Biology Vocabulary
Topic 1 – Cell Biology
CisternaeFlattened membrane sacks in rough ER and
Golgi apparatus
Cristae Folding of inner membrane in mitochondria
Stroma Fluid in chloroplast
Matrix Fluid in mitochondria
Isotonic no net movement of water
Hypotonic Water goes into cell, explodes
Hypertonic Water goes out of cell, implodes
Cyclin Protein controlling steps of cell cycle
Topic 2 – Molecular Biology
Anabolism Synthesis from smaller molecules
Catabolism Breakdown of complex molecules
Peptide bond Links two amino acids
Proteomes All proteins produced by a cell /tissue
Disulphide bridge Holds together tertiary protein structure
Topic - Genetics
Locus Position of a gene on a chromosome
Junk DNA Genome that is not transcribed
Bivalent / Tetrad Pair of homologous chromosomes
ChiasmaX-shaped structure where crossing over
occurs, stability
Carrier Dominant and recessive gene, not affected
cDNA Reverse transcriptase copies mRNA
SCNT Somatic cell nuclear transfer
Synaptonemal complexProtein based structure between
homologous chromosome
Recombinant New combination of alleles
Topic 5 - Evolution
Adaptive radiation Same origin of a structure, different use
Convergent evolution Different origin, similar function
Vestigial structures Reduced structures with no function
Industrial melanismDark varieties of typically light coloured
insects
Clade Group of organisms from common ancestor
MonophyleticAll members have descended from ancestor
A
Polyphyletic Species with different ancestors
ParaphyleticLast common ancestor and some of its
descendants
Topic 1 – Cell Biology
CisternaeFlattened membrane sacks in rough ER and
Golgi apparatus
Cristae Folding of inner membrane in mitochondria
Stroma Fluid in chloroplast
Matrix Fluid in mitochondria
Isotonic no net movement of water
Hypotonic Water goes into cell, explodes
Hypertonic Water goes out of cell, implodes
Cyclin Protein controlling steps of cell cycle
Topic 2 – Molecular Biology
Anabolism Synthesis from smaller molecules
Catabolism Breakdown of complex molecules
Peptide bond Links two amino acids
Proteomes All proteins produced by a cell /tissue
Disulphide bridge Holds together tertiary protein structure
Topic - Genetics
Locus Position of a gene on a chromosome
Junk DNA Genome that is not transcribed
Bivalent / Tetrad Pair of homologous chromosomes
ChiasmaX-shaped structure where crossing over
occurs, stability
Carrier Dominant and recessive gene, not affected
cDNA Reverse transcriptase copies mRNA
SCNT Somatic cell nuclear transfer
Synaptonemal complexProtein based structure between
homologous chromosome
Recombinant New combination of alleles
Topic 5 - Evolution
Adaptive radiation Same origin of a structure, different use
Convergent evolution Different origin, similar function
Vestigial structures Reduced structures with no function
Industrial melanismDark varieties of typically light coloured
insects
Clade Group of organisms from common ancestor
MonophyleticAll members have descended from ancestor
A
Polyphyletic Species with different ancestors
ParaphyleticLast common ancestor and some of its
descendants
