Abdomen: in
arthropods, posterior body region of an arthropod that contains fused segments,
digestive structures, reproductive organs, and bears additional legs; in human,
part of body that is between that diaphragm and pelvis
Air Sac: in
birds, the posterior and anterior structure used in respiration, resulting in
only oxygenated air moving through the lungs
Alteration of Generations: reproductive life cycle that alternates between a diploid (2n)
sporophyte generation and a haploid (n) gametophyte generation
Amniotic egg: egg
that provides a complete environment for the developing embryo with a yolk sac
for nutrition, protective internal membranes and fluid, and a protective outer
shell.
Angiosperm:
plants whose seeds are part of fruits
Annual: plant
that completes its life span in one growing season or less
Anterior: head of
an animal with bilateral symmetry
Anther: male
flower part containing pollen found at the top of the stamen
Appendage: in
arthropods, a structure such as a led or an antenna that grows and extends from
the outside body covering
Arthropod: an
invertebrate animal with an exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed appendages
Ascoscarp: in sac
fungi, the reproductive
Ascospore: spore
produced by an ascus
Ascus:
spore-producing saclike structure of saclike fungi
Atrium: heart
chamber that receives bloods from the blood
Auxin: plant
hormone that moves in only one direction away from the site where it was
produced and can stimulate the elongation of cells
Bacteria:
microscopic prokaryotes most are beneficial to humans and to the environment,
but a small percentage cause disease
Basidiocarp:
fruiting body of basidiomycetes
Basidiospore:
haploid spore released by a basidium during reproduction
Basidium:
club-shaped, spore-producing hypha of basidiomycetes
Biennial: plant
with a two-year life span
Bilateral symmetry: body plan that can be divided into mirror images only one page at a
time
Binary Fission:
asexual form of reproduction used by some prokaryotes in which a cell divides
into two genetically identical cells
Bioindicator:
living organism that is sensitive to environmental conditions and is one of the
first to respond to changes
Bioluminescent:
able to emit light
Capsid: outer
protein layer that surrounds the genetic material of a virus
Capsule:
polysaccharide layer secreted around the cell wall by some prokaryotes that
prevents the cell from drying out and helps the cell attach to environmental
surfaces
Carapace: dorsal
part of a turtle's shell
Cartilage:
flexible, tough material that makes up vertebrate skeletons or parts of
vertebrate skeletons
Caste:
specialized group of individuals in an insect society that performs specific
tasks
Cephalization:
tendency to concentrate sensory organs and nervous tissue at an animal's
interior end
Cephalothorax: in
arthropods, the structure formed from the thorax region fused with the head
Cerebellum: part
of the brain responsible for balance and coordination
Cerebral Cortex:
highly folded outer layer of the cerebrum that is responsible for coordinating
conscious activities, memory, and the ability to learn
Chemotaxis:
movement of a cell or organism towards or away from a particular chemical
Chitin: tough,
flexible
Chordates:
animals of the phylum Chordata having a dorsal tubular nerve cord, a notochord,
a pharynegeal pouches, and a postanal tail at some point in its development
Clitellum:
thickened band of segments that produce a cocoon from which young earthworms
hatch
Closed circulatory system: blood is confined to the vessels as it moves through the
body
Colony: group of
cells or organisms that join together, forming a close association
Cone: feature
that contains male of female reproductive structures of cycads and other
gymnosperms.
Conidiophores:
spore-producing hypha of sac fungi
Conjugation: form
of reproduction used by some prokaryotes in which the prokaryotic cells attach
to each other and exchange genetic material
Contour feathers:
barbed feather that covers a bird's body, wings, and tail, and forms the body
contour
Contractile Vacuole: organelle that collects excess water in the cytoplasm and expels it
from the cell; maintains homeostasis in hypotonic environments
Cortex: layer
composed of ground tissues between the epidermis and vascular tissue of a
root
Cotyledon: seed
structure that stores food or helps absorb food for the sporophyte of vascular
seed plants
Crop: sac in
which food and soil are stores until they pass to the eathworm's gizzard
Cytokinin: plant
hormone that promotes cell division by stimulating production of proteins
required for mitosis and cytokinesis
Deuterostome:
coelomate animal whose anus develops from opening in the gastrula
Diaphragm: sheet
of muscle beneath the lungs that separates the mammalian chest cavity from the
abdominal cavity
Dormancy: period
of little or no growth that varies from species to species; in plants, an
adaptation that increases that survival rate of seeds in harsh environments
Dorsal: backside
of an animal with bilateral symmetry
Down Feathers:
soft feather beneath a bird's contour feathers that provides insulation by
trapping air
Echinoderm:
invertebrate marine animals characterized by a hard, spiny covering/skin
Ectoderm: outer
layer of cells in the gastrula that develops into nervous tissue and skin
Ectotherm: animal
that cannot regulate its body temperature through its metabolism and obtains
heat from the external environment
Endoderm: inner
layer of cells in the gastrula that develops into digestive organs and the
digestive tract lining.
Endodermis: cell
layer at the inner boundary of the cortex; regulates the material that enters
the plant's vascular tissues
Endoskeleton:
internal skeleton that protects internal organs, provides support for the
organism's body, and can provide an internal brace for muscles to pull
against
Endosperm: tissue
that provides nourishment to the developing embryo
Endospore:
dormant bacterial cell able to survive for long periods of time
Endotherm:
organism that generates its body heat internally by its own metabolism
Epidermis: dermal
tissue that makes up a plant's outer covering
Epiphyte: plant
that lives anchored to an object or to another plant
Ethylene: gaseous
plant hormone that affects the ripening of fruits
Exoskeleton: hard
or tough outer covering of many invertebrates that provides support, protects
body tissues, prevents water loss, and protects the organism from predation
External fertilization: type of fertilization that occurs when sperm and egg combine
outside an animal's body
Feather:
specialized outgrowth of the skin of birds used for flight and insulation
Filter feeder:
organism that filters small particles from water to get its food
Fin:
paddle-shaped structure of a fish or other aquatic animal used for steering,
balance, and propulsion
Fruiting body:
spore-producing fungal reproductive structure
Gametangium:
reproductive hyphal structure of zygomycetes that contains a haploid nucleus
Gangilon: group
of nerve-cell bodies that coordinates incoming and outgoing nerve impulses
Gastrovascular cavity: in cnidarians, that space surrounded by an inner cell layer, where
digestion takes place
Germination:
process in which a seed's embryo begins to grow
Gestation:
species-specific amount of time during which the young develop in the uterus
before they are born
Gibberellins:
group of plant hormones that are transported in vascular tissue and that can
affect seed growth, stimulate cell division, and cause cell elongation
Gill: respiratory
structure of most mollusks and aquatic arthropods
Gizzard: muscular
sac in birds that contains hard particles that help grind soil and food before
they pass into the intestine
Gland: an organ
or group of cells that secretes
substance for use elsewhere in the body
Ground tissue:
plant tissue consisting of parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma
Guard cell: one
of a pair of cells the function in the opening and closing of a plant's stomata
by changes in their shapes
Gymnosperm:
non-fruit bearing plant
Hermaphrodite:
animal that produces both sperm and eggs in its body, generally at different
times
Hydrostatic skeleton: the pseudocoelom in roundworms; the fluid within a closed space that
gives rigid support for muscles to work against
Hypha: threadlike
filament that makes up the basic structural unit of multicellular fungus
Incubate: to
maintain an egg or eggs at favorable environmental conditions for hatching
Internal fertilization: type of fertilization that occurs when sperm and egg combine
inside an animal's body
Invertebrate:
animal without a backbone; between 95 and 99 percent of animal species are
invertebrates
Invertebrate chordates: chordate without a backbone
Jacobson’s organ:
saclike, odor-sensing structure on the roof of a snake's mouth
Lateral line system: sensory receptors that enable fishes to detect vibrations, or sound
waves, in water
Lichen: symbiotic
relationship between a fungus and an alga or a photosynthetic partner
Lysogenic cycle:
viral replication process in which viral DNA inserts into the host cell's
chromosome, may remain dormant and late activate and instruct the host cell to
produce more viruses
Lytic cycle:
viral replication process in which genetic material of the virus enters the host
cell's cytoplasm, the cell replicates the viral DNA or RNA, and the host cell
is instructed to manufacture capsids and assemble new viral particles which
then leave the cell
Mammary gland:
mammalian gland that produces and secretes milk to nourish developing young
Mandible: in most
arthropods, one of a pair of mouthparts adapted for biting and chewing food
Mantel:
membrane that surrounds a
mollusk's internal organs
Marsupial:
pouched mammal whose offspring have a short period of development inside the
uterus, then after birth have a longer period of development within the
pouch
Medusa:
umbrella-shaped, free swimming body form of cnidarians
Meristem: region
of rapid cell division in plants; produces cells that can develop into many
different types of plant cells
Mesoderm: Layer
of cells between the endoderm and the ectoderm that can become muscle tissue and
tissue of the circulatory, respiratory, and excretory systems
Metamorphosis: in
most insects, the series of changes from larval to adult form
Molting: in
arthropods, the periodic shedding of the protective exoskeleton so their bodies
can continue to grow
Monotreme: mammal
that reproduces by laying eggs
Mycelium:
complex, net-like mass made up of branching hyphae
Mycorrhiza:
symbiotic relationship between a specialized fungus and plant roots fungal
hyphae help plants obtain water and minerals and plants supply carbohydrates
and amino acids to the fungus
Nastic response:
reversible, responsive movement of a plant that occurs independent of the
direction of the stimulus
Nerve net:
cnidarian nervous system that conducts impulses to and from all parts of the
body
Neural Crest:
group of cells that develops from the embryo's ectoderm and contributes to the
development of many vertebrate structures
Nictitating membrane: in amphibians, the transparent eyelid that moves across the eye to
prevent it from drying out on land and to protect it under water
Nonvascular Plants: Type of plant that lacks vascular tissues, moves substances slowly from
cell to cell by osmosis and diffusion, and grows only in a damp environment
Notochord:
flexible, rod-like structure extending the length of the chordate body, enabling
the body to bend and make side to side movements
Nucleiod: area in
a prokaryotic cell that contains a large, circular chromosome
Nymph: immature
form of an insect during incomplete metamorphosis- the hatchling looks like a
small adult and goes through several molts, eventually becoming a mature winged
adult
Open circulatory system: blood is pumped out of vessels into open spaces surrounding body
organs
Operculum:
movable, protective flap that covers a fish's gills and helps to pump water that
enters the mouth and moves over the gills
Ovary: part of
the female reproductive system of flower which hold the ovules (eggs)
Palsidae mesophyll: leaf-tissue layer that contains many chloroplasts and is the site
where most photosynthesis takes place
Pellicle:
membrane layer that encloses a paramecium and some other protists
Perennial: plant
that can live for several years
Pericycle petiole: Plant tissue the produces lateral roots
Petal: colorful
flower structure that attracts pollinators and provides them a landing
place
Pharynx: In
free-living flatworms, the tube like muscular organ that can extend out of the
mouth and suck food particles into the digestive tract
Pheromone:
chemical secreted by an animal species to influence the behavior of other
members of the same species
Phloem: vascular
plant tissue composed of sieve tube members and companion cells that conducts
dissolved sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves and stems to the
roots and from the roots to the leaves and steams
Photoperiodism:
flowering response of a plant based on the number of hours of darkness it is
exposed to
Phototaxis: a
type of movement that occurs when any whole organisms moves towards or away from
a stimulus of light
Pilus: hair-like,
submicroscopic structure made of protein that can help a bacterial cell attach
to environmental surfaces and acts as a bridge between cells
Pistil: flower's
female reproductive structure; it is usually composed of a stigma, a style, and
an ovary.
Placenta: in most
mammals, the specialized organ that provides food and oxygen to the developing
young
Plasmodium: genus
of parasitic animal-like protists known as Malaria
Polar nuclei: in
anthophytes, the two nuclei in the center of a megaspore
Polyp:
tube-shaped, sessile body form of cnidarians
Posterior: tail
end of an animal with bilateral symmetry
Preen gland:
oil-secreting gland located near the bade of a bird's tail
Prion: protein
that can cause infection or disease
Proglottid:
continuously formed, detachable section of a tapeworm that contains male and
female reproductive organs, flame cells, muscles, and nerves; breaks off when
eggs are fertilized and passes out of hosts intestine
Protozoan:
heterotopic, unicellular, animal-like protist
Pseudopod:
temporary cytoplasmic extension that sarcodines use for feeding and movement
Pupa: nonfeeding
stage of complete metamorphosis in which the insect changes from the larval
form to the adult form
Radial symmetry:
body plan that can be divided along any plane, through a central axis, into
roughly equal halves
Radicle: first
part of the embryo to emerge from the seed and begin to absorb water and
nutrients from the environment
Regeneration:
ability to replace or regrow body parts missing due to predation/damage
Retrovirus: RNA
virus, such as HIV, with reverse transcriptase in its core
Rhizoids: Type of
hyphae formed by a mold that penetrates a food's surface
Rhizome: fern's
thick underground stem that functions as a food-storage organ
Root cap: layer
of parenchyma cells that covers the root tip and helps protect root tissues
during growth
Scale: small,
flat, plate like structure near the surface of the skin of most fishes
Scolex:
parasitically adapted, knoblike anterior end of tapeworm, having hooks and
suckers that attach to host's intestinal lining
Seed: adaptive
reproductive structure of some vascular plants that contains an embryo,
nutrients for the embryo, and is covered by a protective coat
Seed coat:
protective tissue that forms from the hardening of the outside layers of the
ovule
Sepal: flower
organ that protects the bud
Sessile: organism
permanently attached to one place
Setae: stiff
bristles present on annelids used to attach to an object/ogranism
Siphon: tubular
organ through which octopuses and squids eject water, at times so rapidly that
their movement appear jet-propelled
Spawning: process
by which male and female fishes release their gametes near each other in the
water
Sorus: a cluster
of sporangia in ferns and fungi
Spinneret: in
spider, the structure that spins silk from a fluid protein secreted by their
glands
Spiracle: opening
in the arthropod body through which air enters and gas waste leaves
Spongy mesophyll:
Spongy tissue of a leaf with loosely arranged, lobed cells
Sporangium: sac
or case in which fungal spores are produced
Spore:
reproductive haploid cell with a hard outer shell that form a new organism
without the fusion of gametes and is produced in the asexual and sexual life
cycles of most fungi and some other organisms
Stamen: male
reproductive organ of most flowers composed of filament and an anther
Sternum: in
birds, the large breast-bone to which flight muscles are attached
Stolons: type of
hypha formed by a mold that spreads over a food's surface
Stomata: openings
in the outer cell layer of leaf surfaces and some stems that allow the exchange
of water, carbon dioxide, and other gases between plant and environment
Strobiolus:
compact cluster of spore-bearing structures in some seedless vascular plant
sporophytes
Swim bladder:
gas-filled internal space in bony fishes that allows them to regulate their
buoyancy
Swimmeret:
crustacean appendage used as a flipper during swimming
Symmetry: balance
or similarity in body structures of organisms
Test: hard,
porous, shell-like covering of an amoeba
Tetrapod:
four-footed animal with legs that have feet and toes with joints
Thallose:
liverwort with a fleshy, lobed body shape
Thorax: middle
body region of an arthropod consisting of three fused main segments that may
bear legs and wings
Tracheid: long,
cylindrical plant cell in which water passes from cell to cell through pitted
ends
Transpiration:
process in which water evaporates rom inside of leaves to outside through
stomata
Trichocyst:
elongate, cylindrical structure that can discharge a spine-like structure that
may function in defense or to capture prey
Tropism: response
to an external stimulus in a certain direction
Tympanic membrane: eardrum
Uterus: sac like
muscular female organ in which embryos develop
Vascular Plants:
type of plant with vascular tissues adapted to land environments, most widely
distributed type of plant on Earth
Vascular Tissue:
specialized tissue that transports water, food, and other substances in
vascular plants and can provide structure and support
Vegetative reproduction: asexual reproduction in which new plants grow from parts of an
existing plant
Ventral:
underside or belly of an animal with bilateral symmetry
Ventricle: the
heart chamber that pumps blood from the heart to the gills
Vertebrate:
animal with an endoskeleton and a backbone
Virion: A
complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell
and constituting the infective form of a virus
Virus: nonliving
strand of genetic material that cannot replicate on its own, has a nucleic acid
core, a protein coat, and can invade cells and alter cellular function
Water-vascular System: system of fluid-filled, closed tubes that allow echinoderms to control
movement and get food
Xylem: vascular
plant tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals away from the roots
throughout the plant and is compound of vessel elements and tracheids
Zygote:
fertilized egg formed when a sperm cell penetrates an egg
arthropods, posterior body region of an arthropod that contains fused segments,
digestive structures, reproductive organs, and bears additional legs; in human,
part of body that is between that diaphragm and pelvis
Air Sac: in
birds, the posterior and anterior structure used in respiration, resulting in
only oxygenated air moving through the lungs
Alteration of Generations: reproductive life cycle that alternates between a diploid (2n)
sporophyte generation and a haploid (n) gametophyte generation
Amniotic egg: egg
that provides a complete environment for the developing embryo with a yolk sac
for nutrition, protective internal membranes and fluid, and a protective outer
shell.
Angiosperm:
plants whose seeds are part of fruits
Annual: plant
that completes its life span in one growing season or less
Anterior: head of
an animal with bilateral symmetry
Anther: male
flower part containing pollen found at the top of the stamen
Appendage: in
arthropods, a structure such as a led or an antenna that grows and extends from
the outside body covering
Arthropod: an
invertebrate animal with an exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed appendages
Ascoscarp: in sac
fungi, the reproductive
Ascospore: spore
produced by an ascus
Ascus:
spore-producing saclike structure of saclike fungi
Atrium: heart
chamber that receives bloods from the blood
Auxin: plant
hormone that moves in only one direction away from the site where it was
produced and can stimulate the elongation of cells
Bacteria:
microscopic prokaryotes most are beneficial to humans and to the environment,
but a small percentage cause disease
Basidiocarp:
fruiting body of basidiomycetes
Basidiospore:
haploid spore released by a basidium during reproduction
Basidium:
club-shaped, spore-producing hypha of basidiomycetes
Biennial: plant
with a two-year life span
Bilateral symmetry: body plan that can be divided into mirror images only one page at a
time
Binary Fission:
asexual form of reproduction used by some prokaryotes in which a cell divides
into two genetically identical cells
Bioindicator:
living organism that is sensitive to environmental conditions and is one of the
first to respond to changes
Bioluminescent:
able to emit light
Capsid: outer
protein layer that surrounds the genetic material of a virus
Capsule:
polysaccharide layer secreted around the cell wall by some prokaryotes that
prevents the cell from drying out and helps the cell attach to environmental
surfaces
Carapace: dorsal
part of a turtle's shell
Cartilage:
flexible, tough material that makes up vertebrate skeletons or parts of
vertebrate skeletons
Caste:
specialized group of individuals in an insect society that performs specific
tasks
Cephalization:
tendency to concentrate sensory organs and nervous tissue at an animal's
interior end
Cephalothorax: in
arthropods, the structure formed from the thorax region fused with the head
Cerebellum: part
of the brain responsible for balance and coordination
Cerebral Cortex:
highly folded outer layer of the cerebrum that is responsible for coordinating
conscious activities, memory, and the ability to learn
Chemotaxis:
movement of a cell or organism towards or away from a particular chemical
Chitin: tough,
flexible
Chordates:
animals of the phylum Chordata having a dorsal tubular nerve cord, a notochord,
a pharynegeal pouches, and a postanal tail at some point in its development
Clitellum:
thickened band of segments that produce a cocoon from which young earthworms
hatch
Closed circulatory system: blood is confined to the vessels as it moves through the
body
Colony: group of
cells or organisms that join together, forming a close association
Cone: feature
that contains male of female reproductive structures of cycads and other
gymnosperms.
Conidiophores:
spore-producing hypha of sac fungi
Conjugation: form
of reproduction used by some prokaryotes in which the prokaryotic cells attach
to each other and exchange genetic material
Contour feathers:
barbed feather that covers a bird's body, wings, and tail, and forms the body
contour
Contractile Vacuole: organelle that collects excess water in the cytoplasm and expels it
from the cell; maintains homeostasis in hypotonic environments
Cortex: layer
composed of ground tissues between the epidermis and vascular tissue of a
root
Cotyledon: seed
structure that stores food or helps absorb food for the sporophyte of vascular
seed plants
Crop: sac in
which food and soil are stores until they pass to the eathworm's gizzard
Cytokinin: plant
hormone that promotes cell division by stimulating production of proteins
required for mitosis and cytokinesis
Deuterostome:
coelomate animal whose anus develops from opening in the gastrula
Diaphragm: sheet
of muscle beneath the lungs that separates the mammalian chest cavity from the
abdominal cavity
Dormancy: period
of little or no growth that varies from species to species; in plants, an
adaptation that increases that survival rate of seeds in harsh environments
Dorsal: backside
of an animal with bilateral symmetry
Down Feathers:
soft feather beneath a bird's contour feathers that provides insulation by
trapping air
Echinoderm:
invertebrate marine animals characterized by a hard, spiny covering/skin
Ectoderm: outer
layer of cells in the gastrula that develops into nervous tissue and skin
Ectotherm: animal
that cannot regulate its body temperature through its metabolism and obtains
heat from the external environment
Endoderm: inner
layer of cells in the gastrula that develops into digestive organs and the
digestive tract lining.
Endodermis: cell
layer at the inner boundary of the cortex; regulates the material that enters
the plant's vascular tissues
Endoskeleton:
internal skeleton that protects internal organs, provides support for the
organism's body, and can provide an internal brace for muscles to pull
against
Endosperm: tissue
that provides nourishment to the developing embryo
Endospore:
dormant bacterial cell able to survive for long periods of time
Endotherm:
organism that generates its body heat internally by its own metabolism
Epidermis: dermal
tissue that makes up a plant's outer covering
Epiphyte: plant
that lives anchored to an object or to another plant
Ethylene: gaseous
plant hormone that affects the ripening of fruits
Exoskeleton: hard
or tough outer covering of many invertebrates that provides support, protects
body tissues, prevents water loss, and protects the organism from predation
External fertilization: type of fertilization that occurs when sperm and egg combine
outside an animal's body
Feather:
specialized outgrowth of the skin of birds used for flight and insulation
Filter feeder:
organism that filters small particles from water to get its food
Fin:
paddle-shaped structure of a fish or other aquatic animal used for steering,
balance, and propulsion
Fruiting body:
spore-producing fungal reproductive structure
Gametangium:
reproductive hyphal structure of zygomycetes that contains a haploid nucleus
Gangilon: group
of nerve-cell bodies that coordinates incoming and outgoing nerve impulses
Gastrovascular cavity: in cnidarians, that space surrounded by an inner cell layer, where
digestion takes place
Germination:
process in which a seed's embryo begins to grow
Gestation:
species-specific amount of time during which the young develop in the uterus
before they are born
Gibberellins:
group of plant hormones that are transported in vascular tissue and that can
affect seed growth, stimulate cell division, and cause cell elongation
Gill: respiratory
structure of most mollusks and aquatic arthropods
Gizzard: muscular
sac in birds that contains hard particles that help grind soil and food before
they pass into the intestine
Gland: an organ
or group of cells that secretes
substance for use elsewhere in the body
Ground tissue:
plant tissue consisting of parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma
Guard cell: one
of a pair of cells the function in the opening and closing of a plant's stomata
by changes in their shapes
Gymnosperm:
non-fruit bearing plant
Hermaphrodite:
animal that produces both sperm and eggs in its body, generally at different
times
Hydrostatic skeleton: the pseudocoelom in roundworms; the fluid within a closed space that
gives rigid support for muscles to work against
Hypha: threadlike
filament that makes up the basic structural unit of multicellular fungus
Incubate: to
maintain an egg or eggs at favorable environmental conditions for hatching
Internal fertilization: type of fertilization that occurs when sperm and egg combine
inside an animal's body
Invertebrate:
animal without a backbone; between 95 and 99 percent of animal species are
invertebrates
Invertebrate chordates: chordate without a backbone
Jacobson’s organ:
saclike, odor-sensing structure on the roof of a snake's mouth
Lateral line system: sensory receptors that enable fishes to detect vibrations, or sound
waves, in water
Lichen: symbiotic
relationship between a fungus and an alga or a photosynthetic partner
Lysogenic cycle:
viral replication process in which viral DNA inserts into the host cell's
chromosome, may remain dormant and late activate and instruct the host cell to
produce more viruses
Lytic cycle:
viral replication process in which genetic material of the virus enters the host
cell's cytoplasm, the cell replicates the viral DNA or RNA, and the host cell
is instructed to manufacture capsids and assemble new viral particles which
then leave the cell
Mammary gland:
mammalian gland that produces and secretes milk to nourish developing young
Mandible: in most
arthropods, one of a pair of mouthparts adapted for biting and chewing food
Mantel:
membrane that surrounds a
mollusk's internal organs
Marsupial:
pouched mammal whose offspring have a short period of development inside the
uterus, then after birth have a longer period of development within the
pouch
Medusa:
umbrella-shaped, free swimming body form of cnidarians
Meristem: region
of rapid cell division in plants; produces cells that can develop into many
different types of plant cells
Mesoderm: Layer
of cells between the endoderm and the ectoderm that can become muscle tissue and
tissue of the circulatory, respiratory, and excretory systems
Metamorphosis: in
most insects, the series of changes from larval to adult form
Molting: in
arthropods, the periodic shedding of the protective exoskeleton so their bodies
can continue to grow
Monotreme: mammal
that reproduces by laying eggs
Mycelium:
complex, net-like mass made up of branching hyphae
Mycorrhiza:
symbiotic relationship between a specialized fungus and plant roots fungal
hyphae help plants obtain water and minerals and plants supply carbohydrates
and amino acids to the fungus
Nastic response:
reversible, responsive movement of a plant that occurs independent of the
direction of the stimulus
Nerve net:
cnidarian nervous system that conducts impulses to and from all parts of the
body
Neural Crest:
group of cells that develops from the embryo's ectoderm and contributes to the
development of many vertebrate structures
Nictitating membrane: in amphibians, the transparent eyelid that moves across the eye to
prevent it from drying out on land and to protect it under water
Nonvascular Plants: Type of plant that lacks vascular tissues, moves substances slowly from
cell to cell by osmosis and diffusion, and grows only in a damp environment
Notochord:
flexible, rod-like structure extending the length of the chordate body, enabling
the body to bend and make side to side movements
Nucleiod: area in
a prokaryotic cell that contains a large, circular chromosome
Nymph: immature
form of an insect during incomplete metamorphosis- the hatchling looks like a
small adult and goes through several molts, eventually becoming a mature winged
adult
Open circulatory system: blood is pumped out of vessels into open spaces surrounding body
organs
Operculum:
movable, protective flap that covers a fish's gills and helps to pump water that
enters the mouth and moves over the gills
Ovary: part of
the female reproductive system of flower which hold the ovules (eggs)
Palsidae mesophyll: leaf-tissue layer that contains many chloroplasts and is the site
where most photosynthesis takes place
Pellicle:
membrane layer that encloses a paramecium and some other protists
Perennial: plant
that can live for several years
Pericycle petiole: Plant tissue the produces lateral roots
Petal: colorful
flower structure that attracts pollinators and provides them a landing
place
Pharynx: In
free-living flatworms, the tube like muscular organ that can extend out of the
mouth and suck food particles into the digestive tract
Pheromone:
chemical secreted by an animal species to influence the behavior of other
members of the same species
Phloem: vascular
plant tissue composed of sieve tube members and companion cells that conducts
dissolved sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves and stems to the
roots and from the roots to the leaves and steams
Photoperiodism:
flowering response of a plant based on the number of hours of darkness it is
exposed to
Phototaxis: a
type of movement that occurs when any whole organisms moves towards or away from
a stimulus of light
Pilus: hair-like,
submicroscopic structure made of protein that can help a bacterial cell attach
to environmental surfaces and acts as a bridge between cells
Pistil: flower's
female reproductive structure; it is usually composed of a stigma, a style, and
an ovary.
Placenta: in most
mammals, the specialized organ that provides food and oxygen to the developing
young
Plasmodium: genus
of parasitic animal-like protists known as Malaria
Polar nuclei: in
anthophytes, the two nuclei in the center of a megaspore
Polyp:
tube-shaped, sessile body form of cnidarians
Posterior: tail
end of an animal with bilateral symmetry
Preen gland:
oil-secreting gland located near the bade of a bird's tail
Prion: protein
that can cause infection or disease
Proglottid:
continuously formed, detachable section of a tapeworm that contains male and
female reproductive organs, flame cells, muscles, and nerves; breaks off when
eggs are fertilized and passes out of hosts intestine
Protozoan:
heterotopic, unicellular, animal-like protist
Pseudopod:
temporary cytoplasmic extension that sarcodines use for feeding and movement
Pupa: nonfeeding
stage of complete metamorphosis in which the insect changes from the larval
form to the adult form
Radial symmetry:
body plan that can be divided along any plane, through a central axis, into
roughly equal halves
Radicle: first
part of the embryo to emerge from the seed and begin to absorb water and
nutrients from the environment
Regeneration:
ability to replace or regrow body parts missing due to predation/damage
Retrovirus: RNA
virus, such as HIV, with reverse transcriptase in its core
Rhizoids: Type of
hyphae formed by a mold that penetrates a food's surface
Rhizome: fern's
thick underground stem that functions as a food-storage organ
Root cap: layer
of parenchyma cells that covers the root tip and helps protect root tissues
during growth
Scale: small,
flat, plate like structure near the surface of the skin of most fishes
Scolex:
parasitically adapted, knoblike anterior end of tapeworm, having hooks and
suckers that attach to host's intestinal lining
Seed: adaptive
reproductive structure of some vascular plants that contains an embryo,
nutrients for the embryo, and is covered by a protective coat
Seed coat:
protective tissue that forms from the hardening of the outside layers of the
ovule
Sepal: flower
organ that protects the bud
Sessile: organism
permanently attached to one place
Setae: stiff
bristles present on annelids used to attach to an object/ogranism
Siphon: tubular
organ through which octopuses and squids eject water, at times so rapidly that
their movement appear jet-propelled
Spawning: process
by which male and female fishes release their gametes near each other in the
water
Sorus: a cluster
of sporangia in ferns and fungi
Spinneret: in
spider, the structure that spins silk from a fluid protein secreted by their
glands
Spiracle: opening
in the arthropod body through which air enters and gas waste leaves
Spongy mesophyll:
Spongy tissue of a leaf with loosely arranged, lobed cells
Sporangium: sac
or case in which fungal spores are produced
Spore:
reproductive haploid cell with a hard outer shell that form a new organism
without the fusion of gametes and is produced in the asexual and sexual life
cycles of most fungi and some other organisms
Stamen: male
reproductive organ of most flowers composed of filament and an anther
Sternum: in
birds, the large breast-bone to which flight muscles are attached
Stolons: type of
hypha formed by a mold that spreads over a food's surface
Stomata: openings
in the outer cell layer of leaf surfaces and some stems that allow the exchange
of water, carbon dioxide, and other gases between plant and environment
Strobiolus:
compact cluster of spore-bearing structures in some seedless vascular plant
sporophytes
Swim bladder:
gas-filled internal space in bony fishes that allows them to regulate their
buoyancy
Swimmeret:
crustacean appendage used as a flipper during swimming
Symmetry: balance
or similarity in body structures of organisms
Test: hard,
porous, shell-like covering of an amoeba
Tetrapod:
four-footed animal with legs that have feet and toes with joints
Thallose:
liverwort with a fleshy, lobed body shape
Thorax: middle
body region of an arthropod consisting of three fused main segments that may
bear legs and wings
Tracheid: long,
cylindrical plant cell in which water passes from cell to cell through pitted
ends
Transpiration:
process in which water evaporates rom inside of leaves to outside through
stomata
Trichocyst:
elongate, cylindrical structure that can discharge a spine-like structure that
may function in defense or to capture prey
Tropism: response
to an external stimulus in a certain direction
Tympanic membrane: eardrum
Uterus: sac like
muscular female organ in which embryos develop
Vascular Plants:
type of plant with vascular tissues adapted to land environments, most widely
distributed type of plant on Earth
Vascular Tissue:
specialized tissue that transports water, food, and other substances in
vascular plants and can provide structure and support
Vegetative reproduction: asexual reproduction in which new plants grow from parts of an
existing plant
Ventral:
underside or belly of an animal with bilateral symmetry
Ventricle: the
heart chamber that pumps blood from the heart to the gills
Vertebrate:
animal with an endoskeleton and a backbone
Virion: A
complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell
and constituting the infective form of a virus
Virus: nonliving
strand of genetic material that cannot replicate on its own, has a nucleic acid
core, a protein coat, and can invade cells and alter cellular function
Water-vascular System: system of fluid-filled, closed tubes that allow echinoderms to control
movement and get food
Xylem: vascular
plant tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals away from the roots
throughout the plant and is compound of vessel elements and tracheids
Zygote:
fertilized egg formed when a sperm cell penetrates an egg