Key terms & definitions

A rock containing enough of a metal or metal compound for the metal to be extracted.

A naturally occurring rock containing enough of a metal or metal compound to make extracting the metal worthwhile.

A naturally occurring rock containing enough metal or metal compound for extraction to be worthwhile.

An overland migration route used by settlers travelling towards Oregon, crossing the Rocky Mountains through South Pass.

An aggregation of different tissues working together to perform a specific function.

A structure made of different tissues working together to carry out particular functions.

Giving an organ for transplantation to someone who needs it.

A specialised structure within a cell that carries out a particular function.

A structure inside a cell that performs a particular function, such as a mitochondrion or chloroplast.

The comparison of society to a living body, with interconnected institutions performing functions that support the whole.

A carbon-based molecule, such as glucose, a fat or a protein, that can form living tissue or act as a fuel.

A compound based on carbon atoms, usually with carbon bonded to hydrogen and sometimes to other elements.

A compound containing carbon atoms covalently bonded to atoms of other elements, commonly hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen.

Farming that avoids artificial fertilisers and restricts the use of synthetic pesticides, relying instead on methods that maintain soil health and manage pests naturally.

A regulated farming approach that restricts synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilisers and uses methods such as crop rotation, composting and natural pest control.

Expansion by developing a business’s existing activities rather than merging with or taking over another business. Also called internal growth.

Material originating from living organisms, such as faeces and food waste, which microorganisms can break down.

Food produced using methods that restrict synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, instead using approaches such as crop rotation and natural pest control.

Differences in family structures and in how families organise roles, responsibilities and domestic labour.

The arrangement of job roles, responsibilities, authority and reporting relationships within a business.

A diagram showing the positions within a business and who reports to whom.

Criminal activity carried out by groups with continuing organisation, often using violence and bribery to protect their profits.

A structured system of faith and worship shared by a substantial group, such as Christianity, Islam or Judaism.

A single living thing.

A single living individual.

The immune system attacking a transplanted organ because it recognises it as foreign.

A group of organs working together to perform one or more major functions in an organism.

A group of organs working together to carry out a particular function.

The surgical replacement of a failed or damaged organ with a functioning organ from a donor.

A gate that outputs 1 when at least one input is 1, including when both inputs are 1.