This glossary will discuss some commonly used words in the field of biology. Specifically, the 20 words included in this glossary pertain to cellular biology and ecology. These words are frequently encountered by students studying natural sciences at CEGEP of Sherbrooke.
amino acid
noun
Amino acids are organic compounds composed of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as the fundamental building blocks of proteins.
Example: A single base pair change occurs causing the same AMINO ACID to be coded for, in the polypeptide. Therefore the protein remains. Missense mutations occur when a single base pair change leads to the replacement of an AMINO ACID.
en: acide aminé
atoms
noun
Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all ordinary matter, representing the smallest unit of an element that retains its unique chemical properties.
Example: Two ATOMS were used to represent the glycorol groups and four ATOMS were used to represent each chain of the hydrophobic tail.
en: atomes
bacteria
noun
A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.
Example: The first amino acid of protein transcription in mitochondria and chloroplasts is fMet just like in BACTERIA, where as in eukaryotes it is methionine.
en: bactéries
biodiversity
noun
Biodiversity is the immense variety of all living organisms on Earth, encompassing the diversity within species (genetic), between species, and across ecosystems
Example: Predators are always at the top of the food chain, without them BIODIVERSITY's wouldn't be as they are.
en: biodiversité
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: They are also not split equally between cells when they divide at mitosis and so one CELL may inherit all maternal mitochondria.
en: cellule
cellular respiration
noun
The metabolic process in living organisms by which oxygen is combined with carbon in a cell to form carbon dioxide and generate energy.
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.
en: respiration cellulaire
cytoplasm
noun
The material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.
Example: It is a double-membrane organelle, with a more permeable outer membrane due to the presence of minute channels, which facilitate in transporting ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) out of the mitochondria to the CYTOPLASM of the host cell 1 .
en: cytoplasme
cytoskeleton
noun
A microscopic network of protein filaments and tubules in the cytoplasm of many living cells, giving them shape and coherence.
Example: These channels are likely to detect a deflection of an external structure i.e. skin relative to an internal structure such as the CYTOSKELETON These transduction channels are a source of stimuli amplification since they allow the rapid entry of a large number of ions.
en: cytosquelette
deoxyribonucleic Acid
noun
Acid of the nucleus of living cells, essential constituent of chromosomes and carrier of genetic characteristics.
Example: Investigations using synchrotron X-rays for protein crystallography can help scientists understand and imitate complex structures - from cellulose fibre to spiders' silk.12 It is thanks to X-ray crystallography that James Watson and Francis Crick were able to discover the "double helix" structure of DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, DNA.
en: acide désoxyribonucléique
eukaryotes
noun
An organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus. Eukaryotes include all living organisms other than the eubacteria and archaebacteria.
Example: Introduction As we study the cells of the prokaryotes and EUKARYOTES, we have observed many differences, such as size, complexity and internal compartments.
en: eucaryotes
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: In the gradual sense of adaptationism a terminal species within a monophylum would share an adaptive strategy with directly related taxa contained within an ancestrally related juxtaposed genus; units in gradual EVOLUTION on a monophyletic line.
en: évolution
genetic
noun
La génétique est la science de l'hérédité. Elle étudie les caractères héréditaires des individus, leur transmission au fil des générations et leurs variations (mutations).
Example: GENETIC diversity is an important element in reducing the number of rare breeds of animals because it means that the animals become more adaptable to a variety of environments and may also help to reduce any potential risk the breed may be particularly vulnerable to.
en: génétique
heterotroph
noun
An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
Example: Humans are heterotrophs and many of us are omnivores. We eat a variety of plants and animals.
en: hétérotrophe
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: It addition to this, mtDNA is not subject to recombination, segregation during MEIOSIS, or the effects of natural selection.
en: méiose
mitochondria
noun
An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur.
Example: The theory postulates that MITOCHONDRIA are ancestors of modern day Rickettsia bacteria which developed an ability to respire oxygen.
en: mitochondries
molecules
noun
A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
Example: This is the final common pathway for the oxidation of fuel MOLECULES - amino acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates.
en: molécules
phenotype
noun
The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Example: If an allele is dominant then its characteristic will always appear in the PHENOTYPE. Recessive alleles only appear in the PHENOTYPE if they are homozygous.
en: phénotype
photosynthesis
noun
The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.
Example: For PHOTOSYNTHESIS to occur, there needs to be a supply of carbon dioxide, water, and light energy.
en: photosynthèse
prokaryotes
noun
A microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. Prokaryotes include the bacteria and cyanobacteria.
Example: There is a theory which suggests that these introns used to exist in all cells but during evolution they have been removed from the PROKARYOTES.
en: procaryotes
splicing
noun
Splicing is a vital post-transcriptional process in eukaryotic cells where non-coding sequences called introns are removed from pre-mRNA, and coding sequences called exons are joined together to create mature mRNA for protein translation.
Example: Abnormal RNA SPLICING of the excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT2 gene was once thought to be specific for MND, although non-sufferers have recently been discovered with this gene.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cellular-Respiration-58e52b113df78c5162b38dca.jpg)
