Key terms & definitions

A member of a Jewish religious group concerned with observing and interpreting the religious law.

The businesses involved in researching, developing and manufacturing medicines.

The study and use of genomic information to help choose medicines and doses for an individual.

A cyber attack intended to redirect a website's traffic to a fake website.

A material that absorbs heat as it melts and releases heat as it solidifies, helping to manage temperature.

The study of the timing of recurring seasonal events in plants and animals, such as budburst or the first appearance of butterflies.

The observable characteristics of an organism, influenced by its genes and its environment.

The observable characteristics of an organism, influenced by its genes and environment.

The relative numbers of offspring predicted to show each characteristic.

A Mycenaean human figurine type with arms against the sides or folded across the chest, giving an outline resembling the Greek letter Φ.

Someone who contributes money, effort or resources to projects intended to improve other people’s lives.

An approach that uses money or resources to improve other people’s welfare. Philanthropic housing could combine a social purpose with a limited financial return.

The provision of money, time or practical support to improve other people's lives.

A person regarded as lacking appreciation of art, culture or intellectual interests; the speaker uses it as an insult.

An argument that uses reasons and evidence to support a conclusion about a fundamental question, such as what reality is like.

A written conversation in which speakers explore ideas about matters such as conduct, knowledge or the organisation of life.

Using deceptive electronic messages or websites to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as bank details.

Fraudulently obtaining private information, often through an email or SMS that pretends to come from a trusted source.

Plant transport tissue made of tubes of elongated cells that carries dissolved sugars from leaves to other parts of the plant.

Plant transport tissue consisting of tubes of elongated cells with pores in their end walls, carrying dissolved sugars.

An electronic instrument that uses a probe to measure pH and displays a numerical value.

An electronic instrument that uses a probe placed in a solution to measure its pH and display a numerical reading.

A spoken conversation over a telephone connection.

Writing that represents the sound of speech through spelling, as in Nagra’s “ov” and “vee”.

The period from September 1939 to May 1940 when Britain was at war with Germany but the expected major bombing attacks on British cities had not yet begun.

Mined material containing phosphate compounds; it must be treated to make its phosphorus more available to plants.

A pigment that absorbs light energy and continues to glow for a time after the light source is removed.

A mineral that helps build bones and teeth and is involved in releasing and using energy from food.

Harmful air pollution formed when sunlight drives reactions between pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen.

Describes a material that changes colour when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.