Glossaries | edulabs.org academy

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Glossary: Biology Glossary for 11-16 Yr Olds (Chad Evans)

allele

1) One of a number of alternative forms of a gene. Commonly only two alternative forms exist for a gene.
(Adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

2) Either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character

antibody

1 Any of a large variety of proteins normally present in the body or produced in response to an antigen which it neutralizes, thus producing an immune response

asexual reproduction

1 Reproduction without the fusion of gametes

cancer

1 Any malignant growth or tumour caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream

cell

1) The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals

characteristic

1) A distinguishing quality

chromosome

1) A thread-like structure, made of protein, containing a number of genes aligned along its length.
(Adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

2) A threadlike body in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order

clone

1) An identical individual (oxy-moron)

2) A group of genetically identical cells or organisms derived from a single cell or individual by some kind of asexual reproduction

cystic fibrosis

1) The most common congenital disease; the child's lungs and intestines and pancreas become clogged with thick mucus; caused by defect in a single gene; there is no cure

DNA

1) deoxyribonucleic acid - A double helic, containing ....

2) A long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information

dominant

1) An allele which is always expressed in an individual.
(Adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

2) An allele that produces the same phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different

environment

1) The area in which something exists or lives

fertilisation

1) The fusion of male and female gametes nucleus to form a zygote; of sperm and ova in an animal or pollen and ovule in a plant

forensic

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gene

1) A length of DNA which codes for the production of one protein
(Adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

2) A segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity

generation

1) Group of genetically related organisms constituting a single step in the line of descent

2) The act of producing offspring or multiplying by such production

3) All the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

genetics

1) The branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms

genotype

1) The alleles present in the genetic make up of an individual. e.g. the genotype of a human male is XY (the X and Y are alleles).
(Adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

heterozygous

1) An individual who inherits two alternative alleles for a feature. e.g. Tt, XY
(adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

homozygous

1) An individual who inherits identical alleles for a feature from the parent e.g. TT, tt or XX
(adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

human genome project

1) An international study of the entire human genetic material

inheritance

1) characterisics/attributes acquired via biological heredity (genes) from the parents

nucleus

1) A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

phenotype

1) The features expressed in an individual as the result of the action of he alleles present
(Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

recessive

1) An allele which is only expressed in the abscence of a dominant allele of the gene.
(Adapted from Edexcel GCSE SCience and Data Resource Book, UG005206)

2) An allele that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its paired allele is identical (another recessive allele)

sexual reproduction

1) Reproduction involving the union or fusion of a male and a female gamete

transgenic

1) Containing artificially inserted genetic material from another species

transplant

1) moving a named item (e.g. gene/organ) from one organism (the donor) to another (the recipient)

variation

1) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration