-in Suffix of a protein. -ose Suffix of a sugar. 5' cap The 5' end of a pre-mRNA molecule modified by the addition of a cap of guanine nucleotide. 10% rule Only 10% of the total energy produced at each trophic level is available to the next level. The amount of energy passed up to the levels of the food pyramid reduces as you go up. abdominal cavity Cavity housing intestines. abiotic factors Nonliving components of environment. abscisic acid (ABA) A plant hormone that slows down growth, promotes seed dormancy and facilitates drought tolerance. absorption spectrum A graph plotting a pigment light light absorption. acclimatization Adjusting to a new range of environmental temperatures. acetyl-CoA Is formed when pyruvate first enters into the mitochondria via active transport. acetylcholine Common vertebrate neurotransmitter, especially in neuromuscular junctions. acquired immunity Immunity that is present only after exposure and is highly specific. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) The most advanced, and fatal, stage of an HIV infection. action potential A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. action spectrum A profile of the relative performance of the different wavelengths in photosynthesis. activation energy The amount of energy needed to push the reactants over an energy barrier. activator A protein that binds to DNA and stimulates transcription of a specific gene. active immunity A form of acquired immunity in which the body produces its own antibodies against disease-causing antigens. active site A pocket or groove on the surface of the enzyme. active transport When a cell gets materials or excretes them by using its own energy, usually through ATP; going against a concentration gradient. actual evapotranspiration Annual amount of water transpired by plants and evaporated from landscape. actual range Area an organism actually occupies. adaptive radiation Evolution of many new species from a common ancestor as a result of introduction to new environments. addition rule Considering mutually exclusive events, the probability of both occurring is the sum of the probabilities of each event. adenylyl cyclase Converts ATP to cyclic AMP in response to an extracellular signal. adhesion Water molecules sticking to other surfaces. adipose tissue Tissue that stores fat. age structure Relative number of individuals at each age. aggregate fruit A fruit derived from a single flower that has more than one carpel. agonistic behavior Competition that determines who wins a prize, such as food or mates. alcohol fermentation When pyruvate is converted to ethanol in 2 steps. allele One of the alternative forms of a gene that governs a characteristic, such as hair color. allele frequency Proportion of an allele in a gene pool. allometric growth Proportioning that gives a body a specific form. allopatric speciation When a population is divided; leads to speciation. allopolyploid Sterile hybrid is changed to a fertile polyploid due to mutation; fertile with each other, but not parent species. allosteric regulation When a protein's function at one site is affected by the binding of a regulatory molecule to a separate site. alpha glucose Monomer for starch and glycogen. alteration of generations The alteration of two or more different forms in the life cycle of a plant or animal. alternative RNA splicing Genes giving rise to two or more different polypeptides depending upon which segments are treated as exons. altruism Behavior that benefits another without benefiting oneself. aminocentesis Prenatal diagnostic technique that involves inserting a needle to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus. amphipathic Molecules are said to be this when it has regions that are both hydrophilic and hydrophobic. anabolic pathways Metabolic pathways that consume energy to build complicated molecules from simpler ones. anabolism Metabolic pathways that construct molecules, requiring energy. anaerobic Occurs by fermentation, which generate ATP solely by substrate-level phosphorylation. analogy Anatomical similarity due to convergent evolution. anaphylactic shock A severe reaction that occurs when an allergen is introduced to the bloodstream of an allergic individual. Characterized by bronchoconstriction, labored breathing, widespread vasodilation, circulatory shock, and sometimes sudden death. anatomy Study of the structure of an organism. aneuploidy Abnormal number of chromosomes. anther In an angiosperm, the terminal pollen sac of a stamen, where pollen grains containing sperm-producing male gametophytes form. antibiotic resistance Resistance evolving rapidly in many species of prokaryotes due to overuse of antibiotics, especially in agriculture. antibiotics Interfere with production of peptidoglycan; harm bacteria but not eukaryotes. antibodies Protein that is produced by lymphocytes and that attaches to a specific antigen. anticodon Specialized base triplet at one end of a tRNA molecule that recognizes a particular complementary codon on an mRNA molecule. antigen Any foreign molecule that is specifically recognized by lymphocytes and elicits an immune response. antigen presentation The process by which an MHC molecule binds to a fragment of an intracellular protein antigen and carries it to the cell surface, where it is displayed and can be recognized by a T cell. apoptosis Programmed cell death. aposematic coloration Bright warning colors in animals with a chemical defense. aquaporin A membrane protein, specifically a transport protein, that facilitates the passage of water through channel proteins. archaea Domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls lacking peptidoglycan. Like eukaryotes, DNA contains histone proteins. artificial selection Humans modifying species for desired traits through selective breeding. asexual reproduction One parent produces a genetically identical offspring by mitosis. associative learning The ability of animals to associate one feature with another. asters Microtubules and fibers that radiate out from the centrioles. astrocytes Provide structural and metabolic support for neurons. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) Composed of a sugar ribose, nitrogenous base adenine, and a chain of three phosphate groups bonded to it. ATP synthase The enzyme that make ATP from ADPand inorganic phosphate. autoimmune diseases Diseases caused when the immune system loses tolerance for self and turns against certain molecules in the body. autonomic nervous system The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands. autopolyploid Having more than two sets of chromosomes from a single species. autosomes Chromosomes that are not directly involved in determining the sex of an individual. auxin Indoleacetic acid (IAA), a natural plant hormone that has a variety of effects, including cell elongation, root formation, secondary growth, and fruit growth. avirulent A term describing a pathogen that can only mildly harm, but not kill, the host plant. axon Long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron. axon hillock Cone shaped region of an axon where it joins the cell body. B cell receptor The antigen receptor on B cells: a Y-Shaped, membrane-bound molecule consisting of two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains linked by disulfide bridges and containing two antigen-binding sites. B lymphocytes (B cells) Lymphocyte that matures in the bone marrow and secretes antibodies. bacilli Rod-shaped bacteria. bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) An artificial version of a bacterial chromosome that can carry inserts of 100, 000 to 500, 000 base pairs. bacteriophage A virus that infects bacteria; also called a phage. bacteriophages A virus that infects bacteria; also called a phage. barr body A dense body formed from a deactivated X chromosome. basal metabolic rate (BMR) The metabolic rate of a nongrowing, resting, fasting, nonstressed endotherm. basement membrane Cells at the base of an epithelial layer are attached to this. Batesian mimicry Species mimics the appearance of an unpalatable or harmful. behavior The way an organism reacts to changes in its internal condition or external environment. behavioral isolation Incompatible courtship rituals, pheromones, or bird songs. beta glucose Monomer for cellulose and chitin. big-bang reproduction Species that have only a single reproductive opportunity, such as agave and salmon. binary fission A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size. bioenergenetics The study of how organisms manage their energy resources. bioenergetics Flow of energy through an animal. Limits its behavior, growth, reproduction. biogeographic realms Broad patterns of distribution due to continental drift and barriers such as deserts and mountain ranges. biogeography Geographic distribution of species. biological augmentation Uses organisms to add essential materials to degraded ecosystems. biological clock An innate mechanism in living organisms that controls the periodicity of many physiological functions. biological magnification Toxins become more concentrated in successive trophic levels. biological species concept Species is a group of populations whose members have the potential to produce fertile offspring. biomanipulation Technique for restoring eutrophic lakes that reduces populations of algae by manipulating higher-level consumers.
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