Shuters

Life Sciences Grade

11

GLOSSARY

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 Glossary
a characteristic – typical quality that something has
chicken pox – mild disease with a skin rash caused
acid rain – rainfall made more acidic than normal by by a virus
dissolved sulphur and nitrogen oxides chlorophyll – green pigment that can convert light
acidity – substance containing hydrogen that makes energy into chemical energy
a reactive substance in water chloroplast – organelle in a cell that contains
aggression – behaviour which threatens or causes chlorophyll for photosynthesis
harm cholera – serious disease with vomiting and
AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, diarrhoea caused by a bacterium
disease caused by a virus transmitted in body cholesterol – fatty substance in cell membranes
fluids that causes loss of immunity, leaving that causes heart disease if there is too much in
sufferer open to infection the blood
amino acid – organic acid with an amino group that cilia – thread-like structure found in large numbers
is used to make up proteins on the surface of some cells
amoebic dysentery – disease caused when a closed circulation – when the blood stays inside
certain protist causes diarrhoea the network of vessels that supply the body
antagonistic – two things which are opposed or closed population – there is no emigration or
work in opposite directions immigration
anterior – found near the front end of the organism common cold – the mild disease affecting the nose
antigen – matter which causes an antibody to be and throat caused by a virus
made coronary – of the surface of the heart
asexual reproduction – producing young from one corrode – when the surface of a metal is destroyed
parent with no joining of gametes by chemical reactions
atherosclerosis – disease when fats build up on the cortex – outer layer of an organ
wall of arteries, increasing blood pressure courtship – behaviour used to attract a mate for
atrium – upper chamber of the heart reproduction
cream (cottage) cheese – soft cheese made from
b soured milk
bacteria – microscopic single-celled organism with cuspid valve – valve made of flaps of skin that
no nucleus controls the direction of blood flow through the
binary fission – splitting into two as a type of heart
asexual reproduction
biodiversity – the range of different living things in d
an area death rate – the number of deaths per one thousand
biotechnology – using living organisms for the individuals per year
manufacture of food, drugs, etc. on a large scale decomposer – organism that feeds on dead
birth rate – the number of live births per one remains, breaking them down
thousand individuals per year deforestation – removing the trees from some land
bladder – elastic-walled organ to hold urine made by dermis – inner layer of the skin
the kidneys desertification – the process of becoming desert
blood pressure – pressure of the blood in the main because natural vegetation is removed
arteries that indicates the health of the heart dialysis – separating small molecules from large
bone marrow – soft tissue in the holes found in using a differentially permeable membrane
bones that is used in the making of blood differentially permeable – permeable to small
breed – have young molecules but not to larger ones
diffusion – process where fluids mix due to the
c random movement of their molecules
capsule – in bacteria, the slimy coat round the cell direct technique – finding the total number by
wall counting the individuals
carbon dioxide – gas made of carbon and oxygen disease – when the body does not work properly, an
found in air illness
cardiac – of the heart distributed – spread out
carrying capacity – the most organisms of a DNA – Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid, the chemical
species that can be safely supported by a habitat controlling the cell
cartilage – hard but flexible connective tissue found dorsal – found near the upper part of the organism
in areas with a lot of wear such as joints
e i
earthquake – movement of the earth’s surface that immune response – body’s reaction to a foreign
may cause a lot of damage object after recognising its antigens
effector – cell or organ that is used to respond to a immunity – ability to resist the attack of harmful
stimulus, usually a muscle or gland matter entering the body
enamel – hard, white substance on the surface of a impulse – short signal carrying a message from one
tooth place to another
endangered – the species is in danger of becoming indirect technique – finding the total number using
extinct a formula rather than counting
endocrine – of the ductless glands that produce infectious – able to invade the body and cause
hormones disease and spread to other bodies
epidermis – outer layer of the skin inflammation – reaction of the body to injury when
eukaryote – organism with cells that each has a blood vessels swell painfully
nucleus instinct(ive behaviour) – pattern of behaviour that
eutrophication – too much fertiliser in water, an organism is born with, not learned
causing loss of oxygen, which kills living things interstitial cells – cells in the spaces between
exocrine – of the glands with ducts to carry away tubules in the testes that produce male hormones
the secretions invasive – able to spread where it is not wanted
exponential growth – growth in numbers with no iodine – element needed in small quantities in the
limiting factors, giving a straight line on a graph diet to make the hormone thyroxin
extinct – a species that no longer exists
j
f joint – the place where two bones meet
factory – building where something is manufactured
filtrate – clear liquid separated from a mixture by k
filtering it keratin – strong, fibrous protein used to make hair,
flooding – too much water that spreads across the horn, claws and feathers
land
fungus – eukaryotic organism with no chlorophyll l
that reproduces by spores lacteal – small lymph vessel in the villus lining the
intestines
g larva – young form of an arthropod, which does not
ganglion – small lump made of the cell bodies of look like the adult form
neurons ligament – elastic tissue connecting the ends of the
gastro-enteritis – infection of the stomach and/or two bones in a joint
intestines lignin – waterproof chemical that makes up wood
geometric growth – see exponential growth logistic growth – growth in numbers which stops
glycogen – store of carbohydrate in animals made rising when environmental resistance acts
of many glucose molecules joined together lymph node – small lump of tissue on a lymph
greenhouse gas – gas that causes more heat than vessel that filters out foreign bodies
usual to be held in the air lymphatic system – system of vessels that collects
gum – in the mouth, the firm pink flesh around the excess tissue fluid and returns it to the blood
teeth lysozyme – antibacterial enzyme found in tears,
saliva, etc.
h
habitat – area in which an organism lives that m
supplies its needs macrophage – type of large white blood cell that
histamine – chemical that causes blood vessels to removes foreign matter by phagocytosis
swell in response to an antigen mast cell – cell in connective tissue that produces
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes histamines in the immune reaction
AIDS by infecting helper T-cells measles – disease with sore eyes and a rash
homeostasis – keeping a constant internal caused by a virus, can be dangerous
environment medulla – inner part of an organ
hormone – messenger molecule made by endocrine meiosis – the reduction division of the nucleus in
glands and carried in the blood to its target which it divides twice to give four new cells, each
host – organism that has been infected by a parasite with half the number of chromosomes of the
hyperglycaemia – unusually high level of sugar in original parent cell
the blood membrane – thin covering layer of tissue
hypertension – unusually high blood pressure
methane – greenhouse gas which burns in air to p
give carbon dioxide and water parasite – organism living in or on another organism
microbe – microscopic living organism, especially a from which it gets its food
bacterium pericardium – tough membrane that lines the space
mine (mining) – place where minerals are dug out containing the heart
of the ground (making a mine) permanent tooth – one of the adult teeth which
mitochondrion – organelle in a cell that is used to cannot be replaced if it is lost
produce energy for the cell pesticide – chemical that kills pests
mitosis – the process in which a cell nucleus divides phagocyte – cell that is able to surround and then
to give two new cells, each with the same number digest foreign particles
of chromosomes as the original parent cell phosphorus – element that is needed by all living
mortality – the number of deaths per one thousand things for many important organic molecules
individuals per year photochemical smog – foggy conditions caused by
mould – soft green or grey growth of fungus on old sunlight acting on pollutant chemicals in the air
organic matter photoreceptor – cell that responds to light energy
mucus (adj. mucous) – slimy substance made by by causing a nerve impulse to start
goblet cells in some membranes pit – in plant cells, a hole in the waterproof lignin of
mutation – change in a gene that changes the the wall for water movement
working of the body pit latrine – simple toilet made by digging a deep
mycoprotein – a protein food made from fungi hole in the ground
myelin sheath – insulating layer of fatty material polio – the viral disease poliomyelitis that paralyses
round nerve axons that speeds up the nerve impulse and may kill its victim
pollutant – something produced by people that
n disturbs the natural environment causing harm
nagana – isiZulu name of a disease of cattle caused pollution – disturbing the natural environment with
by Trypanasoma parasites carried by Tsetse Flies substances produced by people
natality – the number of births per one thousand positive feedback – process where the end product
individuals per year stimulates the start to make it keep on increasing
negative feedback – process where the end posterior – situated near the hind end or back
product inhibits the start to make it constant prokaryote – simple organism with no nucleus
nerve – bundle of neurons and connective tissue and no membranous organelles in the cell, e.g.
carrying impulses through the body bacteria
neuron – nerve cell specialised for carrying protist – animal-like or plant-like single-celled
impulses in the form of a nerve impulse organism with a nucleus
neurotransmitter – chemical released at a synapse pus – yellow liquid made of dead cells and bacteria
to pass an impulse from one neuron to the next produced from inflamed tissue
nitric acid – strong acid containing nitrogen,
hydrogen and oxygen q
nitrogen – gas that makes up most of the air
quadrat – square frame that is put on the ground to
nitrogen oxides – compounds of nitrogen and
study numbers and types of organisms
oxygen that make acids when in water
nucleus – organelle in a cell that controls its working
and reproduction
r
nymph – young form of an arthropod, which looks rare – not many individuals left but species is not yet
like the adult form at risk
receptor – cell, tissue or organ that is sensitive to a
o stimulus and then responds to it
olfactory – of the sense of smell recycle – use the same thing over and over again
open population – population where emigration and reflex – automatic, involuntary response to a
immigration is possible stimulus
organ – group of tissues that is part of an organism renal – of the kidney
specialised for a function rhizoid – simple root-like structure in mosses, fungi
osmosis – process where water passes through and algae
a differentially permeable membrane to dilute a
more concentrated solution s
overpopulation – too many individuals of a saliva – sticky fluid made in the mouth that helps to
particular species for the area to support digest food and swallow it
ozone layer – a part of the stratosphere rich in saprophytic – organism that feeds on dead remains
ozone at an altitude between 12km and 50km sciatic nerve – bundles of nerve fibres running from
the lower back down the leg
semilunar valve – valve made of crescent of skin topsoil – earth making the top layer of ground in
that controls the direction of blood flow through the which plants grow
heart tornado – strong, dangerous, spinning wind
septic tank – underground container for the toxic – poisonous
treatment of sewage wastes toxin – poisonous substance
sewage – water containing human faeces and urine tracheid – spindle-shaped dead cell found in plant
sexual reproduction – producing young using two xylem giving support and carrying water
parents whose gametes join together transect – way of sampling, for example by counting
shelter – place to hide from predators, weather, etc. organisms touching a line on the ground
sickle cell anaemia – hereditary blood disease trypanosomiasis – sleeping sickness, a disease
where the red blood cells change shape causing fever, lack of energy and death caused by
silt – fine sand which has been left when running Trypanasoma parasites
water stops flowing Tsetse Fly – vector of the Trypanasoma parasite
sleeping sickness – trypanosomiasis, a disease tsunami – unusually large wave striking the coast
causing fever, lack of energy and death caused by and causing damage
Trypanasoma parasites tuberculosis (TB) – infectious disease that attacks
social group – a group of individuals who bond the body, especially the lungs
together and stay close to each other
solitary – an individual who lives alone and may u
only meet others of the species to reproduce ultraviolet ray – invisible light that can damage
sphincter – ring of muscle that can close an living tissue
opening or tube urban – of the city or town
spinal cord – strand of nerve fibres running through urea – chemical formed in the liver from waste
the vertebrae to and from the brain protein and discharged in the urine
spleen – blood-storing organ near the top of the ureter – tube passing the urine from the kidney to
abdomen, also used in the immune reaction the bladder
sporangium – structure in which spores are made in urethra – tube passing the urine from the bladder to
asexual reproduction the outside of the body
spore – reproductive body made of one, or a few
cells during asexual reproduction
stem cell – cell that is not yet specialised and can
v
vaccine – substance containing antibodies or
make other cells that become specialised
antigens to provide immunity from a disease
stimulus – a change in the internal or external
vascular bundle – conducting tissue of higher
environment of an organism that causes a
plants containing xylem and phloem
response
ventral – found near the lower part of the organism
stolon – long stem that bends to touch the ground
ventricle – one of the lower, muscular chambers of
and develop into a new individual
the heart
sulphur dioxide – acid, poisonous gas made of
vessel – tube that carries liquids
sulphur and oxygen
virus – very tiny particle that can cause disease by
survival – ability to continue to live successfully
entering and damaging cells
survivorship curve – graph of the chances of
volcano – mountain that gives out hot rocks and
offspring surviving through each stage of life
gases
suture – a stitch or join to stop parts coming apart
vulnerable – will become endangered unless helped
symbiosis – association between two different
in some way
species [can sometimes mean when both benefit]
symptom – feeling of illness caused by a disease
working in the body w
synapse – connector gap between two neurons wastes – unwanted matter left after useful things
have been removed
t
tendon – strong, inelastic tissue joining a muscle to z
a bone zygote – fertilised egg before it begins to develop
territory – area defended by an animal against
others of the same species
tetanus – infectious disease that causes the
muscles to have spasms and become rigid
threatened – becoming endangered or vulnerable
thymus – gland in the neck and upper chest
controlling the immune response