Glossary of biology

This glossary of biology terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts used in biology, the study of life and of living organisms. It is intended as introductory material for novices; for more specific and technical definitions from sub-disciplines and related fields, see Glossary of cell biology, Glossary of genetics, Glossary of evolutionary biology, Glossary of ecology, Glossary of environmental science and Glossary of scientific naming, or any of the organism-specific glossaries in Category:Glossaries of biology.

A
absorption: (physiology) A process in which one substance permeates another. A fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid. Skin absorption is a route by which substances can enter the body through the skin.

acclimatization: (physiology) to a new climate, as with a new temperature or altitude or environment.

acetyl-CoA: (biochemistry) Acetyl coenzyme A is a molecule participating in many biochemical reactions in carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Its main function is to deliver the acetyl group to the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) to be oxidized for energy production.

acoelomate: (zoology) A type of, such as a flatworm, with a body plan that lacks a fluid-filled between the body wall and the digestive tract. Rather, semi-solid mesodermal tissues between the gut and body wall hold the animal's in place. Contrast ' and '.

adaptation: (evolutionary biology, population biology) Term can apply to an individual organism's adaptation to its environment, the adaptation of organisms to an environment through evolutionary processes, or the population dynamics intrisic to the evolutionary process.

adenine: (biochemistry) A purine-derived organic compound which is one of the four canonical nucleobases used in the and. Its derivatives are involved in a wide variety of reactions, including.

aerobic: Capable of surviving and growing in the presence of oxygen.

amino acid: (biochemistry) A class of organic compounds containing an amine group and a carboxylic acid group which function as the fundamental building blocks of and play important roles in many other biochemical processes.

anaerobic: Any organism that does not require molecular oxygen for growth.

animal: Any member of a of  organisms belonging to the  Animalia. With few exceptions, animals,, are , , and grow from a blastula during embryonic development. An estimated 7 million distinct animal currently exist.

antibiotic:

A type of antimicrobial used in the treatment and prevention of.

Archaea: One of the three recognized domains of organisms, the other two being Bacteria and Eukaryota.

artificial selection:

The process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to control the development of particular  in organisms by choosing which individual organisms will  and create. While the deliberate exploitation of knowledge about and  in the hope of producing desirable characteristics is widely practiced in  and experimental biology, artificial selection may also be unintentional and may produce unintended (desirable or undesirable) results.

asexual reproduction: A type of involving a single parent that results in that are genetically identical to the parent.

astrobiology: The branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life.

autoimmunity: The system of responses of an organism directed against its own healthy cells and tissues.

autotroph:

An organism capable of producing complex organic compounds from simple substances present in its surroundings, generally by using energy from sunlight (as in ) or from inorganic chemical reactions (as in ). Autotrophs do not need to consume another living organism in order to obtain energy or organic carbon, as opposed to.

B
B cell: A type of lymphocyte in the humoral immunity of the adaptive immune system.

bacteria: An enormous and diverse clade of microscopic,, single-celled organisms which lack a true. They represent one of the three fundamental biological.

bacteriophage: A that infects and multiplies within.

Barr body: The inactive X chromosome in a female somatic cell, rendered inactive in a process called lyonization, in those species in which sex is determined by the presence of the Y chromosome (including humans) or W chromosome rather than by the presence of two X chromosomes or two Z chromosomes.

basal body: An organelle formed from a centriole, and a short cylindrical array of microtubules. Also called a basal granule, a kinetosome, and in older cytological literature, a blepharoplast.

behavioral ecology: The study of the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures.

bile: A dark green to yellowish-brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, which aids the digestion of lipids in the small intestine. Also called gall.

binary fission: The process by which one prokaryotic cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

binomial nomenclature: A formal system of classifying of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages.

biocatalysis: The process of catalysis in biological systems. In biocatalytic processes, natural catalysts, such as protein enzymes, perform chemical transformations on organic compounds.

biochemistry: The branch of biology that studies the chemical properties, compositions, reactions, and processes related to living organisms.

biodiversity: A contraction of "biological diversity" generally referring to the variety and variability of life on Earth.

bioengineering: The application of concepts and methods of biology to solve real-world problems related to the life sciences or the application thereof.

bioenergetics: The study of the transformation of energy within and between living organisms.

biogeography: The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area.

bioinformatics: The application of computer technology to the management of biological information.

biological organization: The hierarchy of complex biological structures and systems, designed to define life through a reductionist approach.

biology: The scientific study of life.

biomass: Organic matter derived from living or recently living organisms. Biomass can be used as a source of energy and it most often refers to plants or plant-based materials which are not used for food or feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass.

biomathematics: The theoretical use of mathematical models and abstractions of living systems to understand and predict biological problems.

biome: Any very large area on the Earth's surface containing fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment. Biomes are often defined by such as climate, topographical relief, geology, soils, and water resources.

biomechanics: The study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of the methods of "mechanics", which is the branch of physics involving analysis of the actions of forces.

biomedical engineering: The application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes (e.g. diagnostic or therapeutic).

biomedical research: The pursuit of answers to medical questions. These investigations lead to discoveries, which in turn lead to the development of new preventions, therapies, and cures for problems in human and veterinary health. Biomedical research generally takes two forms: basic science and applied research.

biomolecule: Molecules and ions that are present in organisms, essential to some typically biological process such as, morphogenesis, or development.

biophysics: The application of approaches traditionally employed in physics to study biological systems.

biosynthesis:

biotechnology: Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use" (UN Convention on Biological Diversity).

bipedal: A form of terrestrial locomotion where an organism moves by means of its two rear limbs or legs.

birth:

blastocyst: A mammalian blastula in which some differentiation of cells has occurred.

blood: A body fluid that circulates in humans and other vertebrate animals and is generally responsible for delivering necessary substances such as oxygen and nutrients between the cells and tissues of the body and transporting metabolic waste products away from those same cells and tissues.

blood–brain barrier: A semipermeable membrane separating the blood from the cerebrospinal fluid, and constituting a barrier to the passage of cells, particles, and large molecules.

botany: The branch of biology that studies.

building biology: A science that leads to natural healthy ecological homes, schools, and workplaces that exist in harmony with the environment.

C
Calvin cycle:

A series of chemical reactions which occurs as one of two primary phases of, specifically the phase in which carbon dioxide and other compounds are converted into simple such as glucose. These reactions occur in the stroma, the fluid-filled area of the outside the thylakoid membranes. In the Calvin cycle, the products of previous ( and ) undergo further reactions which do not require the presence of light and which can be broadly divided into three stages:, reduction reactions, and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration.

carbon fixation:

The process by which inorganic carbon, particularly in the form of carbon dioxide, is converted to organic compounds by living organisms. Examples include and.

carbonate: Any member of two classes of chemical compounds derived from carbonic acid or carbon dioxide.

carotenoid: One of a class of organic pigments produced by and, as well as certain and.

catalase: An found in nearly all living organisms exposed to oxygen, including,, and.

cell: The basic structural and functional unit of all living, and the smallest functional unit of. A cell may exist as an independent, self-replicating unit (as in the case of ), or in cooperation with other cells, each of which may be specialized for carrying out particular functions within a larger. Cells consist of enclosed within a and sometimes a, and serve the fundamental purpose of separating the controlled environment in which biochemical processes take place from the outside world. Most cells are visible only under a microscope.

cell biology:

The branch of biology that studies the structure and function of living, including their properties, processes, chemical composition,, the  they contain, and their interactions with their environment. This is done at both microscopic and levels.

cell cycle: The ordered series of events which take place in a leading to of its genetic material and ultimately the  of the  and  to produce two or more daughter cells. These events can be broadly divided into phases of growth and division, each of which can vary in duration and complexity depending on the tissue or organism to which the cell belongs. Cell cycles are essential processes in all and  organisms.

cell division: Any process by which a parent divides into two or more daughter cells. Examples include,, and.

cell membrane: The semipermeable surrounding the of a.

cell nucleus: The "control room" for the. The nucleus gives out all the orders.

cell plate: Grown in the cell's center, it fuses with the parental plasma membrane, creating a new that enables.

cell theory: The theory that all living things are made up of.

cell wall: A tough, often rigid structural barrier surrounding certain types of (such as in,, and most ) that is immediately external to the.

cellular: Of or relating to a.

central dogma of molecular biology: A framework for understanding the movement of information between information-carrying biopolymers within biological systems. Popularly (though simplistically) stated as " makes and RNA makes ", the principle attempts to capture the notion that the transfer of genetic information only naturally occurs between certain classes of molecules and in certain directions.

centriole: A cylindrical cell structure found in most eukaryotic cells, composed mainly of a called tubulin.

centrosome: An that is the primary site at which microtubules are organized. They occur only in plant and animal cells and help to regulate.

chemical compound: A chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. The ratio of each element is usually expressed by a chemical formula.

chemical equilibrium: The state in which both reactants and products are present in concentrations which have no further tendency to change with time in a chemical reaction.

chemical reaction: A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

chemistry: A branch of the physical sciences that studies the composition, structure, properties, and change of matter. Chemical interactions underlie all biological processes.

chemosynthesis:

chlorophyll: Any of several pigments found in cyanobacteria,, or.

chloroplast: A type of highly specialized in the cells of and, the main role of which is to conduct, by which the photosynthetic pigment  captures the energy from sunlight and converts and stores it in the molecules  and  while freeing oxygen from water.

cholesterol: A type of lipid molecule that is by all cells because it is an essential structural component of animal, essential for maintaining both membrane structural integrity and fluidity.

chromosome: A threadlike strand of in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order.

cilia:

circadian rhythm:

citric acid cycle:

A series of chemical reactions used by all organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from,, and into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of guanosine triphosphate (GTP). In addition, the cycle provides the chemical precursors for certain as well as the reducing agent NADH that is used in numerous other biochemical reactions. Its central importance to many biochemical pathways suggests that it was one of the earliest established components of cellular and may have originated abiogenically.

clade:

class:

clonal selection: A scientific theory in immunology that explains the functions of cells (lymphocytes) of the immune system in response to specific antigens invading the body. The theory has become the widely accepted model for how the immune system responds to infection and how certain types of B and T lymphocytes are selected for destruction of specific antigens.

cloning: The process of producing individual organisms or molecules with identical or virtually identical, either naturally or artificially. Many organisms, such as, insects, and , are capable of naturally producing clones through. In, cloning refers to the artificial creation of copies of cells, DNA fragments, or other by various laboratory techniques.

coat, coating: In the context of virus capsid, may refer colloquially to the defined geometric structure of a capsid, or the membrane of an endosome containing an intact virion. The coat of a virus is used in descriptions for the general public. Related slang: uncoating.

colony:

comparative biology: The use of comparative methods to study the similarities and differences between two or more biological organisms (e.g. two organisms from the same time period but different, or two organisms from the same taxon but different times in evolutionary history). The side-by-side comparison of or characteristics of different organisms is the basis from which biologists infer the organisms' genetic relatedness and their natural histories. It is a fundamental tool in many biological disciplines, including anatomy, physiology,, and.

conservation biology: The scientific study of nature and of Earth's with the aim of protecting, their, and from excessive rates of  and the erosion of biotic interactions.

convergent evolution: An process by which of different lineages independently develop similar characteristics, often to the point that the species appear to be more closely related than they actually are.

countercurrent exchange: The crossover of some property, usually heat or some component, between two fluids flowing in opposite directions to each other. The phenomenon occurs naturally but is also frequently mimicked in industry and engineering.

crista: A fold in the inner of a.

cryobiology: The branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living things within Earth's cryosphere or in laboratory experiments.

cytology: See.

cytoplasm: All of the material within a and enclosed by the, except for the. The cytoplasm consists mainly of water, the gel-like cytosol, various, and free-floating granules of and other.

cytosine: One of the four main nitrogenous bases found in both and, along with, , , and (in RNA); it is a pyrimidine derivative, with a heterocyclic aromatic ring and two substituents attached (an amine group at position 4 and a keto group at position 2).

cytoskeleton: A complex, dynamic network of interlinking protein filaments that extends from the to the and which is present in the  of all, including  and. The cytoskeletal systems of different organisms are composed of similar proteins. In eukaryotes, the cytoskeletal matrix is a dynamic structure composed of three main proteins, which are capable of rapid growth or disassembly dependent on the cell's requirements.

D
Darwinian fitness: The contribution of an individual to the next 's relative to the average for the population, usually measured by the number of  or close kin that survive to  age.

deciduous: Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and it is typically used in in order to refer to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally (most commonly during autumn) and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruits when ripe.

decomposition: The process by which the of deceased organisms are broken down into simpler organic or such as,, simple sugars, and mineral salts. These reactions occur naturally by both means (, such as that practiced by many  and ) and  means (basic physical and chemical processes, such as hydrolysis). Decomposition recycles matter present in the, making it an essential part of the nutrient cycle. Organisms that facilitate decomposition are known as ; the scientific study of decomposition is known as.

decomposer: Any that facilitates the breakdown of dead or decaying organisms by carrying out the of complex biomolecules into simpler substances. Decomposers are which obtain energy and nutrition for their own growth and reproduction by recycling the chemical compounds contained in organic substrates. Microorganisms such as and  are the biosphere's chief decomposers, but  such as earthworms are also sometimes considered decomposers.

dehydration reaction: A chemical reaction that involves the loss of a water molecule from the reacting molecule.

denaturation: A process in which or lose the quaternary, tertiary, and secondary structure which is present in their native state, when exposed to some external stress or chemical compound such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, or an organic solvent.

dendrite: A short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body.

denitrification: The microbially facilitated process of nitrate reduction that ultimately produces molecular nitrogen (N2) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products. It is performed by a large group of heterotrophic facultative anaerobic and is a fundamental component of the nitrogen cycle.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): A that serves as the fundamental hereditary material in all living organisms. Each DNA molecule is composed of long sequences of nucleotides, each of which includes one of four nitrogenous bases – adenine (abbreviated A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) – attached to a sugar-phosphate complex which acts as a "backbone" for the long-chain polymer. DNA most commonly occurs in "double-stranded" form, i.e. as a pair of nucleotide polymers bound together by complementary base pairing.

depolarization: The process of reversing the charge across a (such as that of a neuron), thereby causing an. In depolarization, the inside of the membrane, which is normally negatively charged, becomes positive and the outside becomes negative. This is brought about by positively charged sodium ions rapidly passing into the axon.

desmosome:

A cell structure specialized for cell-to-cell adhesion.

developmental biology: The branch of biology that studies the processes by which living organisms grow and develop over time. The field may also encompass the study of,, , and the growth and differentiation of in mature tissues.

disease: Any particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of a living organism and that is not the result of any immediate external injury. Diseases are medical conditions that are often identifiable by specific signs and symptoms. They may be caused by external factors such as infectious pathogens or by internal dysfunctions such as immune deficiency or.

DNA: See.

DNA replication: The chemical duplication or copying of a molecule; the process of producing two identical copies from one original DNA molecule, in which the double helix is unwound and each strand acts as a template for the next strand. Complementary nucleotide bases are matched to synthesize the new partner strands.

DNA sequencing: The process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a molecule.

drug: Any substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs may be naturally occurring or artificially produced, and consumption may occur in a number of different ways. Drugs are typically distinguished from substances that provide nutritional support such as food.

dimorphism: The existence of a distinction between organisms of the same, such that individuals of that species occur in one of two distinct forms which differ in one or more characteristics, such as colour, size, shape, or any other phenotypic trait. Dimorphism based on sex – e.g. male vs. female – is common in organisms such as plants and animals.

dynein: A motor in cells which converts the chemical energy contained in ATP into the mechanical energy of movement.

E
ecological efficiency: The efficiency with which energy is transferred from one to the next. It is determined by a combination of efficiencies relating to organismic resource acquisition and assimilation in an.

ecological pyramid:

A graphical representation of the or bio-productivity generated at each in a given.

ecological succession: The more or less predictable and orderly set of changes that occurs in the composition or structure of an ecological over time.

ecology: The scientific analysis and study of interactions between and their. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines concepts from biology, geography, and Earth science.

ecophysiology: A biological discipline that studies the of an organism's to environmental conditions.

ecosystem: A of living in conjunction with the  of their physical environment, interacting as a system.

ecotype: In evolutionary ecology, a genetically distinct geographic variety,, or race within a which is adapted to specific environmental conditions.

ectoderm: The outermost layer of cells or tissue of an in early development, or the parts derived from this, which include the epidermis, nerve tissue, and nephridia.

ectotherm: An in which internal sources of heat are of relatively small or quite negligible importance in controlling body temperature compared to ambient sources of heat. Ectotherms generally experience changes in body temperature that closely match changes in the temperature of their environment; colloquially, these organisms are often referred to as "cold-blooded". Contrast.

effector: A small molecule that selectively binds to a and regulates its biological activity. In this manner, effector molecules act as ligands that can increase or decrease enzyme activity, gene expression, or cell signaling.

efferent: Conducted or conducting outwards or away from something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied). Contrast.

egg: The organic vessel containing the in which an animal develops until it can survive on its own, at which point the developing organism emerges from the egg in a process known as hatching.

electrochemical gradient: A gradient of electrochemical potential, usually for an that can move across a. The gradient consists of two parts: the electrical potential and the difference in chemical concentration across the membrane.

electron acceptor: Any chemical entity that accepts electrons transferred to it from another chemical entity. It is an oxidizing agent that, by virtue of its accepting electrons, is itself reduced in the process. Contrast.

electron carrier: Any of various molecules that are capable of accepting one or two electrons from one molecule and donating them to another in the process of. As the electrons are transferred from one electron carrier to another, their energy level decreases, and energy is released.

electron donor: A chemical entity that donates electrons to another chemical entity. It is a reducing agent that, by virtue of its giving up its electrons, is itself oxidized in the process. Contrast.

electron microscope: A type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to create an image of a sample or specimen. Electron microscopes are capable of much higher magnifications and have greater resolving power than conventional light microscopes, allowing them to see much smaller objects in finer detail.

electron transport chain: The process of oxidative phosphorylation, by which the NADH and succinate generated by the are oxidized and electrons are transferred sequentially down a long series of, ultimately to the enzyme ATP synthase, which uses the electrical energy to catalyze the synthesis of by the addition of a phosphate group to ADP. The process takes place in the cell's and is the primary means of energy generation in most  organisms.

embryo: A developing stage of a.

embryology: The branch of biology that studies the development of (sex cells), fertilization, and development of and. Additionally, embryology involves the study of congenital disorders that occur before birth.

endangered species: Any which is very likely to become in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular area. Such species may be threatened by factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease, and climate change, and most have a declining population or a very limited range.

endemism: The ecological state of an organism or species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country, habitat type, or other defined zone. Organisms are said to be endemic to a place if they are indigenous to it and found nowhere else.

endergonic reaction:

A type of chemical reaction in which the standard change in free energy is positive, and energy is absorbed.

endocrine gland: A gland of the animalian endocrine system that secretes directly into the rather than through a duct. In humans, the major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands.

endocrine system: The collection of that produce which regulate, growth and development, tissue function, and a wide variety of other biological processes.

endocytosis: A form of in which a cell transports molecules such as into the cell's interior by engulfing them in an energy-consuming process.

endoderm: One of the three primary germ layers in the very early human. The other two layers are the (outside layer) and (middle layer), with the endoderm being the innermost layer.

endogenous: (of a substance or process) Originating from within a system (such as an organism, tissue, or cell), as with endogenous cannabinoids and. Contrast.

endoplasmic reticulum: A type of found in cells that forms an interconnected network of flattened, membrane-enclosed sacs or tube-like structures known as cisternae.

endosperm: The tissue produced inside the seeds of most of the flowering plants following fertilization.

endosymbiotic theory:

An evolutionary theory regarding the origin of cells from a hypothetical internal between  organisms, first articulated in 1905 and 1910 by the Russian botanist Konstantin Mereschkowski, and advanced and substantiated with microbiological evidence by Lynn Margulis in 1967.

endotherm: An organism that is capable of maintaining a consistent, metabolically favorable body temperature, largely by the recycling of heat released by its internal functions, instead of by relying on ambient sources of heat. Endotherms are generally able to maintain a stable body temperature despite changes in the temperature of their environment; colloquially, these organisms are often referred to as "warm-blooded". Contrast.

entomology: The scientific study of insects.

environmental biology: The branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environments.

enzyme: A that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. pathways depend upon enzymes to catalyze their individual steps, and almost all metabolic processes require enzyme catalysis in order to occur at rates fast enough to sustain life.

epidemiology: The study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and conditions in defined. It is the cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare.

epigenetics: A sub-field of that studies cellular and physiological phenotypic trait variations caused by external or environmental factors which affect how cells express, as opposed to those caused by changes in the sequence.

epiphyte: An organism that grows on the surface of a and derives moisture and from the air, rain, marine environments, or from debris accumulating around it.

essential nutrient: A required for normal function which cannot be synthesized by a particular organism, either at all or in sufficient quantities, and which therefore must be obtained from external sources such as food. In humans, a set of nine, two fatty acids, thirteen, and fifteen are considered essential nutrients.

estrogen: The primary female sex.

ethology: The scientific study of non-human animal behaviour (i.e. excluding human behaviour) and usually with a focus on behaviour under natural conditions, and viewing behaviour as an evolutionarily adaptive trait.

eukaryote: A type of organism consisting of cells which have a enclosed within a distinct nuclear membrane, unlike. Eukaryotes include all organisms except the bacteria and archaea (i.e. all plants, animals, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes).

evolution: The change in the characteristics of of biological organisms over successive, which may occur by mutation, gene flow,, or random chance.

evolutionary biology: The subfield of biology that studies and the evolutionary processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth from a hypothesized single common ancestor. These processes include the descent of and the origin of new species.

exocytosis: A form of active transport and bulk transport in which a cell transports molecules out of the cell by expelling them through an energy-dependent process.

exogenous: (of a substance or process) Originating outside of or external to a system (such as an organism, tissue, or cell), as with and many. Contrast.

exponential growth: It is exhibited when the rate of change of the value of a mathematical function is proportional to the function's current value, resulting in its value at any time being an exponential function of time.

external fertilization: A type of in which a unites with an  external to the body or bodies of the parent organisms. Contrast.

extinction: The termination of the existence of a particular kind of or a particular, often a, as a result of the death of the last individual of the taxon (though the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point, rendering the taxon functionally extinct).

extracellular: Of or occurring in the space outside the of a. Contrast.

extranuclear inheritance: A transmission of that takes place outside the.

F
facultative anaerobe: An organism which is capable of producing energy through aerobic respiration and then switching to anaerobic respiration depending on the amounts of oxygen and fermentable material in the environment.

family:

fermentation: A process that consumes sugar in the absence of oxygen.

fitness:

fitness landscape:

fertilization:

fetus:

An animal after eight weeks of development.

flagellum:

A lash-like appendage that protrudes from the body of certain and  cells.

flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD): A redox cofactor, more specifically a prosthetic group of a protein, involved in different important enzymatic reactions in.

food chain: The chain of eating and getting nutrition which starts from a small herbivores animal and ends up at a big carnivorous organism.

foramen:

An open hole that is present in extant or extinct amniotes. Foramina inside the body of animals typically allow muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, or other structures to connect one part of the body with another.

founder effect: A loss of genetic variation that takes places when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population.

fungi:

G
G protein: A family of that act as molecular switches inside, and are implicated in transmitting signals from a diversity of stimuli outside a cell to its interior.

gamete:

gene: Any segment of that contains the information necessary to produce a functional and/or  product in a controlled manner. Genes are often considered the fundamental molecular units of. The transmission of genes from a parent cell or organism to its is the basis of the inheritance of.

gene pool: A set of all genes, or genetic information, in any population, usually of a particular.

generation:

genetic code: A set of rules used by living to translate information encoded within genetic material (DNA or mRNA sequences) into proteins.

genetic drift: An alteration in the frequency of an existing gene variant in a population due to random sampling of organisms.

genetic variation: Variations of genomes between members of species, or between groups of species thriving in different parts of the world as a result of genetic mutation. Genetic diversity in a population or species is a result of new gene combinations (e.g. crossing over of chromosomes), genetic mutations, genetic drift, etc.

genetics: The study of heredity.

genome: The entire set of genetic material contained within the of an organism,, or.

genotype: Part of the genetic makeup of a, and therefore of an organism or individual, which determines one of its characteristics (phenotype).

genus:

gizzard: An organ found in the digestive tract of some animals, including archosaurs (pterosaurs, crocodiles, alligators, and dinosaurs, including birds), earthworms, some gastropods, some fish, and some crustaceans.

guanine: One of the four main nucleobases found in the nucleic acids and, the others being adenine, cytosine, and thymine (uracil in RNA).

H
habitat: A place for animals, people, and plants and non-living things.

habituation: A form of learning in which an organism decreases or desists its responses to a stimulus after repeated or prolonged presentations.

heredity: The passing on of from parents to their, either through  or. Offspring cells and organisms are said to inherit the genetic information of their parents.

hermaphrodite: A sexually reproducing organism with both male and female reproductive organs.

herpetology: The branch of that studies reptiles and amphibians.

heterosis: The improved or increased function of any biological quality in a.

heterotroph:

histology: The study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals.

Hodgkin–Huxley model: A mathematical model that describes how action potentials in neurons are initiated and propagated.

hormone: Any member of a class of signaling molecules produced by glands in organisms that are transported by the circulatory system to target distant organs to regulate physiology and behaviour.

host: Any living organism that harbors another living organism (known as a "guest" or ), whether the guest is, mutualistic, or commensalist in its interactions with the host. The guest typically receives shelter and nourishment from the host.

hybrid:

hydrocarbon: An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups called hydrocarbyls.

I
ichthyology: The branch of biology devoted to the study of fish, including bony fishes (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), and jawless fish (Agnatha).

immune response: The immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful.

immunity:

immunoglobulin: Any of a class of glycoprotein molecules produced by plasma cells (white blood cells) which act as a critical part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens, such as bacteria or viruses, and aiding in their destruction. They are a major component of the group of immune defense molecules collectively called antibodies.

infection: The invasion of an organism's cells or tissues by a -causing, its growth and/or multiplication, and the reaction of the organism to the infectious agent and the it produces. The variety of biological pathogens capable of causing infections includes certain, , , , parasitic worms, and arthropods.

insulin: An anabolic peptide hormone produced in the pancreas which helps to regulate the of carbohydrates, fats, and protein by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood into liver, fat, and skeletal muscle cells. Abnormal insulin activity is the cause of diabetes mellitus.

integrative biology: The various forms of cross-disciplinary and multitaxon research.

interferon: A group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, or tumor cells. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their antiviral defenses.

internal fertilization: A type of which takes place inside the -producing individual.

International System of Units: (French: Système international d'unités; abbreviated SI) The modern standardized form of the metric system of units and measurements, and the system of measurement formally adopted for use in the physical and natural sciences.

interphase:

intracellular: Of or occurring inside or within the enclosed interior of a. Contrast.

introduced species:

Any living outside its geographic, and which has arrived there either by accidental or deliberate human activity. Such human-caused introduction of species to foreign environments is distinguished from biological, by which species spread to new areas through "natural" means (i.e. without the involvement of humans).

invertebrate: A group of that have no backbone, unlike animals such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals, which all have a backbone. Among the many extant invertebrate are the Cnidaria, Mollusca, Annelida, Nematoda, and Arthropoda.

ion: An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

ionic bond: A type of chemical bond involving the complete transfer of valence electron(s) between two atoms. Such bonds typically occur between elements characterized as metals and nonmetals, and generate two oppositely charged ions: the metal loses electrons to become a positively charged cation, and the nonmetal accepts those electrons to become a negatively charged anion.

isomer: A molecule with the same chemical formula as another molecule, but with a different chemical structure. That is, isomers contain the same number of atoms of each element, but have different arrangements of their atoms.

isotonic solution: Refers to two solutions having the same osmotic pressure across a semipermeable membrane. This state allows for the free movement of water across the membrane without changing the concentration of solutes on either side.

J
jejunum: like gher vertebrates like mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is present between the duodenum and the ileum.

K
kinase: An that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups from high-energy, phosphate-donating molecules to specific substrates.

kingdom:

Krebs cycle: See.

L
larva: (pl.) larvae A distinct juvenile form many undergo before into adults. Animals with indirect development, such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians, typically have a larval phase of their.

Law of Independent Assortment: The principle, originally formulated by Gregor Mendel, stating that when two or more characteristics are inherited, individual hereditary factors assort independently during gamete production, giving different traits an equal opportunity of occurring together.

leukocyte:

A colourless cell of the immune system which circulates in the and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and. There are several types of leukocytes, all amoeboid cells with a nucleus, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes.

lichen:

life: The characteristic or collection of characteristics that distinguishes physical entities that undergo biological processes (e.g. living organisms) from that those do not (e.g. non-living, inanimate matter), either because such processes have ceased or because they were not present in the first place. What constitutes "life" is notoriously difficult to define, and there is currently no consensus definition, though some popular criteria are that living things are composed of, have a, undergo , maintain , to environments, respond to , , and. is the scientific study of life and of living organisms.

life cycle:

ligament: The fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.

light-independent reactions: See.

linked genes: Any set of one or more which are sufficiently close together on the same chromosome that they are very unlikely to assort independently and therefore are usually inherited together.

lipid: A substance that is insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Lipids are an important component of living cells. Together with carbohydrates and proteins, lipids are the main constituents of plant and animal cells. Cholesterol and triglycerides are lipids.

lipoprotein: A biochemical assembly that contains both proteins and lipids, bound to the proteins, which allow fats to move through the water inside and outside cells. The proteins serve to emulsify the lipid molecules.

M
M phase: Mitosis and cytokinesis together define the mitotic (M) phase of an animal cell cycle – the division of the mother cell into two daughter cells, genetically identical to each other and to their parent cell.

macroevolution: Evolution on a scale of separated gene pools. Macroevolutionary studies focus on change that occurs at or above the level of species, in contrast with microevolution, which refers to smaller evolutionary changes (typically described as changes in allele frequencies) within a species or population.

macromolecule: A very large molecule, such as a protein, commonly created by polymerization of smaller subunits (monomers). They are typically composed of thousands or more atoms.

macronutrient: Nutrients needed in large amounts which provide calories or energy. Nutrients are substances needed for growth, metabolism, and for other body functions. There are three basic types of macronutrients: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

macrophage: A kind of swallowing cell, which means it functions by literally swallowing up other particles or smaller cells. Macrophages engulf and digest debris (such as dead cells) and foreign particles through the process of phagocytosis, so macrophages act like scavengers.

mammalogy: The branch of biology that studies mammals, a class of with characteristics such as homeothermic metabolism, fur, four-chambered hearts, and complex nervous systems.

marine biology: The study of organisms in the ocean or other marine bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather than on taxonomy.

mast cell: A cell filled with basophil granules, found in numbers in connective tissue and releasing histamine and other substances during inflammatory and allergic reactions.

mating:

medulla: The continuation of the spinal cord within the skull, forming the lowest part of the brainstem and containing control centres for the heart and lungs.

meiosis: A specialized type of in which a dividing parent cell proceeds through two consecutive divisions, ultimately producing four genetically unique daughter cells in each of which the number is half of that in the original parent cell. This process is exclusive to cells of the sex organs in, where it serves the purpose of generating such as , , or.

membrane potential: When a nerve or muscle cell is at "rest", its membrane potential is called the resting membrane potential. In a typical neuron, this is about –70 millivolts (mV). The minus sign indicates that the inside of the cell is negative with respect to the surrounding extracellular fluid.

messenger RNA: A large family of RNA molecules that convey genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

metabolism:

metamorphosis:

metaphase: The third phase of mitosis, in which duplicated genetic material carried in the nucleus of a parent cell is separated into two identical daughter cells. During metaphase, the cell's chromosomes align themselves in the middle of the cell through a type of cellular "tug of war".

microbiology: The study of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa. This discipline includes fundamental research on the biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of microorganisms, including the host response to these agents.

microevolution: The alteration in allele frequencies that occurs over time within a population.

mitochondria:

mitosis: In, the part of the during which the division of the  takes place and duplicated  are separated into two distinct nuclei. Mitosis is generally preceded by the "S" stage of, when the cell's is , and followed by , when the  and  are divided into two new daughter cells. It is similar to but distinct from and.

molecule: The smallest particle in a chemical element or compound that has the chemical properties of that element or compound. Molecules are made up of atoms that are held together by chemical bonds. These bonds form as a result of the sharing or exchange of electrons among atoms.

molecular biology: The branch of biology concerning biological activity at the molecular level. The field of molecular biology overlaps with biology and chemistry and in particular with genetics and biochemistry.

molecular switch: A molecule that can be reversibly changed between two or more stable states.

monomer: A molecule that "can undergo polymerization thereby contributing constitutional units to the essential structure of a macromolecule".

morphology:

motile:

motor neuron: A neuron whose cell body is situated in the motor cortex, brain stem, or the spinal cord, and whose axon (fiber) projects to the spinal cord or outside of the spinal cord to directly or indirectly control effector organs, mainly muscles and glands.

mucous membrane: A membrane that lines various cavities in the body and covers the surface of internal organs.

multicellular: Having or consisting of more than one, as opposed to being.

mycology: The branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicine, food, and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection.

myofibril: A basic rod-like unit of a muscle.

myosin: A superfamily of motor best known for their roles in muscle contraction and in a wide range of other processes in eukaryotes.

N
natural selection: A process in nature in which organisms possessing certain characteristics that make them better adjusted to an environment tend to survive, reproduce, increase in number or frequency, and therefore, are able to transmit and perpetuate their essential genotypic qualities to succeeding generations.

neurobiology:

The scientific study of the nervous system.

neuron: An electrically excitable cell that receives, processes, and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.

neurotransmitter: An compound that enable neurotransmission.

niche: The role and position an organism or taxon fills within its environment; how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it reproduces. A species' niche includes all of its interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors of its environment.

nitrogen fixation: The chemical process by which molecular nitrogen (N2) in the air is converted into ammonia (NH3) or related nitrogenous compounds, typically by specialized microorganisms in soil and aquatic ecosystems but also by certain non-biological processes. Despite comprising nearly 80% of the gas in the Earth's atmosphere, diatomic nitrogen is metabolically useless to all but a few microorganisms, known as diazotrophs. Nitrogen fixation is essential to all life on Earth because fixed inorganic nitrogenous compounds are required for the of all nitrogen-containing organic compounds, including and.

nucleic acid: The biopolymers, or small biomolecules, essential to all known forms of life.

nucleic acid sequence: A succession of letters that indicate the order of forming alleles within a or  molecule.

nucleobase: The nitrogen-containing biological compounds that form nucleosides, which in turn are components of, with all of these monomers constituting the basic building blocks of nucleic acids.

nucleoid: An irregularly shaped region within the cell of a that contains all or most of the genetic material, called the genophore.

nucleolus: The largest structure within the of cells.

nucleotide: An organic compound which serves as the fundamental used in the construction of polymers, such as  and, both of which are essential biomolecules within all living organisms.

O
offspring:

order:

organ: A collection of joined in a structural unit to serve a common function.

organism: A contiguous living system.

ornithology: The branch of that concerns the study of birds.

osmosis: The spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.

P
paleontology: The study of the history of life on Earth as reflected in the fossil record. Fossils are the remains or traces of organisms that lived in the geological past and have been preserved in the Earth's crust.

parallel evolution: The development of a similar trait in related, but distinct, species descending from the same ancestor, but from different clades.

parasite:

parasitology: The study of, their, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life.

pathobiology: The study or practice of with greater emphasis on the biological than on the medical aspects.

pathogen: In the broadest sense, anything that can produce, though the term is most commonly used to refer specifically to an infectious such as a, , , or another microbial agent which causes disease for a organism by invading the host's tissues.

pathology: A medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids such as and, as well as, using the tools of chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, and molecular pathology.

pH: A numeric scale used to specify the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of an aqueous solution. It is roughly the negative of the logarithm to base 10 of the concentration, measured in units of moles per liter, of hydrogen ions.

pharmacology: The science of action on biological systems. In its entirety, it embraces knowledge of the sources, chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of drugs.

phenotype: The composite of an organism's observable features or traits, such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, behavior, and products of behavior.

pheromone: A secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same. Pheromones are analogous to acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of receiving individuals.

phloem: The conducting tissue in plants responsible for the conduction of food particles.

photosynthesis: The process by which nearly all and some and  convert the energy of sunlight into chemical energy, which is used to synthesize carbohydrates such as sugars from carbon dioxide and water; these carbohydrates are stored as food, and the energy within them is later released to fuel  activities. Organisms that perform photosynthesis are therefore. Photosynthesis supplies the majority of the energy necessary for life on Earth.

phylogeny:

phylum: A rank or level of classification below and above ; in, the term  is commonly used in place of phylum.

physiology: The branch of biology dealing with the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts, including all physical and chemical processes.

phytochemistry: The study of phytochemicals, which are chemicals derived from.

phytopathology: The science of diagnosing and managing diseases.

piliferous: Bearing hair

placebo: A substance or treatment of no intended therapeutic value.

plant:

plasmolysis: The process in which lose water in a hypertonic solution.

pollination: The transfer of pollen from a male part of a plant to a female part of a plant, enabling later fertilisation and the production of seeds. Pollen is most commonly transported by animals or by wind.

polymer: A large macromolecule composed of many repeated subunits.

polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A technique used in to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular  sequence.

polyploidy: Having or containing more than two complete sets of.

population: All the organisms of the same group or that live in a particular geographical area and are capable of interbreeding.

population biology: The study of of, especially the regulation of population size, life history traits such as clutch size, and.

population ecology:

A subfield of that deals with the dynamics of species and how these populations interact with the environment. It is the study of how the population sizes of species change over time and space.

predation: A biological interaction in which a kills and eats its.

predator:

prey:

primer: A short strand of or that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis.

progeny: Any genetic descendant or.

progesterone: An and progestogen sex  which plays a critical role in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis in humans and other animal species.

prokaryote: A type of which does not have a true.

protein: A polypeptide chain of. It is a body-building nutrient.

protist:

psychobiology:

The application of the principles of biology to the study of physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior in humans and other animals.

R
regeneration: The process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes,, , and resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage. For example, many organisms are capable of regenerating and even entire body parts if they are lost or destroyed.

reproduction:

The biological process by which one or more new individual (known as ) is produced from an existing organism. Reproduction is a defining characteristic of all, and every individual organism exists as the result of a reproductive event. There are two general methods by which reproduction takes place: or.

reproductive biology: The branch of biology that studies the various types and mechanisms of used by living organisms, typically with special emphasis on,, , and/or the , , and systems involved in reproduction.

ribonucleic acid (RNA): A composed of a series of ribonucleotides which incorporate a set of four nucleobases:  (A),  (G),  (C), and  (U). Closely related to, RNA molecules serve in a wide variety of essential biological roles, including, , regulating, and expressing , as well as functioning as signaling molecules.

ribosome: A complex molecular machine, found within all living, that serves as the site of biological protein synthesis.

RNA: See.

RNA polymerase: A member of a family of enzymes that are essential to life: they are found in all organisms and many viruses.

S
sclerenchyma: A type of in which cells have thick lignified secondary walls and often die when mature.

seed: The, enclosed in a protective outer covering, of certain types of.

selective breeding: See.

sessile: Generally, lacking motility or means of self-locomotion; immobile or incapable of movement. Sessile organisms may move via external forces such as wind or water currents but are more often permanently fixed to a solid object such as a rock, soil, or another organism. In, the property of a or plant part that is attached directly by its base to an object or another plant part, i.e. without an intervening stem, stalk, or petiole.

sex:

sexual reproduction: A type of in which from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism.

sociality: The degree to which individuals in an tend to associate in social groups and form cooperative societies.

sociobiology: A branch of biology that is based on the hypothesis that social behavior has resulted from and which attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context.

soil biology: The study of and faunal activity and in soil.

species: The basic unit of biological classification and the narrowest of the canonical ranks, as well as a unit of. Species are traditionally distinguished on the basis of compatibility, though achieving a satisfactory definition that is universally applicable to all life has proven difficult, since many organisms classified as distinct "species" are capable of interbreeding with different (albeit closely related) species, generating.

speciation: The process by which populations of organisms evolve to become distinct, typically via reproductive isolation.

sperm:

spore:

stem cell: A type of undifferentiated or partially undifferentiated that is capable of differentiating into other types of specialized cells and also capable of to produce more of the same type of stem cell. Stem cells are the earliest type of cell in a.

steroid: A biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration.

strain: A genetic variant, subtype, or culture identified as a distinct subdivision within a. The term is most commonly used to identify particular types of and.

structural biology: The branch of,, and concerned with the molecular structure of biological , especially and , how they acquire the structures they have, and how alterations in their structures affect their function.

symbiogenesis: See.

symbiont: Any involved in any type of with another organism, either of the same or a different species.

symbiosis: Any close and long-term interaction between two different biological, regardless of the nature or degree of the effect on either organism. Examples include, , and.

synthetic biology: An interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering combining various disciplines from within these domains, including,, , , , computer engineering, and genetic engineering.

systematics: The scientific study of. It is concerned with the discovering and naming of new of organisms (nomenclature) and arranging these into classification schemes. A large part of modern systematics is concerned with understanding the evolutionary relationships between various taxa using methods of  (e.g., behavior, biochemistry,, ) and statistical analysis.

systems biology: A branch of biology concerned with the computational and mathematical analysis of complex. It is an interdisciplinary field which combines elements of systems theory and applied mathematics with theoretical biology, with a primary aim to discover and model the emergent properties of interacting biological entities.

T
T cell: A type of lymphocyte that plays a central role in cell-mediated.

taxon:

A group of one or more populations of an or organisms used by to classify organisms into discrete, convenient, and identifiable units.

taxonomy:

telophase:

testosterone: The primary male sex and an anabolic.

thymine: One of the four used in the nucleic acid (but not in ). It is represented in DNA sequences by the letter T.

tissue:

trait:

transcription: The first step of gene expression, in which a particular segment of is copied into by the enzyme RNA polymerase. Both RNA and DNA are, which use complementary base pairs of as a common language.

translation: The process by which in the or  synthesize  following the  of  to  in the cell's nucleus.

trophic level: The position an organism occupies in a.

tumor:

U
uncoating: The decomposition of a viral capsid. An informal and simplified description of the way a virus infectious material enters the cell, usually appearing in light science material for the general public.

unicellular: Having or consisting of only one, as opposed to being.

uracil: One of the four nucleobases in the of that are represented by the letters A, G, C and U.

urea: An organic compound with chemical formula CO(NH2)2.

urine: A liquid byproduct of in humans and in many animals.

uterus: A major female hormone-responsive secondary sex organ of the reproductive system in humans and most other mammals.

V
vacuole: A membrane-bound which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal, and bacterial cells.

vasodilation: The widening of blood vessels.

vector:

vegetative reproduction: Any type of performed by an organism which is nonetheless capable of. The term is used primarily for.

vertebrate:

vesicle: A small structure within or sometimes external to a, consisting of fluid enclosed by a lipid bilayer.

vestigiality: The retention during the process of of genetically determined structures or attributes that have lost some or all of their ancestral function in a given.

virology: The branch of biology that studies.

virus: A submicroscopic, infectious, particle of genetic material contained in a protein coat and which replicates only inside the living cell of a organism.

W
white blood cell: See.

whole genome sequencing: The process of determining the complete sequence of a particular organism's entire at a single time.

wood: The inner layer of the stems of woody such as trees and shrubs, composed of.

X
xanthophyll: A yellow-colored pigment.

xylem: A type of plant tissue responsible for the transport of water from roots to aerial parts of the plant.

Y
yolk: The nutrient-bearing portion of the egg whose primary function is to supply food for the development of the.

Z
zoology: The branch of biology that studies the kingdom, including the structure, embryology,, classification, habits, and geographical distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their.

zooplankton: A type of (sometimes detritivorous) plankton, as opposed to phytoplankton, which instead obtain energy from. Individual zooplankton are usually microscopic, but some (such as jellyfish) are larger and visible to the naked eye.

zygospore: A diploid reproductive stage in the of many and.

zygote: A cell formed by a event between two.

Related to this search

 * Index of biology articles
 * Outline of biology
 * Glossaries of sub-disciplines and related fields:
 * Glossary of botany
 * Glossary of ecology
 * Glossary of entomology
 * Glossary of environmental science
 * Glossary of genetics
 * Glossary of ichthyology
 * Glossary of ornithology
 * Glossary of scientific naming
 * Glossary of speciation
 * Glossary of virology