A-Z of Biology Terms

A

Amoeba - single-celled Protozoan

Astaxanthin - Red protection from sun

Actinomycetes. The characteristically earthy smell of newly plowed soil in the spring is caused by actinomycetes, higher-form bacteria similar to fungi and mold.

ATP - Adenosine Triphosphate: APPP ---->APP (Adenosine Diphosphate) = Chemical Battery

Autotrophic - Primary production: uses inorganic substrate to produce organic

B

Coenobial/coenobium/coenobia  - Colony with little or no specialisation

Concentration gradient -  diffusion eg, water to salty

Closterium - Moon shaped Desmid

Chloroplast - organelles that conduct Photosynthesis

Cytoplasmic Strands

Cytology - The study of cells

C

D

Desmid - Symmetrical algae

Dynobyon

Diatom

Differentially permeable

E

Ellipsoidal

Euglena Gracilis

Encysted state

F

Flagella - Whip like structure

G

Gypsum - CaSO4 in Closterium

H

Heterotrophs - Use organic substrates for energy

Haematococcus Pluvialis - Red algae in bird bath

Haemoglobin - 250m molecules in one cell

I

Isthmus - Bridge in a cell

J

K

L

M

Motile - moving

Micron - 1000th mm

Magnesium - Plants need it to make Chlorophyll

N

Nucleolus - centre of the nucleus:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleolus

O

Organelle - small "organ"

Osmosis - Diffision of water across a selectively permiable membrane

P

Pyrenoid - Centre of CO2 fixation

Protozoa - Animal like single cell

Pediastrum Boryanum  - star shaped 16 celled coenobial

 

Protein

Peptides

Pennate diatom

Q

R

S

 

Statoliths - gravity detectors

Scenedesmus Quadricauda - Algae: 4 cells with spines

Scenedesmus Acuminatus - "pointy" algae

T

U

Uni/multi-celled organism

V

Vacuoles - Storage bubbles in cells

Volvocales - Green algae, uni celled motile, flagella

Volvox

W

X

Y

Z