Biology 1 Sem 1 KEY TERMSkey Terms

abiotic - Nonliving. ATP - Short for adenosine triphosphate; the

Accurate - Describes how close a energy molecule of a cell.
measurement comes to the true value. ATP synthase - A protein in the thylakoid
acetyl CoA - A molecule made from pyruvate membrane that produces ATP.
that is used in the Krebs cycle. Autotroph - A type of organism that produces
Acid - A compound that transfers hydrogen food which is eaten by other organisms, but
ions to water. does not need to eat food to obtain energy &
matter.
acid rain - Rainwater that has a higher acidity
than natural rainwater as a result of mixing Average - The sum of several values divided by
with air pollutants, especially those released by the number of values. The average is also called
the burning of fossil fuels. the mean.
Acidity - The level of acid, a compound that background research - Information about an
transfers hydrogen ions to water, in a experimental subject or process that has been
substance. collected from various forms of scientific
communication. The background information is
active transport - A transfer of molecules used to form a hypothesis or prediction.
across a membrane. It requires energy (like
ATP) & the aid of proteins. Bacteria - A group of microscopic single-celled
organisms.
Aerobic - A process, reaction, or organism
requiring the presence of oxygen. Base - A compound that releases hydroxide in
water.
alcohol fermentation - The process of
fermentation in which ethanol & carbon dioxide basic science - The use of research questions
are produced as waste products. to understand & the world around you.
alternative energy - Energy — such as wind, Bias - A point of view based on personal beliefs
nuclear, or solar — that can be used instead of or preferences rather than on scientific
fossil fuels. evidence.
amino acid - A small, organic molecule that Bilayer - A double layer of molecules in which
links with other amino acids in long chains to the polar end of the molecules faces outward
form proteins. It contains an amino group, a from the layers, & the nonpolar end faces
carboxylic acid group, & a side chain. inward.
Anaerobic - A process, reaction, or organism Biodiversity - The number & variety of living
requiring the absence of oxygen. organisms in an ecosystem or geographic area.
Analyze - To examine or interpret. biogeochemical cycle - One of the water,
oxygen, carbon, & nitrogen cycles.
applied science - The use of research
questions to solve problems or to improve a biology - Scientific study of the living world.
specific situation. Biomass - Collection of organic matter in an
Atom - The smallest unit of an element, one of area.
the fundamental kinds of matter. It is made up biomass fuel - Fuel formed from organic
of protons, neutrons, & electrons. material.
biotic - Living.
Birthrate - The number of births per 1,000 cell wall - A stiff structure made of complex
individuals in a population each year. sugars that surrounds plant, fungi, algae, &
Blastocyst - A group of about 100 cells, of two some bacteria cells in order to provide support.
types, that form from a fertilized egg. Each of cellular respiration - The breakdown of food
these cells can develop into almost any type of molecules in the presence of oxygen in order to
cell. release chemical energy in the form of ATP.
Buffer - A chemical substance that causes a chain reaction - A series of nuclear fissions in
solution to resist changes in acidity by binding which the release of particles from the splitting
to or releasing hydrogen ions. of one atom leads to the splitting of others.
Calvin cycle - Also known as light- chemical bond - A strong attractive force
independent (dark) reactions, a set of chemical between atoms that holds them together. The
reactions that occur in the stroma of attractive force comes from sharing or
chloroplasts during photosynthesis. transferring their outermost (valence)
Carbohydrate - Any organic molecule that electrons.
contains only carbon, hydrogen, & oxygen. chemical energy - The energy stored in a
carbon cycle - The processes by which carbon chemical bond (or the bond energy).
cycles through Earth's living & nonliving chemical reaction - A process that results in
systems. substances forming or breaking into new
carbon footprint - A measure of how much substances.
carbon dioxide a person releases into the air by Chemosynthesis - The process of changing
his or her daily activities. chemicals into chemical energy, or sugars.
Carnivores - Organisms that obtain their chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - Chemicals
energy by eating animals. that have been used in home appliances, like air
carrying capacity - The maximum population conditioners, which destroy the ozone layer.
size that can be supported over time by a given Chlorophyll - A green substance in the
environment. thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts that
Catalyst - A substance that makes chemical gathers light for photosynthesis.
reactions occur more quickly without getting Chloroplast - A double-membrane organelle
used up as a reactant. in plant & some protist cells that is the main
Cell - The smallest functional unit of life. The site of photosynthesis.
most basic unit of life. All cells are bound by a Commensalism - A symbiotic relationship
membrane & contain biomolecules such as between organisms of different species in which
nucleic acids & proteins. one organism is helped while the other is
cell membrane - A double layer of neither helped nor harmed.
phospholipids with proteins that surrounds the Concentration - The amount of matter in a
cell & controls the movement of materials to & given space or volume.
from its outer environment. concentration gradient - A difference in
cell theory - The scientific idea that all living concentration of a solute between spaces within
things are made of cells, cells are the basic units a solution.
of life, & all cells come from preexisting cells. Conception - The process of fertilization.
Conclusion - A statement or set of statements data table - A pre-arranged set of rows &
considered to be the answer to a question. columns that is used to record data during an
Condensation - The process of water experiment.
changing from a gas to a liquid in cool air. death rate - The number of deaths per 1,000
connective tissue - A type of tissue in the individuals in a population each year.
body that provides support & protection, fills Decomposer - An organism that breaks down
spaces, stores fat, produces blood cells, & helps dead plants & animals into simpler forms.
to repair damage. Decomposition - The process of a dead
Conservation - The careful management of a organism breaking down.
resource, such as water or wildlife, in order to Deforestation - The cutting down of trees in
replenish it or protect it from being lost. forests.
Consumer - An organism that obtains its Dehydration - The process of removing water
energy by eating other organisms. from a substance.
Contraction - The act of tightening in the dependent variable - A condition or factor
process of movement. which is affected by another factor or factors.
control group - A group in an experiment that Detritivore - An organism that eats dead
is not exposed to the factor or condition being plants & animals.
tested.
Differentiate - To further develop or
controlled experiment - A type of specialize, especially in cells or tissues.
experimental design in which a hypothesis is
tested under carefully controlled conditions, & Differentiation - The process of development
the control group is compared with the or specialization, especially in cells or tissues.
experimental group. Diffusion - The movement of substances from
covalent bond - A type of bond between a region of higher concentration to a region of
atoms that involves the sharing of electrons. lower concentration.
Cristae - The folded parts of the inner Disaccharide - Any of a class of sugars that
membrane in mitochondria. are composed of two monosaccharides, or
simple sugars.
Culture - A preparation of living cells
(bacteria, plant, animal) maintained under distilled water - Water that has been
conditions (temperature, food, water, oxygen) specifically treated to remove anything
suitable for growth. dissolved in or mixed with the water, including
salts & other chemical substances.
Currents - Large bodies of air or water flowing
in a certain direction. DNA - The chemical blueprint for all living
things. Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, it is a
Cytoplasm - The entire contents of a living double-stranded molecule that carries genetic
cell, except for the nucleus & large vacuoles. information & determines the physical
Cytoskeleton - The structure on the inside of a characteristics between generations.
cell, made of fibrous proteins. Ecosystem - All of the organisms in an area,
Cytosol - A water-based fluid surrounding all together with the physical environment they
the structures inside a cell. inhabit. A system formed by the interaction of
Data - Pieces of collected information. living organisms with the nonliving physical
environment.
Egg - Female reproductive cell in plants & Ethics - Principles of right & wrong.
animals. Eukaryote - An organism consisting of one or
Electron - A negatively charged particle that more cells. Each cell contains a membrane-
continuously circles the nucleus of an atom. enclosed nucleus.
electron transport chain - A group of Eukaryotic - Having a membrane-enclosed
proteins in the thylakoid membrane where an nucleus.
electron is excited & transported during Evaporation - The rising of a liquid's
photosynthesis. This is also the second step in molecules into the air as vapor (or gas), often
cellular respiration, during which ATP is because of the presence of heat.
produced.
Exocytosis - A process of transport in which a
electrostatic attraction - The force of vesicle inside a cell fuses (or attaches) to the
attraction experienced between two particles of cell membrane so it can release its contents
opposite charge. outside the cell.
Element - A specific type of substance that is Experiment - The step in the scientific process
identified by the number of positive particles, that consists of tests to find out if a hypothesis
or protons, it has. can be supported.
Embryo - A fertilized egg that has begun cell experimental group - A group in an
division. experiment that is exposed to the factor or
embryonic stem cells - Stem cells from an condition being tested.
embryo. experimental subject - The object,
Empirical - Based on observations & results individual, group, or population that is
from experiments rather than on theory. observed in an experiment & about which data
Endocytosis - A process of transport in which are collected.
a cell takes in a substance by using its Extinction - The death of an entire species.
membrane to "swallow" the substance & then facilitated diffusion - Diffusion of a molecule
pinches off around it to form a vesicle inside the with the assistance of another molecule or
cell. protein but without using energy.
Energy - The ability to do work. FADH2 - An energy-carrying molecule used in
energy pyramid - A diagram that shows the cellular respiration.
flow of energy between organisms at different fatty acid - The basic unit of lipid (fat)
levels of feeding (trophic levels) in a molecules.
community.
Fermentation - The breakdown of organic
Environment - Everything that surrounds an substances without the presence of oxygen, to
organism or object. produce ATP.
Enzyme - A protein that catalyzes (speeds up) fertility rate - The average number of children
chemical reactions. a woman has in her lifetime.
epithelial tissue - A type of tissue that covers Fertilization - The process by which an egg
organs or forms the inner lining of hollows in cell & sperm cell join together.
the body. Epithelial tissue always has one
surface that is exposed to an open space, while fertilized egg - An egg cell that has joined
the other surface is attached to connective with a sperm cell to become one cell, which will
tissue. divide & develop into an embryo.
fibrous protein - Long & thin-shaped protein. groundwater - Water that pools or flows
fix nitrogen - To change nitrogen into forms underground.
that are usable by other organisms. hazardous waste - Thrown-away substances
food chain – A diagram; shows feeding containing toxic compounds that can be
relationships among organisms in an potentially harmful to humans or other living
ecosystem. (Arrows point in the direction of beings.
energy transfer) Herbivore - An organism that obtains its
food web - A diagram using food chains that energy by eating plants.
shows the feeding relationships among Heterotroph - An organism that obtains its
organisms in an ecosystem. (Arrows point in energy by eating other organisms.
the direction of energy transfer) Homeostasis - An organism's maintenance of
Fossil - An actual remaining part or mark that constant internal conditions.
shows evidence of an organism that lived in the Hormone - Any chemical in living organisms
distant past. that is released to help control specific
fossil fuel - A fuel formed in nature over a processes.
long period of time from the bodies of dead Host - An organism that is infected with or fed
plants & animals. upon by another organism (the parasite).
Fossilization - Process of becoming a fossil. hydrogen bond - A type of strong polar
function - Job. attraction between an atom that strongly
geothermal energy - Energy from heat attracts electrons (in other words, an
produced by nuclear fission deep inside Earth. electronegative atom) & a hydrogen atom that
already has a covalent bond with another
global warming - A rise in Earth's average electronegative atom.
global temperatures.
hydrogen ion pump - Any membrane protein
globular protein - A protein that is round in that transports hydrogen ions through
shape. membranes.
Glycolysis - The first step of cellular Hydrolysis - A chemical reaction in which
respiration, in which glucose is broken down. water reacts with a compound to break it down
Golgi apparatus - A membrane-enclosed into other compounds.
organelle of a cell that sorts & packages Hydropower - The production of electricity
proteins in vesicles for transport to specific by water power.
parts of the cell or to other cells.
Hypothesis - statement that guesses the
Grana - The stacks of thylakoid membranes answer to a scientific question. The guess is
within chloroplasts. made based on past experience or information.
Graph - A visual display of experimental data ice caps - Giant sheets of ice, especially at the
that is used to analyze & communicate the North & South Poles.
results of an experiment.
independent variable - A factor which affects
greenhouse gas - A gas, such as carbon another factor or condition.
dioxide, that contributes to the greenhouse
effect — the warming of Earth's atmosphere Instrument - A tool used for delicate or
due to the trapping of light from the sun. scientific work.
intermembrane space - The area between Mitochondria - Membrane-enclosed
the inner & outer membranes of a organelles that are the main site of energy
mitochondrion. production.
Ion - An atom or molecule that has a positive mitochondrial matrix - The gel-like material
or negative charge because electrons were lost that contains enzymes & DNA found within the
or gained. inner mitochondrial membrane.
ionic bond - A type of chemical bond formed Model - A physical, mathematical, or
by electrostatic attraction between positive & conceptual description of something in the real
negative ions. world.
ionic compound - A compound that forms Molecule - A group of atoms connected in a
using an ionic bond between a nonmetal & a particular way.A group of atoms that bond
metal. together by sharing electrons.
Krebs cycle - The second step of cellular Monosaccharide - The most basic unit of a
respiration, occurring within mitochondria & sugar, also called a simple sugar.
producing energy-carrying molecules. It's also Multicellular - Made of more than one cell.
known as the citric acid cycle.
Multipotent - Able to differentiate only into a
lactic acid fermentation - The process of closely related cell.
fermentation in which lactate is produced as a
waste product. muscle tissue - Tissue in the body that
shortens or tenses to move particular bones or
light reactions - A set of chemical reactions substances of the body.
that occur in the thylakoid membranes of
chloroplasts as part of photosynthesis. Mutualism - A symbiotic relationship between
two organisms of different species in which
Lipid - A molecule made of fatty acid chains. both organisms gain from the relationship.
Lipids are nonpolar, which causes them to
separate from water. NADH - An important energy-carrying
molecule in glycolysis & the Krebs cycle during
Lysosome - A membrane-enclosed sac cellular respiration.
containing enzymes that break down proteins,
carbohydrates, & fats. NADPH - An energy-carrying molecule in a
cell.
Macromolecule - A giant molecule formed by
the joining together of thousands of molecules. natural water - Water found in nature, such
as in ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, & oceans.
Matter - Anything that takes up space & has
mass (physical material). Nerve - A bundle of nerve fibers that carry
signals to or from the brain.
Medium - The substance in which a living
organism is grown or maintained. nervous tissue - Tissue in the body made of
neurons.
membrane protein - A protein that functions
within a membrane. Neutron - A particle with a neutral charge in
the nucleus of an atom.
Microscope - A tool for observing very small
objects, such as cells & cell structures. nitrogen cycle - The process of nitrogen
moving through soil, bacteria, plants, & the
Microscopy - The use of a microscope. atmosphere.
Nonpolar - Having no charge.
Nonrenewable - Cannot be replaced at all or Osmosis - The movement of a fluid through a
in any reasonable time period once it is used. semipermeable membrane from a region of low
nuclear energy - Energy produced from the particle concentration to a region of high
splitting of an atom (nuclear fission). particle concentration.
nuclear envelope - Surrounds the nucleus Overconsumption - Use of a resource at a
within a cell & is composed of two membrane higher rate than the resource can be maintained
layers. or replaced.
nuclear fission - A nuclear reaction in which a ozone layer - A layer of Earth's atmosphere
single large nucleus splits into two or more that contains ozone molecules & protects Earth
smaller nuclei, releasing energy in the process. from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
nuclear fusion - When two atoms combine to Parasite - An organism that infects or feeds
form a larger atom, usually releasing energy in upon another organism (the host).
the process. Parasitism - Interaction between organisms in
nucleic acid - A compound made up of a long which one member infects or feeds upon
chain of molecules that carry codes for another organism.
behavior, function, & structure of living passive transport - A transport process of
organisms or cells. molecules that does not require energy.
Nucleotide - The basic unit of a nucleic acid. It peer review - The process of criticizing a
is made up of a phosphate group, a sugar ring, scientific study, especially by the scientific
& a nucleotide base. community.
Nucleus - The membrane-enclosed organelle peptide bond - A covalent bond (a bond that
of a eukaryotic cell that contains most of the involves the sharing of electrons) between the
cell's DNA & controls the cell's functions. amino acid molecules in a protein.
Nutrients - Substances that an organism needs Percolation - The process of water moving
to live & grow. down through the soil.
Nutrients - Substances that an organism needs periodic table - A chart that organizes the
to live & grow. chemical elements according to their number of
Observation - A collection or noticing of protons.
information about something. Permeability - The ability of a membrane to
Omnivores - Organisms that obtain their allow materials to pass through it.
energy by eating plants & animals. pH - A measurement that describes the acidity
Organ - A specialized structure that carries out of a solution, with a lower pH indicating a
a specific function in living organisms. higher acidity. A pH of less than 7 is acidic; a
pH of 7 is neutral; & a pH of greater than 7 is
Organ system - A collection of organs that basic.
work together to carry out a specific set of
biological functions. pH indicator - A chemical dye that indicates
the approximate acidity (or pH) of a solution,
Organelle - A specialized structure within a often by causing the solution to change color in
eukaryotic cell that performs specific functions. response to a change in the acidity.
Organic - A type of matter that contains pH scale - A scale that compares the acidity of
carbon & is made by living things. two or more solutions. A lower pH indicates a
Organism - An individual living thing. higher acidity & a pH of greater than 7 is basic.
Phenomenon - An observable event. polar heads - Parts of a phospholipid
Pheromone - A chemical released by an molecule to which a phosphate group is
animal that influences the behavior or body of attached.
another animal of the same species. polar molecule - A molecule with an
Phloem - The vascular tissue in plants that unbalanced arrangement of charge, where one
carries dissolved organic nutrients in all end of the molecule is more positive or negative
directions within the plant. than the other end.
phosphate group - A chemical group that Polarity - Whether a molecule is polar or
consists of one phosphate atom & three oxygen nonpolar.
atoms. Pollution - Any physical, chemical, or
Phospholipid - The basic unit of the cell biological change that is harmful to the health,
membrane. It is made of one phosphate group survival, or activities of living organisms or the
& two fatty acid chains. environment.

Photon - A particle of light. Polysaccharide - A complex sugar made of

three or more linked monosaccharides.
Photosynthesis - The process of converting
light energy to chemical energy; in the process, Population - A group of individuals of the
carbon dioxide & water are converted into same species living together in the same area at
oxygen & sugars. the same time.
photosystem I - A group of proteins in the population density - The size of a population
thylakoid membrane where an electron is re- in a given area.
excited by light so that NADPH can be created population growth - Increase in the number
during photosynthesis. of individuals of the same species living
photosystem II - A group of proteins in the together in the same area at the same time.
thylakoid membrane where an electron is Pores - Small openings in a surface through
excited by light so that ATP can be created which materials can pass.
during photosynthesis. potentially renewable - A resource that the
Phytoplankton - Part of plankton consisting Earth replaces naturally in a reasonable time
of microscopic algae & photosynthetic protists. period as it is used up, but with human
Placenta – Organ; supports growing embryo. management.
Plankton - Living organisms, usually very Precipitation - Water that comes down out of
small, that drift in a body of water during their the sky from clouds.
lifetime. Predator - An organism that feeds on another
Pluripotent - From totipotent cells, able to organism.
differentiate into any type of cell in the human Prediction - A statement explaining that if the
body but not any in the placenta. hypothesis is true, then observations that agree
Polar - Having an unbalanced arrangement of with the hypothesis will be made in an
charge. experiment.
polar attraction - An attraction between Prey - An organism that is fed upon by another
atoms with an unbalanced sharing of electrons. organism.
Results in one end of the molecule having more primary consumer - A consumer that obtains
positive or negative charge than the other end. its energy by eating plants (producers).
Producer - An organism that is able to Range - The area of variation between the
produce its own food, putting it in the first level smallest & largest measurements for one factor
of a food chain. It is also called an autotrophic in a single experiment.
organism. Rate - The speed at which something occurs.
Product - A substance that is produced in a Ratio - A mathematical description of how one
chemical reaction. measurement relates to another measurement,
progenitor cell - A partially differentiated usually written as a fraction.
stem cell, before it has developed into its final Reactant - A substance that reacts (is used) in
form. a chemical reaction.
Prokaryotes - A one-celled organism that does Reliable - Can be trusted.
not have a membrane-enclosed nucleus.
Lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus. Renewable - Can be replaced naturally by
Earth in a reasonable time period once it is
Protein - A molecule made from a long chain used.
of amino acids.
RER - Rough endoplasmic reticulum — an
Proton - A particle with a positive charge in organelle of a cell that is the site of final protein
the nucleus of an atom. processing.
Pseudoscience - A belief or activity that Respiration - The breathing in & out of air,
closely resembles science but does not follow during which oxygen is transferred to blood &
the principles of the scientific method. cells.
Pyruvate - A 3-carbon molecule that is the Result - The outcome of an experiment.
main product of glycolysis, the process in which
glucose is broken down. Ribosome - An organelle of a cell that is the
site of protein production.
pyruvate processing - The process of
changing pyruvate into a molecule called acetyl rough endoplasmic reticulum - An
CoA in preparation for its use in the Krebs organelle of a cell that is the site of final protein
cycle. processing.
Qualitative - Described or measured without Runoff - Water that flows over land until it
using numbers. reaches a body of water, such as a river/ocean.
Quantitative - Described or measured using saturated fatty acid - The basic unit of lipid
numbers. (fat) molecules, which consists of only single
carbon-to-carbon covalent bonds.
Question - An expression of uncertainty about
something. scientific method - The five steps of the
scientific process designed to answer scientific
Radioactive - A quality of an element, where it questions.
suddenly changes into another element by
giving off energy or small bits of matter. scientific process - A process of observation,
experimentation, & peer review that results in
rain forest - A forest that has heavy rainfall all new scientific knowledge.
year.
scientific theory - A hypothesis or set of
rain forest canopy - A thick layer of greenery, hypotheses that is supported by
formed by trees, vines, & other plants, that is experimentation & repeated many times to
50 to 150 feet off the ground. become part of what is considered a very solid
explanation in scientific literature.
secondary consumer - A consumer that spontaneous generation - The idea that
obtains its energy by eating primary consumers living things could come from nonliving things.
(which eat producers). statement of purpose - A clear explanation of
Semipermeable - Specific about what is why an experiment is being done.
allowed to pass through. stem cell - Any unspecialized cell in a
SER - Smooth endoplasmic reticulum — an multicellular organism, except a sperm or egg
organelle of a cell that is the site of lipid cell, that can divide & become any cell type in
production & carbohydrate breakdown. the body.
Sewage - Untreated, or uncleaned, Stroma - The space between the grana in a
wastewater. chloroplast.
sexual reproduction - The process of Structure - The form & arrangement of a
reproduction through two parents, where a material.
male & female gamete fuse together, resulting Substrate - A material on which some process
in offspring with genes from each parent. occurs.
simple diffusion - Diffusion of a molecule Sustainable - Able to be maintained at a
without using energy or any help from another certain level for an indefinite amount of time.
molecule.
symbiotic relationship - A relationship
smooth endoplasmic reticulum - An between two organisms of different species in
organelle of a cell that is the site of lipid which at least one of the organisms benefit.
production & carbohydrate breakdown. Types of symbiotic relationships include
solar energy - Energy produced from mutualism, commensalism, & parasitism.
collecting sunlight. System - A group of connected & related
solar panel - A device that produces electricity things.
using the sun's rays. Technology - Use of scientific information.
Solute - The substance that is dissolved in a temperate forest - A forest that experiences
liquid to make a solution. the four seasons.
Solvent - The liquid that a substance is tertiary consumer - A consumer that obtains
dissolved in to make a solution. its energy by eating secondary consumers
source of error - Any flaw in an experiment (which eat primary consumers).
that affects the accuracy or precision of the Thylakoid - A membranous sac within
results. chloroplasts on which the light reactions of
Specialized - Adapted to a specific function or photosynthesis occur.
condition. Tissue - A group of similar cells that work
specialized cell - A cell that has a specific together to perform a distinct function.
function. Tool - A device used to perform a function.
specialized tissue - A group of specialized Totipotent - Able to differentiate into any type
cells of the same type, which work together to of cell of the human body or the placenta.
perform a specific function.
Transpiration - Loss of water from plants
Sperm - Male reproductive cell in plants & through their leaves into the air as a vapor (or
animals. gas).
transport protein - A protein in the cell Xylem - The vascular tissue in plants that
membrane that helps specific molecules pass carries water & dissolved minerals upward from
through. the roots to the rest of the plant.
Triglyceride - An insoluble compound (not Zooplankton - The part of the plankton that
able to be dissolved in water) that consists of consists of tiny invertebrate animals, protists, &
the molecule glycerol & three fatty acids. the larvae of some fish.
trophic level - The level of a species in an
ecosystem based on its main source of food.
tropical forest - A type of forest that is found
in places with high temperatures & rainfall
amounts.
Undifferentiated - Not further developed or
specialized, especially in cells or tissues.
Unicellular - Made of one cell.
Unipotent - Able to produce only its own type
of cell.
unsaturated fatty acid - The basic unit of
lipid (fat) molecules, which consists of single &
double carbon-to-carbon covalent bonds.
Vacuole - A membrane-enclosed, fluid-filled
sac within plant & animal cells that mainly
functions in the storage of water, chemicals, or
waste.
Variable - A condition or factor involved in an
experiment.
vascular plant - has a vascular system.
vascular system - A system that transports
water or other needed substances throughout
an organism.
Vesicle - A sac that carries materials within a
cell or to another cell.
water cycle - The process by which water
cycles through the atmosphere, l&, & bodies of
water. Water evaporates into the atmosphere,
then gathers as vapor in clouds before returning
as rain, snow, or ice. Also known as
the hydrologic cycle.
water-splitting enzyme - An enzyme that
splits water into hydrogen ions & oxygen
molecules in the electron transport chain.