Bio - Definitions 1-4.IGCSE

1.
Movement: Is an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or
place.
2. Respiration: The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release
energy for metabolism
3. Sensitivity: The ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external
environment
4. Growth: Is a permanent increase in size and dry mass
5. Reproduction: Is the processes that make more of the same kind of organism.
6. Excretion: Is the removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of
requirements
7. Nutrition: Is the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.
8. Taxonomy: It is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms.
9. Kingdom: Highest taxonomic group used in classifying organisms.
10. Phylum: Grouping organisms based on general specialisation of characteristics.
11. Class: It consists of organisms that show a common attribute.
12. Order: Contains one or more families.
13. Family: A group of one or more genera, especially sharing a common attribute.
14. Genera: Closely related or similar species are placed together in a group called genus
(plural: genera). For example, there are 45 species of bronzeback snake, all in the same genus
Dendrelaphis.
15. Species: Is a group of organisms that can reproduce naturally with one another (can
interbreed) to produce fertile offspring. They are the smallest natural group of organisms.
a. Members of a species also often look very similar to each other in appearance, almost
identical in their anatomy, physiology and behaviour. For example, all cats belong to
same species, but there are wide variations in appearance of different breeds.
16. Binomial system: It is the system of naming organisms is an internationally agreed system
in which the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts i.e. genus and species.
Binomial means ‘two names’; the first name gives the genus and the second gives the
species.
The name of the genus (the generic name) is always given a capital letter and the name of the
species (the specific name) always starts with a lowercase letter.
17. Dichotomous key: It is the key used to identify unfamiliar organisms. It simplifies the process
of identification and helps to identify organism correctly.
18. Evolution: It is the inheritance of characteristics of biological population over successive
generations.
19. What is DNA: Is a chromosome made up of two strands (chains of nucleotide) held together
by covalent bonds between bases. The double stand is twisted to form a helix.
Its basic subunit is long chains of thousands of nucleotides formed in two strands
20. Nucleotide:
Is 5-carbon sugar molecule (called deoxyribose) joined to phosphate (-PO3) group and an
organic base (either adenine A, thymine T, Cytosine C or guanine G).
PO3 and sugar are same throughout the chain but organic base varies (any of 4).
A always pairs with T and C pairs with G.
21. Cold blooded: There is no internal mechanism for temperature control.
22. Warm blooded: They have internal mechanism for temperature control which keep the
temperature within narrow limits. They have temperature higher than their surroundings.
Their temperature is kept constant despite any variation in external temperature-not dependant
on external environment.
23. A parasite is an organism living on another organism (the host), gaining food and
shelter from it. It is a very one-sided relationship
24. protozoan (cannot make their own food and feed microorganisms or organic debri)
25. names: The two-kingdom scheme, The five-kingdom scheme, The three-domain
scheme.
26. Specialised cells: When cells have finished dividing and growing, specialisation of
cells (sometimes called ‘division of labour’ within cell) occur. After specialisation
these specialised cells attain specific shape, will be able to carry out specific functions
indefinitely and are not able to divide by mitosis or enter cell cycle again. New
specialised cells can be formed from their stem cells.
27. Tissues are group of cells with similar structures working together to perform shared
function. E.g. muscle contract to cause movement, xylem carries water. Other
examples: of tissues (epithelium, tubes, sheets, glands)
28. Organs is a structure made up of group of tissues working together to perform

specific function.
Example in human: stomach is organ and is made up of different tissues like tissue made
from epithelial cells, gland cells and muscle cells. Other examples are lung, intestine, heart,
brain, eyes. All organs are supplied with food and oxygen brought to them by blood vessels
and nerve signals by nerve supply.
Example in plants: leaf, which is made from epidermis, palisade, spongy, xylem and phloem
tissues.
29. Organ system is a group of organs with related functions working together tgo
perform body function. Examples in human: heart and blood vessels make circulatory
system. Brain, spinal cord and nerves make nervous system. Example in plants: in
flowering plants stem, leaves and buds make a shoot system.
30. Organism is a living thing that has an organised structure, can react to stimuli,
reproduce, grow, adapt and maintain homeostasis. It is formed by organs and system
working together to make an independent plant, human or animal who can survive by
itself.
Chapter 3
31. Diffusion: The net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of
lower concentration (i.e. down a concentration gradient) as a result of their random movement
(kinetic energy)
32. Concentration gradient (CG): The difference in concentration of substance on either side is
called concentration gradient. More the difference more will be diffusion.
33. Controlled diffusion: In actual diffusion is not so simple or passive. It is also controlled by
pores, enzymes, cell requirement and many structures accordingly. This is controlled
diffusion.
34. What is water potential (WP):It is a measure of tendency of water whether it is likely to lose
or gain water molecules from another solution.
35. Osmosis: Net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute
solution) to a region of lower water potential (concentrated solution) through a partially
permeable membrane
36. Hypertonic: solution having high solute concentration and low WP than inside the cell. So
water will exit the cell. E.g cell plasmolysis
37. Hypotonic: solution having low solute concentration and high WP than inside the cell. So
water will enter cell e.g turgid cell.
38. Isotonic: solution having same solute concentration inside and outside the cell and WP is also
same. So, there will be no CG, no water movement. E.g flaccid cell
39. Turgor pressure: is the force inside a cell which pushes outwards the cell membrane against
a cell wall.
40. Plasmolysis: is the process of losing water from cell. Contraction of protoplast* of plant cell
as a result of loss of water.
*Protoplast: refers to entire cell excluding cell wall.
41. Flaccid: state in which cell contents shrunken and not turgid. It is between turgid and
plamolysed cell.
42. Active transport: Movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower
concentration to a region of higher concentration (against concentration gradient) using
energy from respiration.
Chapter 4
43. What are biological molecules: Molecules present in living organisms which are essential
for biological processes. Like cell division, development, morphogenesis. Examples are
carbohydrates, proteins, fats and nucleic acid.

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1.

Movement: Is an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or

energy for metabolism

4. Growth: Is a permanent increase in size and dry mass

6. Excretion: Is the removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of

7. Nutrition: Is the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.

8. Taxonomy: It is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms.

9. Kingdom: Highest taxonomic group used in classifying organisms.

10. Phylum: Grouping organisms based on general specialisation of characteristics.

11. Class: It consists of organisms that show a common attribute.

12. Order: Contains one or more families.

species (the specific name) always starts with a lowercase letter.

of identification and helps to identify organism correctly.

18. Evolution: It is the inheritance of characteristics of biological population over successive

21. Cold blooded: There is no internal mechanism for temperature control.

shelter from it. It is a very one-sided relationship

specialised cells can be formed from their stem cells.

examples: of tissues (epithelium, tubes, sheets, glands)

28. Organs is a structure made up of group of tissues working together to perform

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