: Take the time to find the meaning of the vocabulary terms listed below.


1. Biology
2. Prokaryotic cell
3. Eukaryotic Cell
4. Co-Dominance
5. Incomplete Dominance
6. Enzyme
7. Osmosis
8. Diffusion
9. DNA
10. RNA
11. Crossing over
12. Genotype
13. Phenotype
14. Homozygous
15. Heterozygous
16. Phylogenetic tree
17. Common ancestry
18. Carrying capacity
19. Limiting factors
20. Analogous
21. Homologous
22. Mitosis
23. Meiosis
24. Decomposer
25. Autotroph
26. Heterotroph
27. Natural Selection
28. Primary Succession
29. Secondary Succession
30. Human Impact

1 answer

Here are the meanings of the listed vocabulary terms:

  1. Biology: The scientific study of life and living organisms, encompassing various fields such as evolution, genetics, and ecology.

  2. Prokaryotic cell: A type of cell that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles. Prokaryotic cells are typically unicellular and are found in organisms such as bacteria and archaea.

  3. Eukaryotic Cell: A type of cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Eukaryotic cells can be unicellular or multicellular, and are found in organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

  4. Co-Dominance: A genetic scenario in which both alleles in a heterozygous individual are fully expressed, resulting in a phenotype that is neither dominant nor recessive. For example, in a flower, red and white alleles may produce flowers with both colors.

  5. Incomplete Dominance: A genetic phenomenon where the phenotype of a heterozygous individual is intermediate between the phenotypes of the two homozygous parents. For example, crossing red and white flowers may produce pink flowers.

  6. Enzyme: A protein that acts as a catalyst in biochemical reactions, speeding up the reaction without being consumed in the process.

  7. Osmosis: The movement of water molecules from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration across a semi-permeable membrane.

  8. Diffusion: The process by which molecules spread from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached.

  9. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life, composed of two strands that coil into a double helix.

  10. RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): A single-stranded molecule that plays a role in the synthesis of proteins and the transmission of genetic information. RNA is crucial for translating DNA instructions into functional proteins.

  11. Crossing over: The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, which leads to genetic variation in gametes.

  12. Genotype: The genetic constitution or allele combination of an individual organism, often represented by letters (e.g., AA, Aa, or aa).

  13. Phenotype: The observable physical and physiological traits of an organism, which result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

  14. Homozygous: A genetic condition in which an individual has two identical alleles for a particular gene (e.g., AA or aa).

  15. Heterozygous: A genetic condition in which an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene (e.g., Aa).

  16. Phylogenetic tree: A diagram that represents the evolutionary relationships among various biological species or entities based on their genetic or physical characteristics.

  17. Common ancestry: The idea that different species share a common ancestor from which they have evolved over time.

  18. Carrying capacity: The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support, considering available resources.

  19. Limiting factors: Environmental conditions that limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of organisms, such as food availability, water supply, habitat space, and competition.

  20. Analogous: Referring to structures in different species that perform similar functions but do not have a common evolutionary origin (e.g., wings of birds and wings of insects).

  21. Homologous: Referring to structures in different species that share a common ancestry and have similar developmental origins, even if they may serve different functions (e.g., human arm and whale flipper).

  22. Mitosis: A process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell, used for growth and repair.

  23. Meiosis: A specialized type of cell division that results in four genetically diverse gametes, each with half the chromosome number of the parent cell, important for sexual reproduction.

  24. Decomposer: An organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic matter and recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem.

  25. Autotroph: An organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances, typically through photosynthesis (e.g., plants) or chemosynthesis (e.g., certain bacteria).

  26. Heterotroph: An organism that cannot produce its own food and relies on consuming other organisms or organic matter for energy and nutrients (e.g., animals, fungi).

  27. Natural Selection: The process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the gradual evolution of species over time.

  28. Primary Succession: The series of ecological changes that occur in an ecosystem following a disturbance that removes all soil and life, such as lava flow or glacial retreat.

  29. Secondary Succession: The process of ecological recovery that occurs after a disturbance that leaves the soil intact, such as fire or flooding, allowing for a faster return to a stable ecosystem.

  30. Human Impact: The effect that human activities have on the environment, including habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.