Hi, my name is Charlotte. I have been studying in Sciences for a year and a half. The subject that always caught my attention the most was biology. Here's a glossary about the most common terms used in this field of study. It could be useful if you're trying to learn new concepts or in general if biology always caught your attention.
abiogenesis
noun
The original evolution of life or living organisms from inorganic or inanimate substances.
Example: Scientists study the hypothetical process of abiogenesis to understand how the first living cells may have arisen from non-living matter on early Earth.
fr: abiogénèse
apoptosis
noun
The death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development.
Example: In addition, both progesterone and oestrogen promote cell division mitosis during this period, and although subsequent APOPTOSIS ensures the overall balance is maintained, it may cause temporary lumpiness of the breast.
fr: apoptose
cancer
noun
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells, which can originate in almost any part of the body.
Example: Although mutations which cause CANCER are usually not inherited, some common cancers for example breast CANCER; the initial mutated gene is inherited predisposing that family to the molecular disease.
fr: cancer
cell
noun
The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane.
Example: The endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi body - the endoplasmic reticulum is a series of folds of membrane which is the building site of most of the complex molecules produced in the CELL.
fr: cellule
cellular respiration
noun
The metabolic process in which cells break down glucose and other food molecules, typically in the presence of oxygen, to convert chemical energy into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy currency for cellular functions.
Example: In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate formed in glycolysis is transported into mitochondria, where it is oxidised by O 2 to CO 2 in a series of oxidative phosphorylation reactions collectively called CELLULAR RESPIRATION.
fr: respiration cellulaire
chromosomal abnormalities
noun
Genetic disorders caused by a change in the number or structure of chromosomes, leading to missing, extra, or irregular segments of chromosomal DNA.
Example: There are five types of molecular disease, the first of which is CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES.
fr: anomalies chromosomiques
cytoplasm
noun
Cytoplasm is the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell. It is composed of water, salts, and various organic molecules.
Example: This antibiotic has no effect on the protein synthesis in the eukaryotic CYTOPLASM.
fr: cytoplasme
Darwinism
noun
The theory of the evolution of species by natural selection advanced by Charles Darwin.
Example: His appeal to the temporal order as an example of the design of the world rather than spatial order cleverly side-steps problems associated with DARWINISM.
fr: darwinisme
DNA
noun
A self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Example: Further research has shown small amounts of DNA, arranged in a covalently closed circular form, to be present in the mitochondria of plants, animals and fungi and in the chloroplasts of plants.
fr: ADN
enzyme
noun
A substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
Example: If a nucleophilic group is in the binding site it can open the lactam ring so the molecule becomes irreversibly bound to the ENZYME, blocking the active site.
fr: enzyme
evolution
noun
The process by which animals, plants, and other living organisms are transformed into different forms by the accumulation of changes over successive generations.
Example: Even this does not constitute a close relationship as previously mentioned, they appear to have diverged from this ancestor at a far earlier point in prehistory than modern humans, and thus it is logical to conclude that Neanderthals may be seen as an extinct side branch on the path of the human EVOLUTION.
fr: évolution
fertilization
noun
The fusion of gametes to give rise to a zygote and initiate its development into a new individual organism or offspring.
Example: The anterior-posterior (a-p) axis establishment in the nematode worm Determination of the position of the cell axis C. elegans embryogenesis begins with the entry of the sperm into the egg, a process called FERTILIZATION and resulting into the formation of a zygote.
fr: fécondation
fossil
noun
Any preserved remnant, impression, or trace of a plant, animal, or the other organism from a past geologic age that has been preserved in Earth's crust, typically more than 10,000 years old.
Example: These advances in science have allowed genetics to fill the gaps left in the FOSSIL and archaeological records; it is also vital for determining coalescence dates between anatomically modern humans and ancient sapiens.
fr: fossile
glycolysis
noun
The breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvic acid.
Example: Fructose-6-phosphate kinase is involved in GLYCOLYSIS, an energy-conversion pathway in many organisms.
fr: glycolyse
lactic acid
noun
A chemical substance produced by the body's cells when they break down carbohydrates to create energy in the absence of sufficient oxygen.
Example: To avoid self-poisoning by acidosis (lactate is produce from dissociation of LACTIC ACID, accompanied by releases of many protons as well) the turtle employs 2 mechanisms: buffering the body fluid by releasing carbonate buffers and up taking LACTIC ACID via its shell and bones.
fr: acide lactique
meiosis
noun
A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes and plant spores.
Example: Eukaryotes reproduce sexually by crossing genetic material with another cell in a process called MEIOSIS.
fr: méiose
mitochondrion
noun
An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur. It has a double membrane, the inner layer being folded inward to form layers.
Example: These chains can be broken into two-carbon acetyl fragments which are then converted to acetyl CoA and introduced into the Krebs cycle, which occurs in the MITOCHONDRION.
fr: mitochondrie
mitosis
noun
A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.
Example: Even though the eukaryotic cells divide by MITOSIS, both chloroplast and mitochondria replicate through binary fission 7.
fr: mitose
mutation
noun
A mutation is a permanent, random change in the DNA sequence of a cell's genetic material (or RNA in viruses), which can be passed to descendants.
Example: The severe form of this disease causes no β chains to be synthesised due to a point MUTATION, an insertion or a deletion in the β-globin gene.
fr: mutation
ribosome
noun
A minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins.
Example: The innermost part, the core or protoplast, this lowest water content layer contains DNA, RIBOSOME, enzymes, calcium dipicolinate (DPA-Ca) and SASPs' pool which binds to and stabilizes the DNA.
fr: ribosome
species
noun
A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
Example: In order to increase wild mammal numbers on the farm, you need suitable information on each individual SPECIES' habitat, breeding systems and food resources.
fr: espèces
treatment
noun
A session of medical care or the administration of a dose of medicine.
Example: This TREATMENT allows for high and consistent eradication rates after just a week of TREATMENT.
fr: traitement
tumor
noun
A tumor is an abnormal mass of cells, or a growth, that forms when cells divide and grow more than they should or do not die when they should.
Example: It is this metastasis of the cancer to sensitive areas, such as the lymph nodes, that makes breast cancer lethal, as a TUMOR in the breast is not lethal in itself.
fr: tumeur
vertebrate
noun
An animal of a large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.
Example: The basic bones of the VERTEBRATE are excellent examples of homologies (Lewin & Foley 2004: 36).
