Talking about Biology: English Vocabulary List

a tiny structure within cells that assembles proteins by reading the genetic instructions carried by messenger RNA

"Ribosomes make proteins inside cells."

"A ribosome is a complex molecular machine found within all living cells"

a cellular organelle involved in the processing, packaging, and distribution of proteins and lipids within the cell, consisting of a stack of flattened membrane sacs called cisternae

"The Golgi apparatus packages proteins."

"The Golgi apparatus within the cell modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery."

a small, enzyme-filled sac in a cell that breaks down waste materials and unwanted substances

"Lysosomes break down waste inside cells."

"Lysosomes are cell organelles that digest waste materials and break down harmful substances inside cells."

an organelle that is abundantly present in most cells and is responsible for energy production

"The mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cell"

"Each mitochondrion contains its own small piece of genetic material inside."

a very small threadlike structure in a living organism that carries the genes and genetic information

"Humans have twenty three chromosome pairs."

"A single chromosome can carry thousands of different genes along its length."

a plant cell organelle that uses sunlight to produce energy and make glucose through photosynthesis

"Chloroplasts make food for plants."

"A chloroplast is a specialized organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs"

the gel-like, semifluid substance within a cell that surrounds the organelles, providing a medium for cellular activities, including metabolism, transport of substances, and support for cellular structures

"Cytoplasm fills the inside of cells."

"Cytoplasm is the gel-like substance filling the interior of a cell"

a cell that has had its nucleus removed or the cellular material excluding the nucleus

"The cytoplast was removed for testing."

"A cytoplast is an enucleated cell consisting of the cytoplasm and plasma membrane without a nucleus"

a network of protein fibers in a cell that gives it shape, supports its structure, and aids in movement

"The cytoskeleton gives the cell its shape and helps it move around."

"The cytoskeleton is a dynamic network of protein filaments extending throughout the cytoplasm"

a molecule that forms the basic building block of DNA and RNA, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

"DNA is made of nucleotides."

"A nucleotide is an organic molecule composed of a sugar"

the complete set of genetic material of any living thing

"The human genome has many genes."

"A genome is the entire set of genetic material present in an organism"

a linear chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, forming a primary structure of a protein

"Insulin is a polypeptide hormone."

"A polypeptide is a linear organic polymer consisting of amino acid residues linked by peptide bonds"

a specialized, membrane-bound structure within a cell that performs specific functions, contributing to the cell's overall structure and function

"Mitochondria are cell organelles."

"An organelle is a specialized structure within a cell that performs a specific function like energy production."

a cell organelle in plants, fungi, and some protists that stores nutrients, manages waste, and helps maintain cell pressure

"Plant cells have a large vacuole."

"A vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle used for storage and maintaining turgor pressure"

a pair of small cylinders near the nucleus in animal cells, organizing cell division by forming the mitotic spindle

"Centrioles help cells divide properly."

"A centriole is a cylindrical organelle composed of microtubule triplets"

a repetitive DNA sequence at the end of a linear chromosome, protecting it from deterioration during replication, and playing a role in cellular aging and cancer development

"Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes."

"A telomere is a repetitive DNA sequence at the chromosome tip that protects it from deterioration"

a type of protein that plays a structural role in the packaging of DNA into nucleosomes, fundamental units of chromatin

"Histones help package DNA tightly."

"A histone is a basic protein around which DNA coils to form nucleosomes"

the observable physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genotype (genetic makeup) with the environment

"Your eye color is a phenotype."

"A phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical expression of an organism's genotype"

the tendency of an organism or cell to regulate its internal environment and maintain a stable, balanced condition, despite external changes

"Homeostasis is how your body keeps its temperature steady and stable inside."

"Homeostasis is the self-regulating process by which a living organism maintains internal stability while adjusting to changing external conditions for optimal survival."

the process by which a segment of DNA is used as a template to synthesize a complementary RNA molecule

"Transcription copies DNA into RNA."

"Transcription is the first step of gene expression where a particular segment of DNA is copied into messenger RNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase."

an individual organism or cell with two different alleles at a specific gene locus, having inherited different genetic information from each parent

"The heterozygote has two different alleles."

"A heterozygote is an organism that possesses two different alleles at a specific gene locus"

an individual organism or cell with two identical alleles at a specific gene locus, having inherited the same genetic information from both parents

"A homozygote has two identical copies of a gene from both parents."

"A homozygote is an organism with two identical alleles at a given locus"

a sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid during protein synthesis or serves as a start or stop signal in the translation process

"A codon codes for one amino acid."

"Each specific codon on the messenger RNA molecule dictates which amino acid will be added to the growing protein chain."

a close and often long-term interaction between two different species living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both

"Symbiosis is when two different living things help each other to survive."

"Symbiosis is a close and long-term biological interaction between two different species"

a single-celled, microscopic organism belonging to the group of protozoa, characterized by a flexible cell membrane and the absence of a fixed body shape

"An ameba is a single celled organism."

"An ameba is a single-celled organism with no fixed shape"

the protein coat of a virus that encases its genetic material and helps it attach to and enter host cells during infection

"The virus capsid protects its genetic material."

"A capsid is the rigid protein coat surrounding a viral genome"

a green pigment found in all green plants and cyanobacteria that is responsible for the absorption of the sunlight needed for the photosynthesis process

"Chlorophyll is the green pigment in leaves that captures sunlight for photosynthesis."

"Chlorophyll is a light-absorbing pigment found in chloroplasts that plays the central role in photosynthesis by converting solar energy into chemical energy for the plant."

a type of living thing with cells that have a nucleus and other structures enclosed in membranes, like plants, animals, fungi, and some microorganisms

"Plants and animals are eukaryotes."

"Unlike bacteria, every eukaryote keeps its DNA inside a protective nucleus."

an offspring of a human or animal that is not born yet, particularly a human aged more than eight weeks after conception

"The fetus developed inside the womb."

"A fetus is the developing unborn offspring from the end of the eighth week after conception until the moment of birth at full term."

a mature, female reproductive cell or egg, typically larger than a sperm cell, capable of fusing with a sperm cell during fertilization to form a zygote

"The ovum is the female egg cell."

"An ovum is the female reproductive cell"

an enzyme produced in the stomach that helps in the digestion of proteins by breaking them down into smaller peptides

"Pepsin breaks down proteins in the stomach."

"Pepsin is a powerful digestive enzyme produced in the stomach lining that begins the process of breaking down complex dietary proteins into smaller peptides."

a molecule that carries energy within cells, composed of adenine, a ribose sugar, and three phosphate groups

"Adenosine triphosphate provides energy for cells."

"Adenosine triphosphate is a complex organic molecule that stores and transfers chemical energy within cells"

a simple, single-celled organism that lacks a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria and archaea

"Bacteria are prokaryotes without a nucleus."

"Prokaryotes are single celled organisms that lack a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles."