Bio Glossary
Grade 12 Syllabus
1.
Biosphere- part of the earth where living organisms are found.
Ecosystem- made up of groups of different species of organisms that interact with each other with the
environment
Organism- individual form of life, composed of a single cell or complex cells that are capable of
growing and reproducing (bacterium, fungus, animal, plant)
Community- group of different species that inhabit and interact in a particular area.
Species- a group of closely related organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile
offspring.
Individual- a single organism capable of independent existence.
Population- a group of organisms of the same species that occupy the same area and can breed freely.
Demographics (of population)- the statistics such as the size, age distribution, growth rate, density of
populations.
Natality- birth rate in animals or the production of seeds in plants.
Mortality- death rate.
Immigration- individuals move into a population and do not stay.
Emigration- individuals leave a population and do not return.
Exponential- increasing more and more rapidly.
Environmental resistance- the total number of factors that stop a population from reproducing at its
maximum rate.
Carrying capacity- the population density that the environment can support.
Aerobic- needs oxygen.
Sterile- contains no bacteria.
Nutrient- food.
Ecological niche- all the conditions necessary for an organism to survive and reproduce.
Specialization- the structural and behavioral adaptations that enable individuals of different species to
co-exist.
, Mob- to surround and overpower.
Social organization- structure of relationships within a group.
Eusocial- species that exhibit the highest level of social organization.
Age structure- the relative numbers of individuals of each age in a population.
Biocapacity- the amount of productive land and water available to produce the resources we use and to
absorb the waste we produce.
Sustainable development- the development that meets the needs of the present while not compromising
the needs of future generations.
2.1
Endocrine glands- a variety of hormones secreted from this special glands or tissue.
Hormone- an organic chemical substance (carbon hydrogen, oxygen), usually a protein, can be a
steroid. Secreted by an endocrine gland, carried via blood to target organs, regulates metabolic
reactions. Broken down by enzymes, do not last long in the body.
Target organs- the hormones only affect these certain cells, they have receptor sites for that hormone
and respond to it. “Target tissue or target organs” they can be a single gland or organ or scattered
throughout the body.
Vascular- richly supplied with blood vessels.
ADH- anti-diuretic hormones.
TSH- thyroid stimulating hormone.
LH- luteinizing hormone.
Prolactin- stimulates milk production.
ACTH- Adrenocorticotropic hormone.
ICSH- Interstitial cell stimulating hormone.
GH/ STH- Growth hormone/ Somatotrophic hormone.
Hypersecretion- over secretion of a hormone.
Hyposecretion- under secretion of a hormone.
Corpus- body.
Goitre- swollen thyroid.
Grade 12 Syllabus
1.
Biosphere- part of the earth where living organisms are found.
Ecosystem- made up of groups of different species of organisms that interact with each other with the
environment
Organism- individual form of life, composed of a single cell or complex cells that are capable of
growing and reproducing (bacterium, fungus, animal, plant)
Community- group of different species that inhabit and interact in a particular area.
Species- a group of closely related organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile
offspring.
Individual- a single organism capable of independent existence.
Population- a group of organisms of the same species that occupy the same area and can breed freely.
Demographics (of population)- the statistics such as the size, age distribution, growth rate, density of
populations.
Natality- birth rate in animals or the production of seeds in plants.
Mortality- death rate.
Immigration- individuals move into a population and do not stay.
Emigration- individuals leave a population and do not return.
Exponential- increasing more and more rapidly.
Environmental resistance- the total number of factors that stop a population from reproducing at its
maximum rate.
Carrying capacity- the population density that the environment can support.
Aerobic- needs oxygen.
Sterile- contains no bacteria.
Nutrient- food.
Ecological niche- all the conditions necessary for an organism to survive and reproduce.
Specialization- the structural and behavioral adaptations that enable individuals of different species to
co-exist.
, Mob- to surround and overpower.
Social organization- structure of relationships within a group.
Eusocial- species that exhibit the highest level of social organization.
Age structure- the relative numbers of individuals of each age in a population.
Biocapacity- the amount of productive land and water available to produce the resources we use and to
absorb the waste we produce.
Sustainable development- the development that meets the needs of the present while not compromising
the needs of future generations.
2.1
Endocrine glands- a variety of hormones secreted from this special glands or tissue.
Hormone- an organic chemical substance (carbon hydrogen, oxygen), usually a protein, can be a
steroid. Secreted by an endocrine gland, carried via blood to target organs, regulates metabolic
reactions. Broken down by enzymes, do not last long in the body.
Target organs- the hormones only affect these certain cells, they have receptor sites for that hormone
and respond to it. “Target tissue or target organs” they can be a single gland or organ or scattered
throughout the body.
Vascular- richly supplied with blood vessels.
ADH- anti-diuretic hormones.
TSH- thyroid stimulating hormone.
LH- luteinizing hormone.
Prolactin- stimulates milk production.
ACTH- Adrenocorticotropic hormone.
ICSH- Interstitial cell stimulating hormone.
GH/ STH- Growth hormone/ Somatotrophic hormone.
Hypersecretion- over secretion of a hormone.
Hyposecretion- under secretion of a hormone.
Corpus- body.
Goitre- swollen thyroid.
