Definitions Biology
Edco Exploring Science (Revised Edition)
Definitions
1 Adaptation A structure or habit that helps an 12 Consumer An animal that gets its food by
organism to survive in its habitat. (page 107) eating plants or other animals. (page 105)
2 Antagonistic pair of muscles Two muscles 13 Contraception is the prevention of
that carry out opposite functions. (page 55) fertilisation or pregnancy. (page 68)
3 Antibiotic A chemical made by bacteria and 14 Decomposer An organism that feeds on dead
fungi that kills or prevents the reproduction plants and animals. (page 106)
of other bacteria. (page 121)
15 Digestion The breaking down of food.
4 Asexual reproduction A new individual is (page 25)
formed from only one parent. (page 92)
16 Dispersal The carrying of the seed (and the
5 Balanced diet This contains the right amounts surrounding fruit) as far as possible from the
of each of the six different types (or parent plant. (page 96)
constituents) of food (i.e. carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, vitamins, minerals and water). 17 Ecology The study of the relationships
(page 17) between plants, animals and their
environment. (page 104)
6 Beating tray A device used to collect animals.
(page 110) 18 Enzyme A chemical (protein) produced by the
body that speeds up chemical reactions in the
7 Biotechnology The use of living things or body without the enzyme being used up.
parts of living things to produce useful (page 25)
products. (page 122)
19 Excretion The removal from the body of the
8 Blood cell waste products of chemical reactions in the
Red blood cells transport oxygen. (page 40) body. (page 50)
White blood cells fight infections. (page 41)
20 Fertilisation The joining of the male and
9 Carnivore An animal that eats other animals female gametes to form a zygote. (pages 66
only. (page 105) and 95)
10 Competition takes place when two or more 21 Food chain A list of organisms in which each
organisms require something that is in short organism is eaten by the next one in the
supply. (page 107) chain. (page 106)
11 Conservation The protection and wise 22 Food web This consists of two or more
management of natural resources. (page 112) interconnected food chains. (page 108)
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Biology Edco Exploring Science (Revised Edition)
Definitions
23 Gamete A sex cell. (page 92) 36 Nerve (also called neurone)
Sensory nerves carry messages to the brain.
24 Genetics The study of how traits or (page 60)
characteristics are inherited. (page 72) Motor nerves carry messages away from the
brain. (page 60)
25 Geotropism The way in which a plant
changes its growth in response to gravity. 37 Omnivore An animal that eats both plants
(page 88) and animals. (page 105)
26 Germination The growth of a seed to form a 38 Organ A structure that contains two or more
new plant. (page 97) tissues working together. (page 11)
27 Habitat The area where a plant or animal 39 Ovulation is the release of an egg from the
lives. (page 104) ovary. (page 64)
28 Heart The function of the heart is to pump 40 Photosynthesis The way in which green
blood around the body. (page 43) plants make food. (page 84)
Photosynthesis can be summarised by the
29 Herbivore An animal that eats plants only. word equation:
(page 105)
carbon dioxide sunlight glucose
+ +
30 Implantation is the attachment of the water chlorophyll oxygen
embryo to the lining of the uterus. (page 66)
(page 84)
31 Interdependence means that living things
depend on each other for survival. (page 108) 41 Phototropism The way in which a plant
changes its growth in response to light.
32 Invertebrate An animal that does not have a (page 87)
backbone. (page 5)
42 Pitfall trap A device used to collect animals.
33 Ligaments connect bone to bone. (page 55) (page 110)
34 Line transect A rope marked at regular 43 Placenta The function of the placenta is to
intervals and laid out across a habitat to allow materials to pass between the mother
estimate the number of plants present. and the baby in the uterus. (page 67)
(page 110)
44 Plasma transports chemicals and heat.
35 Muscles and joints allow movement. (page 55) (page 40)
45 Platelets The function of platelets is to clot
the blood. (page 41)
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Biology Edco Exploring Science (Revised Edition)
Definitions
46 Pollination The transfer of pollen from a 56 Tendons connect muscle to bone. (page 55)
stamen to a carpel. (page 94)
57 Tissue A group of similar cells that carry out
47 Pollution The addition of materials harmful the same function. (page 11)
to the environment. (page 112)
58 Transpiration stream A flow of water from
48 Pooter A device used to collect animals. the roots to the leaves of a plant. (page 78)
(page 110)
59 Transpiration The loss of water from a plant.
49 Pregnancy is the length of time the baby (page 78)
spends developing in the uterus. (page 66)
60 Tropism The change in growth of a plant in
50 Producer A plant that makes its own food. response to an outside stimulus. (page 87)
(page 105)
61 Vertebrate An animal that has a backbone.
51 Quadrat A frame used to estimate the (page 5)
number of plants in a habitat. (page 110)
52 Respiration The release of energy from food.
(page 32)
Aerobic respiration needs oxygen to release
energy from food. (page 32)
Aerobic respiration is summarised by the
equation:
carbon dioxide
food +
+ water
oxygen +
energy
Anaerobic respiration does not use oxygen to
release energy from food. (page 33)
53 Sexual reproduction involves two sex cells
joining together. (page 92)
54 Sweep net A device used to collect animals.
(page 110)
55 System A number of organs working
together. (page 11)
