 28) |
| digestive system |
the system that breaks down food and absorbs nutrients the body
needs (Lessons 24, 28) |
| dinoflagellate |
unicellular plant-like protist with two flagellum that spin to
propel the protist forward (Lesson 13) |
| diploid |
a cell's chromosomes that are in pairs (Lesson 8) |
| dislocation |
when a bone is moved out of its joint (Lesson 25) |
| dispersion |
the pattern by which individuals arrange themselves within a
certain area (Lesson 3) |
| division |
the term for phylum in the plant kingdom (Lessons 15, 18) |
| DNA |
the main component of chromosomes and the genetic information of
life (Lessons 7, 8, 10) |
| DNA replication |
when a DNA molecule makes a duplicate copy of itself (Lesson
8) |
| dominant allele |
an allele whose trait shows up in an organism when the allele is
present (Lesson 9) |
| down feather |
one of several soft, short, fluffy feathers that keep heat from
escaping a bird's body (Lesson 23) |
| duodenum |
the first part of the small intestine that breaks down the food
(Lesson 28) |
| ear |
the organ used for hearing (Lesson 31) |
| ear canal |
the narrow passage where sound waves travel through the ear
(Lesson 31) |
| eardrum |
a thin flap of skin that vibrates sound waves off of it (Lesson
31) |
| echolocation |
a sensory system using high-pitched sounds; used by animals such
as dolphins to determine direction and the distance of objects
(Lesson 5) |
| ecological time |
a matter of minutes, months, or years; a short period of time
(Lesson 1) |
| ecologist |
a scientist who studies the interactions between organisms and
the environment (Lesson 1) |
| ecology |
the study of the interactions between organisms and the
environment (Lesson 1) |
| ecosystem |
all the organisms in an area (a community) in addition to the
abiotic factors in which they interact (Lessons 1, 2) |
| ecosystem ecology |
the study of a community and its physical environment (Lesson
1) |
| ectotherm |
an animal whose body temperature is regulated by its
surroundings; formerly referred to as "cold blooded" (Lesson
22) |
| egg |
the female sex cell (Lesson 30) |
| electron |
a subatomic particle with a negative charge (Lesson 7) |
| element |
a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler forms
(Lesson 7) |
| embryo |
the young of any animal in the early stage of development; in
plants: a young plant usually contained in a seed (Lessons 8, 17,
18, 30) |
| embryonic stem
cell |
a cell in an embryo that gives rise to other stem cells and
becomes specialized (Lesson 8) |
| emigration |
leaving a population (Lesson 3) |
| endocrine gland |
glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream (Lesson
30) |
| endocrine system |
the system that is run by hormones and glands (Lessons 24,
30) |
| endoskeleton |
a skeleton that is located inside the body (Lessons 21,
22) |
| endospore |
a small, round, thick-walled structure that forms inside a
bacterial cell (Lesson 12) |
| endotherm |
an animal that generates internal heat to maintain body
temperature; formerly referred to as "warm blooded" (Lessons 22,
23) |
| energy pyramid |
a diagram that shows the amount of energy at each level of a
food chain (Lesson 4) |
| enzyme |
a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in organisms and
breaks apart the chemical in foods (Lessons 7, 28) |
| epidermis |
the top and bottom covering of a leaf; the outer layer of skin
(Lessons 17, 25, 26, Lab 4) |
| epiglottis |
the flap of tissue that covers the opening to the trachea
(Lesson 27) |
| epiphyte |
a plant with aerial roots that grows on or attaches to another
plant for support (Lesson 3) |
| epithelial tissue |
a layer of cells that protects the body (Lesson 24) |
| erosion |
the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by
wind, water, etc. (Lesson 10) |
| esophagus |
the muscular passage that connects the mouth and the stomach
(Lesson 28) |
| estrogen |
the female sex hormone that produces eggs (Lesson 30) |
| estuary |
an ecosystem located where the fresh water of a river meets with
the salt water of an ocean (Lesson 2) |
| ethologist |
a scientist who studies the behavior of animals (Lesson 5) |
| ethylene |
a hormone produced as gas and released into the air; stimulates
the ripening of fruit and the falling of leaves from trees (Lesson
15) |
| euglenoid |
unicellular plant-like protist found in fresh water; has the
ability to become heterotrophic when conditions are not right to
make their own food (Lesson 13) |
| eukaryote |
an organism whose cells contain nuclei and other membrane-bound
organelles (Lessons 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 19) |
| eutrophication |
the buildup of nutrients in lakes and ponds that causes an
overgrowth of algae (Lesson 13) |
| evaporation |
the process of water changing from a liquid to a gas (Lesson 4,
Lab 4) |
| evolution |
change in organisms that occurs over time (Intro, Lessons 1, 10,
11) |
| evolutionary time |
a matter of decades, centuries, millennia, and longer (Lesson
1) |
| excretory system |
the system that removes waste from the body (Lesson 24) |
| exoskeleton |
a skeleton that is located on the outside of the body (Lesson
21) |
| experimental group |
the group of organisms, other than the controls, being observed
in an experiment (Intro) |
| expiratory reserve |
the amount of oxygen that can be forced out of the lungs after
exhalation (Lab 6) |
| extinction |
the process of a species dying out (Lesson 10, 16) |
| eye |
the organ used for seeing (Lesson 31) |
| F1 generation |
offspring that result from crossing the parental generation
(Lesson 9) |
| F2 generation |
offspring that result when two F1 organisms are
crossed (Lesson 9) |
| fallopian tube |
a tube that carries the egg from the ovaries to the uterus
(Lesson 30) |
| family |
the fifth broadest level of classification below kingdoms,
phyla, order, and class |
| fat soluble |
able to be absorbed by fat (Lesson 28) |
| fertile |
the ability to mate with another organism of the same species to
produce offspring (Lessons 11, 18) |
| fertilization |
the combination of a sperm cell and an egg cell (Lessons 8, 15,
18, 19, 30) |
| fetus |
an unborn baby after the eighth week of pregnancy (Lesson
30) |
| fibrin |
a protein that helps form blood clots (Lesson 26) |
| fibrous |
a root system in which several main roots branch many times
(Lesson 17) |
| filament |
the structure in a flower that connects the stamen to the base
of the flower (Lesson 18) |
| filter feeder |
an organism that eats microorganisms by filtering them out of
water that passes through their body (Lessons 19, 21) |
| flagellum |
(plural: flagella) a long, whip-like structure that
assist in movement (Lessons 12, 13, 15, 20) |
| food chain |
a single path of feeding and energy flow in an ecosystem (Lesson
4) |
| food web |
a series of interlocking food chains (Lesson 4) |
| foot |
a muscular appendage that helps mollusks move (Lesson 21) |
| fossil |
any remains or trace of a living thing that is preserved from
another geological era (Lessons 1, 10) |
| fossil fuel |
an energy source, in the form of coal, oil, or natural gas,
which has formed in the Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of
years (Lessons 4, 6) |
| fossil record |
the information scientists can gain by looking at the fossils in
a certain area (Lessons 1, 10, 15, 18) |
| fracture |
when a bone is cracked or broken (Lesson 25) |
| frond |
the leaf of a fern (Lesson 16) |
| fruit |
the ripened ovary of an angiosperm that protects the seeds
(Lesson 18) |
| fruiting body |
reproductive structure of a fungus made up of hyphae (Lesson
14) |
| Fungi |
the kingdom in which all of the organisms are eukaryotic and
heterotrophic; e.g., mold and yeast (Lessons 7, 14, 29) |
| gametangium |
structure that forms when two fungal hyphae meet and house the
exchange of genetic information (Lesson 14) |
| gametophyte |
the stage in a plant's life cycle in which the plant produces
sex cells (Lesson 15) |
| gas exchange |
the process in which oxygen is inhaled into the body and carbon
dioxide is exhaled out (Lesson 27) |
| gemma |
(plural: gemmae) small, cup-shaped structures in
liverworts used for asexual reproduction (Lesson 16) |
| gene |
a unit of hereditary information; contains DNA (Lessons 8,
10) |
| gene therapy |
a technique that uses genes to treat diseases instead of using
drugs (Lesson 9) |
| genetic disorder |
an abnormality in genes that is passed down from the parents to
the offspring (Lesson 9) |
| genetic
engineering |
methods used to change the arrangement of DNA in an organism
(Intro) |
| genetics |
the study of how genes are involved in the inheritance of traits
(Lesson 9) |
| genome |
the entire set of genes, or inheritable traits, in an organism
(Intro) |
| genotype |
an organism's genetic makeup, or combination of alleles (Lesson
9) |
| genus |
a group, or taxon, that contains similar organisms that are
closely related; the seventh broadest level of classification below
domain, kingdom, phyla, class, order, and family (Lesson 11) |
| germination |
the sprouting of an embryo out of its seed; usually occurs after
the dormant stage when the embryo begins growing again (Lessons 17,
18, 23) |
| gestation period |
the amount of time from fertilization to birth (Lesson 23) |
| gill |
a organ that removes oxygen from water (Lesson 22) |
| ginkgo |
a type of ancient gymnosperm with few surviving
species (Lesson 18) |
| gizzard |
the muscular organ in a bird that squeezes and grinds up tough
food (Lesson 23) |
| gliding joint |
a joint where one bone slides over the other; found in wrists
and ankles (Lesson 25) |
| global warming |
an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which can cause
climate change (Lessons 4, 6) |
| gnetophyte |
a woody gymnosperm that lives in hot climates (Lesson 18) |
| golgi body |
sends out cells received from the ER and delivers them to other
parts of the cell or releases them outside of the cell |
| gradualism |
the concept that Earth evolved slowly and continuously over
time, and came to mean that species also evolved slowly over time
(Lesson 10) |
| gravitropism |
the tendency for a plant to grow in response to gravity; also
known as geotropism (Lesson 15) |
| green alga |
(plural: green algae) multicellular protists that closely
resemble plants (Lesson 13) |
| greenhouse effect |
the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases near Earth's
surface (Lesson 6) |
| greenhouse gas |
gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, and are the main
contributors of global warming (Lessons 4, 6) |
| growth |
energy used by organisms to become larger (Lesson 1) |
| guard cell |
a cell that surrounds and protects stomata by expanding and
contracting to allow substances to enter and exit the plant; this is
the act of opening and closing the stomata (Lesson 17) |
| gymnosperm |
a vascular seed plants that produces "naked seeds," meaning that
the seeds are not protected by fruit (Lessons 17, 18) |
| habitat |
physical place where an organism lives (Lesson 3) |
| habituation |
the simplest form of learning for an organism; An organism stops
responding to a particular stimulus after repeated exposure to it.
(Lesson 5) |
| haploid |
a cell that has half the number of chromosomes as body cells
(Lesson 8) |
| heart attack |
when blood stops flowing to any part of the heart (Lesson
26) |
| hemoglobin |
a protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen through the
body; it gives red blood cells its color (Lesson 26) |
| herbaceous stem |
a type of stem that is generally soft and green (Lesson
17) |
| herbivore |
an organism that only eats plants (Lessons 2, 3, 4, 19, 22, Lab
1) |
| heredity |
the passing of traits from parents to their children (Lesson
9) |
| hermaphrodite |
an animal or organism that has both male and female reproductive
organs (Lesson 20) |
| heterotroph |
an organism that cannot make its own food and so must feed off
of other organisms to obtain energy (Intro, Lessons 1, 11, 12, 13,
14, 19, 20, Lab 1) |
| heterozygous |
having two different alleles for the same trait (Lesson 9) |
| hibernate |
to slow down metabolism during long periods of cold temperatures
(Lessons 2, 5, 22) |
| hibernation |
when an organism goes into a deep sleep;body temperatures drop
and heart and breathing rate decrease (Lessons 2, 5, 22) |
| hinge joint |
a joint which allows forward and backward movement; found in the
knees and elbows (Lesson 25) |
| homeostasis |
an organism's ability to maintain certain conditions within the
body (Lessons 1, 24, 28) |
| homologous pair |
a pair of chromosomes that have the same sequence of genes
(Lesson 8) |
| homozygous |
having two of the same alleles for a given trait (Lesson
9) |
| host |
the organism that provides the energy source and suitable
environment necessary in order for an organism to survive (Lessons
3, 12, 20) |
| hormone |
a substance produced in one part of an organism that affects
another part of that same organism; sends messages from one cell to
another (Lessons 15, 30) |
| hornwort |
another seedless nonvascular plant; similar to liverworts
(Lesson 16) |
| hybrid |
an organism that has two different alleles for a given trait
(Lesson 9) |
| hydroelectric
power |
electricity that is made using the energy of water (Lesson
6) |
| hypertonic |
a solution that has a higher solute concentration than
the one to which it is being compared (Lesson 7) |
| hypha |
(plural: hyphae) a thin, thread-like tube that makes up
the body of multicellular fungus (Lesson 14) |
| hypothalamus |
the gland that secretes hormones that control the pituitary
gland (Lesson 30) |
| hypothesis |
a testable prediction about a specific phenomena (Intro, Lesson
19) |
| hypotonic |
a solution that has a lower solute concentration than the one to
which it is being compared (Lesson 7) |
| immigration |
movement into a population (Lesson 3) |
| immune response |
how
the body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses,
and other foreign substances (Lesson 29) |
| immune system |
the body's defense system that protects it from pathogens
(Lessons 24, 29) |
| immunity |
when the body has the ability to kill pathogens before they
cause illness (Lesson 29) |
| imperfect fungus |
(plural: imperfect fungi) classification of fungus that
does not reproduce sexually or have never been observed to reproduce
sexually (Lesson 14) |
| imprinting |
when an animal forms a social attachment with another organism
during a short period of time after the animal is born or is
hatched; usually takes place with no reinforcement (Lesson 5) |
| incomplete
dominance |
a type of inheritance whereby a heterozygote has a phenotype
that is intermediate to that of its parents' phenotypes (Lesson
9) |
| incomplete
metamorphosis |
a life cycle of certain insects that does not include a larval
or pupal stage (Lesson 21) |
| infectious disease |
disease that is passed from one infected person to another
(Lesson 29) |
| inflammatory
response |
the second line of defense when the body's cells are damaged;
blood circulation increases around the affected area (Lesson
29) |
| inhale |
to breathe in (Lesson 27) |
| innate behavior |
a behavior that an organism is born with, which is passed down
from one generation to the next (Lesson 5) |
| insecticide |
a chemicals that is used to kill insects (Lesson 4) |
| insight |
using prior knowledge and experience to solve new problems
(Lesson 5) |
| instinct |
an inborn response to stimuli that depends on sending and
processing messages in the brain (Lessons 20, 31) |
| integumentary
system |
a body system that consists of the skin, along with hair and
nails; used for protection (Lessons 24, 25) |
| interphase |
the longest stage of the cell cycle; The cell grows and DNA
replicates during this stage. (Lesson 8) |
| interspecific |
between two different species (Lesson 3) |
| intertidal |
the area between the lowest and highest tide lines on the shore
(Lesson 2) |
| intraspecific |
among the same species (Lesson 3) |
| introduced species |
organisms that are placed (usually by people) in a new location
different from where they normally live; also called exotic or
non-native species (Lesson 1) |
| invertebrate |
an animal without backbones (Lesson 22) |
| involuntary
muscle |
a muscle that a person cannot control (Lesson
25) |
| iris |
the colored part of the eye (Lesson 31) |
| isotonic |
two solutions with equal solute concentrations (Lesson
7) |
| jawless fish |
primitive fish with flexible endoskeletons, no scales, and no
jaws (Lesson 22) |
| joint |
the place where two bones meet (Lesson 25) |
| keystone species |
a species that influences the survival of other organisms in an
ecosystem (Lesson 4) |
| kidney |
an organ in the ribcage that forms and excretes urine (Lesson
28) |
| large intestine |
the intestine where waste is collected and processed for
excretion (Lesson 28) |
| larva |
the immature form of an organism (Lessons 20, 21) |
| larynx |
a structure located at the upper part of the trachea, in which
the vocal cords are located; the voice box (Lesson 27) |
| latent virus |
a virus that does not immediately take over a cell's operations
upon entering the cell (Lesson 12) |
| lateral line |
a canal that runs the length of a fish's or amphibian's body and
serves as a sensory organ (Lesson 22) |
| law |
a statement about how things work in nature that is accepted and
believed to be true all the time (Intro) |
| learned behavior |
behavior that is acquired through experience (Lesson 5) |
| lens |
a piece of shaped glass used to focus the light from
the microscope; the part of the eye that focuses light to form an
image on the retina (Lesson 31) |
| lichen |
an organism that is composed of a fungus and a green alga or
bacteria (Lessons 14, 16) |
| ligament |
strong tissue that connect the joints (Lesson
25) |
| limiting
factor |
an environmental factor that can limit growth of a
population; they also cause population numbers to decrease (Lesson
3) |
| lipid |
an organic compound that contains carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and
phosphorous; these compounds are energy-rich (Lesson 7) |
| liverwort |
a type of seedless nonvascular plant that grows flat and has a
leaf-like body (Lesson 16) |
| lung capacity |
the amount of oxygen that lungs can inhale (Lab 6) |
| lymph |
the fluid that leaks out when blood is circulating in the body
(Lesson 26) |
| lymph node |
part of the system that removes germs from lymph before it
returns to the blood plasma (Lesson 29) |
| lymphatic system |
a network of vessels that are connected to large veins in the
chest (Lessons 24, 26) |
| lymphocyte |
a white blood cell that attacks and kills germs (Lesson
29) |
| mammary gland |
the mammalian gland responsible for milk production (Lesson
23) |
| manatee |
a herbivorous marine mammal commonly found in estuaries (Lesson
2) |
| mantle |
the outer fold of skin that is responsible for forming the shell
of a mollusk (Lesson 21) |
| marker molecule |
a protein that determines blood type (Lesson 26) |
| mechanical
digestion |
breaking down food through chewing (Lesson 28) |
| meiosis |
a cellular process that produces sex cells for reproduction
(Lessons 8, 13, 16, 18) |
| melanin |
pigment that determines the color of a person's skin
(Lessons 24, 25, 26) |
| membrane |
the outer protective barrier found in some cells (Lesson
19) |
| membrane-bound
organelle |
a specialized structure that carries out specific functions and
is covered by membrane; found in eukaryotic cells (Lesson 19) |
| menstrual cycle |
a month long cycle in which menstruation and ovulation occur
(Lesson 30) |
| menstruation |
the process in which extra tissue, blood, and the dried up egg
breaks down and exits the body through the vagina (Lesson 30) |
| metabolism |
a chemical process that converts food into energy (Lesson
30) |
| metamorphosis |
the process of changes in form throughout an organism's life
cycle (Lessons 21, 22) |
| metastasize |
to spread throughout the body (Lesson 8) |
| microscope |
an instruments that makes small objects look larger (Lesson
7) |
| migrate |
to move from one region or climate to another (Lesson 2) |
| migration |
a movement from one region or climate to another; It is an
example of a cyclic behavior. (Lesson 5) |
| mimicry |
a technique used by animals in order to avoid becoming
prey (Lesson 19) |
| mitochondrion |
(plural: mitochondria) an organelle within a cell that
releases energy from stored food molecules (Lesson 15) |
| mitosis |
a type of cellular division in which one cell divides to form
two cells that are identical to each other and the parent cell
(Lesson 8) |
| molting |
the process of shedding an outer covering such as a shell,
feathers, or skin, to make room for new growth (Lessons 21,
22) |
| monocot |
an angiosperm that has one seed leaf (Lesson 18) |
| moss |
a tiny, leafy, and flowerless plant that grows predominantly in
moist areas (Lessons 2, 16) |
| motor nerve |
a nerve that transmits commands from the central nervous system
(Lesson 31) |
| multicellular |
organisms that have more than one cell, such as humans (Lessons
1, 7, 13, 15, 20) |
| multiple alleles |
when a single gene is affected by three or more alleles (Lesson
9) |
| muscle tissue |
tissue that provides movement to the body (Lesson 24) |
| muscular system |
the body system that works with the skeletal system to produce
movement, move blood, and push food through the body (Lessons 24,
27) |
| muscular tail |
a growth that extends past the anus during development that
helps propel the animal when swimming; also known as an "post-anal
tail" (Lesson 22) |
| mutate |
to change; in biology, a change in genetic material that creates
diversity (Lessons 10, 12) |
| mutualism |
a relationship between two organisms in which both benefit from
living together; a type of symbiosis (Lessons 3, 13, 14) |
| mycelium |
the thick, underground mass of tangled hyphae that forms the
body of a fungus (Lesson 14) |
| mycorrhiza |
(plural: mycorrhizae) the symbiotic relationship of plant
roots and fungi (Lessons 14, 15) |
| nasal cavity |
the large air-filled space above and behind the nose (Lessons
24, 27, 31) |
| natural resource |
a resource that occurs in a natural state and is valuable to
humans (Lesson 6) |
| natural selection |
the process by which life forms have traits that better suit
them to a certain environment (Lesson 10) |
| nematocyst |
a specialized cell for stinging found in cnidarians (Lesson
20) |
| neritic |
the area just beyond the intertidal zone, from the lowest tide
mark to the continental shelf (Lesson 2) |
| nerve cord |
a tract of tissue located above the notochord that, in
vertebrates, will develop into the spinal cord (Lesson 22) |
| nerve impulse |
a message that is carried through the body (Lesson 31) |
| nerve |
a bundle of fibers that send signals to the spinal cord and the
brain (Lesson 31) |
| nervous system |
the system of nerves in a living organism (Lessons 20, 23, 24,
31) |
| nervous tissue |
tissue that is made up of cells that send messages through the
body (Lesson 24) |
| neuron |
a cell that processes and passes on information (Lesson
24) |
| neurotransmitter |
a chemical that transmits impulses from a neuron to another cell
(Lesson 31) |
| niche |
the role of a species and all the resources it uses to survive
(Lesson 3) |
| nitrogenous base |
a compound that contains nitrogen; there are four major types in
DNA: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine (Lesson 8) |
| nocturnal |
of, or pertaining to, the night; in biology, refers to
organisms that are awake by night and sleep by day (Lesson 22) |
| noninfectious
disease |
a disease that cannot be spread by contact with
another infected animal (Lesson 29) |
| nonrenewable
resource |
a resource that are easily depleted because they are
not replaced in a useful time frame (Lesson 6) |
| non-vascular plant |
plants that do not have tube-like structures to transport
nutrients and must use other ways to transport water and other
materials (Lessons 15, 16) |
| notochord |
a firm, flexible cord that runs along the back of a chordate
(Lesson 22) |
| nuclear envelope |
the membrane that surrounds the nucleus (Lesson 7) |
| nucleic acid |
an organic molecule made of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen,
and phosphorous; DNA and RNA are nucleic acids. (Lesson 7) |
| nucleus |
the area inside a eukaryotic cell that directs the cell's
activities (Lessons 13, 19) |
| nutrient |
a chemical found in food that is needed to survive (Lesson
24) |
| oceanic zone |
the marine biome that is located just beyond the neritic zone;
also called the open-ocean (Lesson 2) |
| offspring |
the result of organism reproduction (Lessons 1, 8) |
| omnivore |
an animal that eats plants and animals (Lesson 19, Lab 1) |
| open circulatory
system |
circulatory system in which the heart pumps blood into an open
space in the body, instead of through a closed network of vessels
(Lessons 20, 21) |
| operant
conditioning |
a stimulus comes after a behavior; When a behavior takes
place many times, it has been reinforced in the past, when a
behavior stops taking place as often, it has been punished in
the past. (Lesson 5) |
| optic nerve |
a large nerve that connects the eye to the brain (Lesson
31) |
| organ |
a structure made up of two or more tissues that work together to
carry out a life function (Lesson 19) |
| organelle |
a structure found in cells that have a specialized function
(Lesson 7, 15) |
| organic compound |
a compound that contains carbon (Lesson 7) |
| organism |
a living thing (Intro, Lessons 1, 7) |
| organismal ecology |
the study of the effects of abiotic and biotic forces on an
individual organism (Lesson 1) |
| organ system |
a group of organs that work together to perform a like function
(Lesson 19) |
| osteoporosis |
a condition in which the bones become soft and brittle, which is
caused by the loss of minerals (Lesson 25) |
| ovary |
a reproductive structure; in flowers, the female part of the
flower or part of the carpel (which contains all female parts of
flower); the gland that secretes estrogen; found only in females
(Lessons 18, 30) |
| ovulation |
when an egg is released from the ovaries (Lesson 30) |
| ovule |
a plant structure that contains the egg cell that, when
fertilized, will become a seed (Lesson 18) |
| ozone |
ground-level, or "bad ozone" is formed when sunlight and gases
mix in the troposphere; the "good ozone" that is located in the
stratosphere: absorbs UV light so it cannot get back to the Earth's
surface (Lesson 6) |
| pain receptor |
a nerve ending that detects pain (Lesson 31) |
| palisade layer |
the layer below the upper epidermis layer that contains most of
the plant's chlorophyll (Lesson 17) |
| pancreas |
the gland that makes hormones that regulates sugar in the blood
(Lesson 30) |
| parasite |
an organism that lives on or in a host, causing harm to the host
(Lessons 3, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21) |
| parasitism |
a symbiotic relationship in which a parasite obtains nourishment
from a host (Lesson 3) |
| paramecium |
a complex freshwater protist with two nuclei (Lesson
13) |
| parent cell |
the cell that is divided during cell division (Lesson 8) |
| passive immunity |
short-term immunity in which antibodies are given to the body,
usually while babies are still in the womb (Lesson 29) |
| pathogen |
a disease-causing agent such as bacteria or virus (Lessons 12,
24, 29) |
| peat |
layers upon layers of moss (Lesson 16) |
| pedigree |
a chart that shows relationships between relatives, and which
relatives have a particular trait (Lesson 9) |
| penicillin |
an antibiotic produced naturally from a type of imperfect fungi
(Lesson 14) |
| penis |
the male sex organ used to carry semen and urine out the body
(Lesson 30) |
| permafrost |
permanently frozen subsoil (Lesson 2) |
| peripheral nerve |
a nerve that starts at both the brain and the spinal cord
(Lesson 31) |
| peripheral nervous
system |
the nerves that extend from the brain and run throughout the
body (Lesson 31) |
| peristalsis |
muscular motion in the esophagus that pushes the food to the
stomach (Lesson 28) |
| pesticide |
a chemical that is used to kill organisms that destroy crops
(Lesson 4) |
| petal |
a colorful, leaf-like structure in some flowering plants (Lesson
18) |
| pharyngeal pouch |
one
of the pouches located in the throat area; In fish, they will
develop into gills. In vertebrates they are only present during
development; also known as "gill slits." (Lesson 22) |
| pharynx |
upper
part of the throat that connects the mouth and nasal passages with
the esophagus (Lesson 27) |
| phenotype |
an
organism's physical appearance (Lesson 9) |
| pheromone |
a chemical signal given off by an animal that is meant to
influence the behavior of another animal of the same species (Lesson
5) |
| phospholipid |
a type of lipid that is found in large quantities in cell
membranes (Lesson 7) |
| photoperiodism |
a plant's response to periods of light and darkness (Lesson
15) |
| photosynthesis |
the process by which plants use water, carbon dioxide, and
sunlight to make their own food (Lessons 1, 2, 3, 13, 15, 17) |
| phototropism |
a plant's tendency to grow toward a light source (Lesson
15) |
| phylum |
(plural: phyla) the third broadest level of the
classification system; phylum is below kingdom (Lessons 18,
19) |
| phloem |
vascular tissue that carries food (Lesson 17) |
| phylogeny |
the evolutionary history of a species or group of related
species (Lessons 11, 13, 15) |
| phytoplankton |
microscopic photosynthetic organisms found in water (Lesson
4) |
| pigment |
a chemical that produces color (Lesson 13) |
| pioneer species |
a type of species who make the environment more hospitable for
different species to move in (Lesson 16) |
| pistil |
the female reproductive part of a flower (Lessons 9, 18) |
| pituitary gland |
the gland that makes hormones that affect and control other
endocrine glands (Lesson 30) |
| pivot joint |
a joint in which one bone rotates around another; found in the
neck (Lesson 25) |
| placenta |
the organ that forms in a pregnant female mammal that nourishes
the developing embryo (Lessons 23, 30) |
| Plantae |
the plant kingdom, in which all organisms can make their own
food using the sun's energy |
| plasma |
the
liquid part of blood (Lesson 26) |
| plasma membrane |
present
in both plant and animal cells; the boundary around a cell that
determines which materials flow in and out of the cell (Lessons 12,
13) |
| plasmid |
a small, circular piece of DNA in bacteria that carries
additional genetic information (Lesson 12) |
| platelet |
a blood cell that uses its sticky surface to form blood clots
(Lesson 26) |
| pollen |
male part of a flower that contains male sex cells, or sperm
(Lesson 9) |
| pollen tube |
a structure that forms when a flower is pollinated, allowing the
sperm cells to travel down the tube and fertilize the egg (Lesson
18) |
| pollination |
the transfer of pollen from male to female reproductive
structures (Lesson 18) |
| pollutant |
a substance that causes pollution (Lessons 4, 6) |
| pollution |
a change to the environment that negatively affects living
things (Lesson 6) |
| polygenic
inheritance |
many genes affecting one trait (Lesson 9) |
| population |
a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same
area (Lessons 1, 3) |
| population
ecologist |
a scientist who studies factors, that affect the number of
individuals of a population that live in a given area, such as
disease, predation by other organisms, and temperature of the
environment (Lesson 1) |
| precipitation |
includes rain, snow, hail, or sleet that fall to the Earth's
surface from the atmosphere (Lesson 4) |
| predation |
an interaction whereby one organism consumes the other organism
(Intro, Lessons 3, 19) |
| preening |
bird
behavior during which the bird uses oil from a gland near the tail
to comb through its feathers in order to prevent them from wearing
out (Lesson 23) |
| premenstrual
syndrome |
symptoms
that come from menstruation (Lesson 30) |
| primary producer |
an
organism that makes its own food and ultimately supports all other
life in an ecosystem (Lessons 2, 4, Lab 1) |
| prokaryote |
an organism whose cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles (Lesson 7, 12) |
| protective
coloration |
camouflage that allows an animal to blend in with its
surroundings (Lesson 21) |
| protein |
organic compounds made of nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon,
and sulfur; made by amino acids (Lesson 7) |
| Protista |
one of the six kingdoms, in which these organisms are similar to
bacteria except that they are eukaryotic; also referred to as
protists (Lessons 7, 10, 13) |
| protist |
an organism that has a nucleus but is not a plant, animal, or
fungus (Lessons 7, 10, 29) |
| protozoan |
unicellular, heterotrophic, animal-like protist (Lessons 3,
13) |
| pseudopod |
a bulge that extends from the cytoplasm and is used for movement
or feeding in some protozoans (Lesson 13) |
| puberty |
sexual changes that both boys and girls go through (Lesson
30) |
| Punnett square |
a chart that shows the possible combination of alleles that
result from a mating or a cross (Lesson 9) |
| pupil |
the black dot located in the center of the eye, which controls
the amount of light that enters the eye (Lesson 31) |
| purebred |
an organism that produces the same traits generation after
generation (Lesson 9) |
| pyramid of numbers |
a graphical representation of the number of individuals at each
trophic level of a food chain (Lesson 4) |
| radial symmetry |
the quality of having many lines of symmetry that pass through a
common central point (Lessons 19, 20, 21) |
| radon |
an odorless radioactive gas that is given off by certain rocks
and soil (Lesson 6) |
| radula |
the extension of a mollusk's mouth that contains sharp teeth for
scraping food (Lesson 21) |
| recessive allele |
an allele whose trait does not show up in an organism if it is
paired with a dominant allele; there must be two recessive alleles
present for a recessive trait to show up in the organism (Lesson
9) |
| red alga |
(plural: red algae) multicellular plant-like protist,
usually a type of seaweed, that is capable of living deep below the
surface of the ocean (Lesson 13) |
| red blood cell |
a blood cell that carries oxygen through the body (Lesson
26) |
| red bone marrow |
a type of marrow that produces some of the body's blood cells
(Lesson 25) |
| red tide |
an algae bloom that occurs in salt water (Lessons 13, 31) |
| reflex |
an innate and involuntary response to a stimulus (Lessons
5, 31) |
| regeneration |
the process by which parts of an organism break off and grow
into brand new organisms (Lessons 13, 20) |
| renal failure |
when the kidneys stop functioning properly due to waste build-up
(Lessons 28) |
| renewable resource |
a resource that is either always available or recycled in nature
over a short period of time (Lesson 6) |
| reproduce |
living organisms makes more of its own kind (Lessons 1, 8) |
| reptile |
a group of organisms that is represented by lizards, snakes,
tortoises, alligators, and crocodiles (Lesson 2) |
| reproductive
system |
the system organs that produce sex cells (Lesson 24) |
| respiration |
plants: the process of breaking down food to use energy (Lessons
12, 15)
human systems: the intake of oxygen and release of carbon
dioxide (Lessons 19, 27) |
| respiratory system |
the system that supplies the blood with oxygen (Lessons 24,
27) |
| response |
the reaction of living things to changes in their environment
(Lesson 1) |
| retina |
the back part of the eye that responds to light (Lesson
31) |
| rhizoid |
root-like structures that anchors plants whenever they are
growing (Lesson 16) |
| ribosome |
a small structure in the cytoplasm that makes the proteins in a
cell (Lessons 12, 15) |
| river |
a freshwater aquatic ecosystem with running water that is larger
than a stream (Lesson 2) |
| RNA |
ribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid that makes proteins (Lesson
7) |
| root |
anchors the plant in place and absorbs necessary water and
nutrients from the soil in which they grow (Lesson 17) |
| root cap |
contains dead roots that are used to protect the root (Lesson
17) |
| root hair |
absorbs water and other substances needed for the plant, also
increase the amount of surface area in the soil that the roots are
in contact with (Lesson 17) |
| sac fungus |
a classification of fungus that produce asci and can be
unicellular or multicellular (Lesson 14) |
| saliva |
liquid that helps break down the food and carries enzymes
(Lesson 28) |
| saprophyte |
an
organism that feeds on dead or decaying organisms (Lesson 14) |
| saturated fat |
a fat that is solid at room temperature; tends to cause high
cholesterol (Lesson 28) |
| scale |
the pointy part of a cone that closes after a female cone is
pollinated (Lesson 18) |
| scavenger |
an organism that feeds on dead organisms (Lesson 2) |
| scientific method |
a set of guidelines used to answer scientific questions in a
systematic manner (Intro) |
| scoliosis |
a condition in which the spine is curved in the shape of an "S"
(Lesson 25) |
| scrotum |
a sac outside of the body that holds the testes
(Lesson 30) |
| second-hand smoke |
the pollutants that people inhale from others who smoke
cigarettes (Lesson 6) |
| seed |
reproductive part that has a complete young plant inside of it
(Lesson 17) |
| seed coat |
the outer covering of the seed (Lesson 17) |
| self-pollinate |
when pollen from a flower lands on a pistil of that same flower
(Lesson 9) |
| semen |
a mixture of sperm and other fluids found in glands (Lesson
30) |
| semicircular canal |
a tiny fluid-filled tube inside the ear that helps keep balance
(Lesson 31) |
| semipermeable |
allowing some substances, but not others, to cross a cell
membrane (Lesson 7) |
| sensory nerve |
a nerve that gathers information about the environment (Lesson
31) |
| sensory receptor |
a special neuron that responds to stimulation (Lesson 31) |
| sepal |
a leaf-like structure in flowering plants that encloses the bud
(Lesson 18) |
| septum |
a wall that separates the oxygen-depleted blood from the
oxygen-rich blood in the heart (Lesson 26) |
| sessile |
permanently attached; not able to move freely (Lesson 20) |
| seta |
(plural: setae) one of several tiny bristles that a worm
uses to move and hold onto soil (Lesson 20) |
| sex cell |
sperm, in males; eggs, in females (Lesson 8) |
| sex chromosome |
one of a pair of chromosomes that determine gender (Lesson
9) |
| sex-linked trait |
a trait that is located on sex chromosomes (Lesson 9) |
| sexual
reproduction |
reproductive process that involves two parents who combine their
genetic material to produce at least one new organism (Lessons 8,
12, 14) |
| silica |
a coarse substance that is used to scour objects present in
horsetails stem (Lesson 16) |
| simple
carbohydrate |
also known as sugar or glucose; made from only one or two sugar
molecules bonded together (Lesson 28) |
| simple fracture |
a broken bone that remains under the skin (Lesson 25) |
| skeletal muscle |
a voluntary muscle that allows movement in the body (Lesson
25) |
| skeletal system |
the bodily system that consists of bones, joints, and cartilages
that supports and protects the body (Lessons 24, 25, 27) |
| small intestine |
the intestine that absorbs nutrients from food partially
digested in the stomach (Lesson 28) |
| smell |
to inhale an odor through the nose (Lesson 31) |
| smog |
a type of air pollution that is formed when sunlight reacts with
gases in the air (Lesson 6) |
| smooth muscle |
involuntary muscle tissue that assists in digestion (Lessons 25,
28) |
| solute |
a chemical that is dissolved in a solvent (Lesson 7) |
| solution |
one or more solutes dissolved in a solvent (Lesson 7) |
| solvent |
a chemical in which other chemicals dissolve in (Lesson
7) |
| species |
a group of similar organisms that can produce fertile offspring
(Lessons 1, 11, 18) |
| sperm |
the male sex cell (Lesson 30) |
| sphygmomanometer |
a device used to measure blood pressure (Lesson 26) |
| spinal cord |
a bundle of nerves that links the brain to the nervous system
(Lesson 31) |
| spiracle |
a structure similar to a hole, usually on the abdomen, that
allows oxygen into an organism's blood (Lesson 21) |
| spongy layer |
a loose layer of cells that contains air pockets where vascular
tissue is located (Lesson 17) |
| sporangium |
(plural: sporangia) a structure in fungi that contains
spores (Lesson 14) |
| spore |
a small, single cell that is capable of growing into a new
organism (Lessons 13, 14, 16, 17) |
| sporophyte stage |
the stage in a plants life cycle in which it produces spores
(Lesson 15) |
| sprain |
an injury in the ligament; a tear is formed by too much stress
on the ligament. (Lessons 25) |
| stamen |
the male reproductive part of a flower that contains the anther
and filament (Lessons 9, 18) |
| stigma |
the sticky part of the pistil on which pollen grains land and
get stuck (Lesson 18) |
| stimulus |
(plural: stimuli) anything that causes a response in a
living thing (Lessons 5, 15, 19, 29) |
| stomach |
the muscle where food is transported and processed (Lesson
28) |
| stoma |
(plural: stomata) a hole in the epidermis that regulates
the entry and exit of water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen (Lesson
17) |
| stratum |
(plural: strata) one of several layers of parallel rock
that forms one on top of another (Lesson 10) |
| stratosphere |
located above the troposphere, the part of the atmosphere that
contains "good" ozone (Lesson 6) |
| stream |
a freshwater aquatic ecosystem with running water that is
smaller than a river (Lesson 2) |
| striated muscle |
muscles that have a repeated pattern of parallel lines (Lesson
25) |
| style |
the structure in flowers that connects the stigma to the ovary
(Lesson 18) |
| surface zone |
the area of the ocean located from the surface of the water down
to a depth of a few hundred meters (Lesson 2) |
| swim bladder |
a pouch that fishes can inflate or deflate with gas at will to
allow them to swim to different depths without extra effort (Lesson
22) |
| symbiosis |
(plural: symbioses) an interaction between two
individuals that form a close relationship (Lessons 3, 13, 16) |
| symmetry |
the quality of having similar characteristics on two or more
sides (Lesson 19) |
| system |
a group of organs or tissues that carry out the same function
(Lesson 19) |
| T cell |
a cell that kills the cells that germs have attached to (Lessons
24, 29) |
| taproot |
one long, main, wide root (Lesson 17) |
| taste |
the ability to detect flavor in substances (Lesson 31) |
| taxon |
a level of organization into which organisms are classified
(Lesson 11) |
| taxonomy |
the branch of biology concerned with naming and organizing
different forms of life (Lesson 11) |
| technology |
applying scientific knowledge to practical means |
| tendon |
strong tissues that connect skeletal muscle with bone (Lessons
24, 25) |
| terrestrial |
living on land (Lesson 2) |
| territory |
an area that an animal defends, mainly because of the resources,
such as food and mates, that exist in these areas (Lesson 5) |
| tertiary |
third in order (Lesson 4) |
| testis |
(plural: testes) a gland that secretes testosterone;
found only in males (Lesson 30) |
| testosterone |
the male sex organ that produces sperm (Lesson 30) |
| theory |
a verified or established explanation that supports facts or
explains phenomena (Intro, Lessons 19, 20) |
| thigmotropism |
the tendency of a plant to respond to touch such as a vine
curling around a fence (Lesson 15) |
| thymus |
the gland that makes hormones that support the immune
system (Lesson 30) |
| thyroid gland |
the gland that produces hormones that control metabolism (Lesson
30) |
| tidal volume |
the amount of air that is inhaled and exhaled during each breath
(Lab 6) |
| tide |
the periodic rise and fall of waters in the ocean and its inlets
(Lesson 2) |
| tissue |
a group of similar cells that perform a similar function in an
organism (Lessons 15, 19, Lab 4) |
| touch |
when the skin has physical contact with an object (Lesson
31) |
| toxin |
a poison that can harm an organism (Lessons 12, 13, 29) |
| trachea |
the tube that carries air down the lungs; extends from the
larynx to the bronchi (Lessons 24, 25, 27) |
| trait |
a characteristic of a living thing; e.g., height, eye color,
hair color (Lesson 9, Lab 2) |
| trial and error |
learning by doing something many times until it is done
correctly; This type of learning involves a behavior that is changed
by experience. (Lesson 5) |
| trisomy 21 |
a condition where three chromosome 21s are present; this is seen
in patients with Down syndrome (Lesson 9) |
| trophic level |
the position of an organism on a food chain (Lesson 4) |
| trophic structure |
the organization of organisms feeding in an ecosystem (Lesson
4) |
| tropism |
a plant's response to stimuli in its environment (Lesson
15) |
| troposphere |
part of the atmosphere that is closest to the Earth's surface;
contains ground-level ozone (Lesson 6) |
| tumor |
an abnormal growth of cells (Lesson 29) |
| umbilical cord |
the reproductive structure that connects the placenta to the
mother and embryo (Lessons 23, 30) |
| understory |
the layer of plants under the tallest trees in the forest;
includes shrubs, vines, and shorter trees (Lesson 2) |
| unicellular |
one celled organisms such as bacteria (Lessons 1, 13) |
| unsaturated fat |
a fat that is liquid at room temperature; healthier than
saturated fat (Lesson 28) |
| ureter |
a tube that transports urine from a kidney to the bladder
(Lesson 28) |
| urethra |
a tube that releases the urine from the bladder and semen from
the penis (Lessons 28, 30) |
| urine |
liquid waste that is excreted by the kidneys (Lesson 28) |
| uterus |
an organ in the female that houses a fertilized egg (Lesson
30) |
| vaccine |
a substance introduced into the body that causes the production
of chemicals that will destroy disease-causing organisms and viruses
(Lessons 12, 29) |
| vacuole |
a bubble-like storage area within a cell (Lessons 13, 15) |
| vagina |
the female sex organ used to carry urine and blood from
menstruation out the body (Lesson 30) |
| valve |
a flap of tissues that lets blood flow in the right direction
(Lesson 26) |
| venom |
a chemical produced by some organisms that, when injected,
injures or kills prey (Lesson 21) |
| variable |
anything that changes in an experiment (Intro) |
| vas deferens |
a tube that carries semen from the testes to the urethra (Lesson
30) |
| vascular plant |
a plant that contains vascular tissue (Lessons 15, 16) |
| vascular tissue |
tissue that consists of a series of tube-like structures that
transport nutrients throughout the body of a plant (Lessons 15, 16,
17, 18, Lab 4) |
| vein |
a blood vessels that carry the blood back to the heart (Lesson
26) |
| ventricle |
one of the lower chambers of the heart that push the blood into
the arteries (Lesson 26) |
| vertebra |
(plural: vertebrae) a bone segment that makes up part of
the backbone of an animal (Lessons 22, 25) |
| vertebrate |
an animal that has a backbone (Lessons 22, 23) |
| vestigial organ |
a structure that is left over from the organism's ancestors and
is of little or no use to the organism (Lesson 10) |
| villus |
(plural: villi) a finger-like extension in the small
intestine that helps with absorption (Lesson 28) |
| virus |
a tiny non-living particle that invades a host cell and
multiplies (Lessons 12, 29) |
| visible spectrum |
the range of light that humans are able to see; the colors of
the rainbow (Lesson 15) |
| voluntary muscle |
a muscle that is controlled by the person (Lesson 25) |
| water-soluble |
able to be dissolved in water (Lessons 12, 28) |
| water vascular
system |
a system of fluid-filled tubes in an echinoderm's body (Lesson
21) |
| white blood cell |
a blood cell that defends the body from infections (Lesson
26) |
| white light |
light made up of all the colors on the visible spectrum;
sunlight (Lesson 15) |
| woody stem |
a type of stem that is hard and difficult to bend (Lesson
17) |
| x-ray |
a picture of bones taken by sending an invisible beam through
the body (Lesson 25) |
| xylem |
vascular tissue made up of tube-like cells stacked up on top of
each other; also used to transport water and other substances to the
roots (Lessons 16, 17) |
| yellow marrow |
bone marrow that contains fat (Lesson 25) |
| zygote |
a fertilized egg (Lessons 8, 15, 17, 18, 30) |
| zygote fungus |
(plural: zygote fungi) a classification of fungus that
includes molds and produces round spores on top of upright hyphae
(Lesson 14) |
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