Biology key terms

A living cell alongside a phloem sieve-tube cell that supplies energy for transporting sucrose.

A struggle between organisms for a resource that is limited.

Having shapes that fit together, as the normal active site and its substrate do.

A relationship in which bases pair specifically: during transcription, DNA adenine pairs with RNA uracil, while cytosine pairs with guanine.

Partly decomposed biological material used as a natural fertiliser for plants and crops.

The controlled decomposition of organic waste to produce compost.

A measurement formed from two or more quantities, such as distance divided by time.

A model run on a computer to apply rules or calculations and explore possible outcomes.

A lens that is thinner in the middle than at the edges and spreads out, or diverges, light rays.

The number of particles of a substance in a given volume.

The difference in a substance’s concentration between the two sides of an exchange membrane.

A difference in the concentration of a substance between two regions.

A judgement about what an investigation shows, supported by its results and reasoning.

The change of water vapour into liquid water as it cools.

A retinal photoreceptor that functions best in bright light and enables colour vision and detailed vision.

The degree of trust placed in a prediction or explanation after considering the available evidence and its limitations.

The protection of a participant's personal and medical information from unauthorised disclosure.

A factor associated with both the factor being investigated and the outcome, which may provide an alternative explanation for an observed relationship.

Awareness of oneself and one's surroundings.

The protection and careful management of species and habitats to maintain biodiversity.

A planned set of actions intended to protect or restore species, habitats or ecosystems.

An organism that obtains food by eating another organism.

The unwanted presence of microorganisms that were not intended to be in a culture.

The circumstances surrounding an issue, including the people affected and the social, economic and environmental conditions.

Numerical data that can take any value within a range, such as time, temperature or mass.

Removing and testing small samples repeatedly while a reaction is taking place.

Variation in which phenotypes form a range between two extremes rather than separate categories.