IB Biology Vocabulary by Topic

General Assignment: For each assigned word:

A. Give the definition.B. Explain its biological significance.

Topic 1: Statistical Analysis

1. error bars2. range (of data)3. mean4. standard deviation5. values6. sample7. normally distributed8. t-test9. significance10. correlation11. causation/ causal relationship12. variables

Topic 2 Cells

2.1 Cell Theory

1. cell theory2. cell3. unicellular4. metabolism5. homeostasis6. reproduction7. nutrition8. molecule9. cell membrane10. virus11. bacteria12. organelle13. SI14. magnification15. resolution16. surface area to volume ratio17. multicellular18. emergent properties19. differentiation20. stem cells

2.2 Prokaryotic Cells

21. Prokaryote22. ultrastructure23. Escherichia coli (E. coli)24. cell wall25. plasma membrane26. cytoplasm27. pili28. flagella29. ribosomes 30. nucleoid31. naked DNA32. electron micrograph33. binary fission

2.3 Eukaryotic cells

34. free ribosomes35. rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER)36. smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER)37. lysosome38. Golgi apparatus39. mitochondrion40. nucleus41. nuclear envelope42. cytoplasm43. 70S ribosomes44. 80S ribosomes45. compartmentalization46. animal cell vs. plant cell47. extracellular components48. cell wall49. glycoproteins50. extracellular matrix

2.4 Membranes

51. plasma membrane52. phospholipid bilayer53. cholesterol54. glycoproteins 55. integral proteins56. peripheral proteins57. hydrophobic

58. hydrophilic59. phospholipid60. membrane proteins61. hormone binding sites62. immobilized enzymes63. cell adhesion64. cell-to-cell communication65. channels for passive transport66. pumps for active transport67. passive transport68. active transport69. diffusion 70. osmosis71. simple diffusion72. facilitated diffusion73. membrane fluidity74. endocytosis75. exocytosis

2.5 Cell Division

76. cell cycle77. interphase78. G1

79. S80. G2

81. mitosis82. cytokinesis83. tumor84. cancer85. protein synthesis86. DNA replication87. prophase88. metaphase89. anaphase90. telophase91. supercoiling of chromosomes92. spindle microtubules93. centromeres94. chromosomes95. poles96. nuclear membranes

Topic 3: The Chemistry of Life

3.1 Chemical Elements and Water

1. element2. carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen3. sulfur, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium4. polarity5. hydrogen bond6. thermal7. cohesive8. solvent9. coolant10. medium (for metabolic reactions/ transport)

3.2 Carbohydrates, Lipids, and Proteins

11. organic12. inorganic13. amino acid14. glucose15. ribose16. fatty acid17. monosaccharide18. disaccharide19. polysaccharide20. glucose21. galactose22. fructose23. maltose24. lactose25. sucrose26. starch27. glycogen 28. cellulose29. condensation/ dehydration synthesis30. hydrolysis31. glycerol32. triglycerides33. polypeptides34. lipid35. carbohydrate36. protein37. nucleic acid

3.3 DNA Structure

38. DNA39. nucleotide

40. deoxyribose41. nitrogen base42. phosphate43. adenine 44. guanine45. cytosine46. thymine47. covalent bond48. complementary49. hydrogen bond50. double helix

3.4 DNA Replication

51. Replication52. helicase53. DNA polymerase 54. semi-conservative

3.5 Transcription and Translation

55. RNA56. transcription57. RNA polymerase58. genetic code59. base triplets60. translation61. polypeptide62. messenger RNA (mRNA)63. transfer RNA (tRNA)64. codon65. anticodon66. ribosome67. amino acid68. gene

3.6 Enzymes

69. enzyme70. active site71. enzyme-substrate specificity72. pH73. substrate concentration74. induced fit model75. denaturation76. lactase

3.7 Cell Respiration

77. cell respiration78. ATP79. glycolysis80. pyruvate81. anaerobic82. lactate83. ethanol84. carbon dioxide85. mitochondrion

3.8 Photosynthesis

86. photosynthesis87. energy88. wavelengths89. chlorophyll90. pigment91. absorption92. photolysis93. carbon fixation94. organic molecules95. biomass

Topic 4: Genetics

4.1 Chromosomes, genes, alleles and mutations

1. gene 2. allele3. genome4. heritable5. gene mutation6. base substitution7. sickle-cell anemia

4.2 Meiosis

8. meiosis9. reduction division10. diploid11. haploid12. homologous chromosome13. crossing over

14. Stages of Meiosisa. Prophase Ib. Metaphase Ic. Anaphase Id. Telophase Ie. Prophase If. Metaphase Ig. Anaphase Ih. Telophase I

15. Cytokinesis16. non-disjunction17. Down syndrome (trisomy 21)18. karyotype19. chorionic villus sampling20. amniocentesis21. pre-natal

4.3 Theoretical genetics

22. genotype23. phenotype24. allele25. dominant allele26. recessive allele27. codominant alleles28. locus29. homozygous30. heterozygous31. carrier32. test cross33. monohybrid cross34. Punnett grid35. multiple alleles36. ABO blood groups37. sex chromosomes38. sex linkage39. X-linked40. colour blindness41. hemophilia42. pedigree

4.4 Genetic engineering and biotechnology

43. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)44. gel electrophoresis45. DNA profiling

46. electric field 47. paternity48. forensics49. Human Genome Project50. gene transfer51. genetic engineering52. host cell53. restriction enzymes (endonucleases)54. DNA ligase55. plasmid56. recombinant57. gene cloning58. genetically modified59. clone60. reproductive cloning61. therapeutic cloning

Topic 5: Ecology and evolution

5.1 Communities and ecosystems

1. species2. habitat3. population4. community 5. ecosystem6. ecology7. autotroph8. heterotroph9. consumers10. detritivores11. saptrotrophs12. food chain13. food web14. trophic level15. energy flow16. energy transformations17. pyramids of energy18. nutrients19. decomposers

a. saprotrophic bacteriab. fungi

5.2 The greenhouse effect

20. carbon cycle

21. biosphere22. photosynthesis23. respiration24. fossilization25. combustion26. carbon dioxide27. methane28. oxides of nitrogen29. precautionary principle30. the greenhouse effect31. global warming32. detritus33. permafrost

5.3 Populations

34. population35. natality36. immigration37. mortality38. emigration39. sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve40. exponential growth phase41. transitional phase42. plateau phase

5.4 Evolution

43. evolution44. Charles Darwin45. selection pressure46. evidence47. fossil record48. selective breeding49. homologous structures50. population51. offspring52. struggle for survival53. variation 54. species55. sexual reproduction56. natural selection57. antibiotic resistance58. heritable variations

5.5 Classification

59. binomial nomenclature60. Carolus Linnaeus61. hierarchy of taxa62. kingdom63. phylum64. class 65. order66. family 67. genus68. species69. bryophyta 70. filicinophyta71. coniferophyta72. angiospermophyta73. porifera74. cnidaria75. platyhelminthes76. annelida77. mollusca78. arthropoda79. invertebrate80. dichotomous key

Topic 6: Human health and physiology

6.1 Digestion

1. digestion2. enzymes3. substrate4. product5. optimum pH6. amylase7. protease8. lipase9. mouth 10. esophagus11. stomach12. small intestine13. large intestine (colon)14. anus15. liver16. pancreas17. gall bladder18. absorption

19. assimilation20. villus

6.2 The transport system

21. heart22. 4 chambers of the heart23. atria24. ventricles25. blood vessels26. valves27. atrio-ventricular valves28. semilunar valves29. coronary arteries30. myogenic muscle contraction31. pacemaker32. medulla of the brain33. epinephrine34. arteries35. capillaries36. veins37. plasma38. erythrocytes39. leucocytes

a. phagocytesb. lymphocytes

40. platelets41. carbon dioxide42. oxygen43. hormones44. antibodies 45. urea46. d6.3 Defence against infectious disease

47. pathogen48. virus49. bacteria50. antibiotics51. mucous membranes52. phagocytic leucocytes53. ingest54. antigens55. antibodies56. HIV57. immune system

6.4 Gas exchange

58. ventilation59. gas exchange 60. cell respiration61. trachea 62. lungs 63. bronchi64. bronchioles65. alveoli66. capillaries67. intercostal muscles68. diaphragm69. abdominal muscles

6.5 Nerves, hormones and homeostasis

70. central nervous system (CNS)71. peripheral nerves72. neurons73. electrical impulses74. motor neuron75. dendrites76. cell body 77. axon78. myelin sheath79. nodes of Ranvier80. motor end plates81. receptors82. sensory neurons83. relay neurons84. effectors85. resting potential86. action potential87. depolarization88. repolarization89. Sodium ions90. potassium ions91. synaptic transmission92. neurotransmitter93. post-synaptic membrane94. endocrine system95. glands96. hormones97. homeostasis

98. negative feedback99. hypothalamus100. sweat glands101. skin arterioles102. shivering103. glucagon104. insulin105. alpha cells106. beta cells107. type I diabetes108. type II diabetes

6.6 Reproduction

109. menstrual cycle110. FSH111. LH112. estrogen 113. progesterone114. ovulation115. endometrium 116. testosterone117. pre-natal118. in vitro fertilization

Topic 7: Nucleic acids and proteins

7.1 DNA Structure

1. DNA2. antiparallel3. 3’4. 5’5. hydrogen bonding6. purines7. pyrimidines8. nucleosomes9. histone10. supercoiling of chromosomes11. chromosome12. transcription13. unique or single-copy genes14. highly repetitive sequences (satellite DNA)15. gene16. exon17. intron

7.2 DNA replication

18. DNA replication19. prokaryotes20. eukaryotes21. helicase22. DNA polymerase III23. DNA polymerase I24. RNA primase25. DNA ligase26. Okazaki fragments27. deoxynucleoside triphosphates

7.3 Transcription

28. transcription29. sense strand (coding strand)30. antisense strand (template strand)31. promoter region32. RNA polymerase33. nucleoside triphosphates34. terminator35. eukaryotic RNA36. introns37. mature mRNA

7.4 Translation

38. translation39. tRNA40. tRNA-activating enzyme41. amino acid42. ATP43. shape of tRNA44. CCA at the 3’ end45. ribosomes46. large subunit47. small subunit48. tRNA binding sites49. mRNA binding sites50. initiation51. elongation52. translocation53. termination54. peptide bond

55. polysome56. start codon57. stop codons58. free ribosomes59. bound ribosomes60. secretion61. lysosomes

7.5 Proteins

62. protein63. primary structure64. secondary structure65. tertiary structure66. quaternary structure67. fibrous 68. globular69. polar amino acids70. non-polar amino acids71. function

7.6 Enzymes

72. metabolic pathway73. chains74. cycles75. enzyme-catalyzed76. induced-fit model77. lock-and-key model78. activation energy79. catalyze 80. exothermic reaction81. competitive inhibition82. non-competitive inhibition83. inhibitor84. end-product inhibition85. allosteric sites

Topic 8 Cell respiration and photosynthesis

8.1 Cell respiration

1. oxidation2. reduction3. electrons4. oxygen

5. hydrogen6. proton7. glycolysis8. phosphorylation9. lysis10. oxidation11. ATP formation12. hexose sugar13. cytoplasm14. ATP15. pyruvate16. NADH + H+

17. mitochondrion18. electron micrographs19. aerobic respiration20. link reaction21. Krebs cycle22. electron transport chain23. oxygen24. decarboxylate25. acetyl group26. coenzyme A27. oxidative phosphorylation28. chemiosmosis29. cristae30. surface area31. inner membrane32. outer membrane33. matrix

8.2 Photosynthesis

34. chloroplast35. light-dependent reactions36. light-independent reactions37. photoactivation38. photosystem II39. photolysis of water40. electron transport41. cyclic photophosphorylation42. non-cyclic photophosphorylation43. reduction of NADP+

44. chemiosmosis45. RuBP(ribulose bisphosphate)46. Rubisco (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase)47. reduction

48. glycerate 3-phosphate (GP or G3P)49. triose phosphate (TP)50. regeneration of RuBP51. surface area52. thylakoid53. light absorption54. stroma55. action spectrum56. absorption spectrum57. limiting factors58. light intensity59. temperature60. concentration of carbon dioxide

Topic 9: Plant Science

9.1 Plant structure and growth

1. tissues2. stem 3. leaf4. dicotyledonous plant5. monocotyledonous plant6. parallel venation7. net-like venation8. vascular tissue9. cotyledon10. floral organs11. fibrous adventitious roots12. tap root with lateral branches13. absorption of light14. gas exchange15. support16. water conservation17. bulbs18. stem tubers19. storage roots20. tendrils21. apical meristem (primary meristem)22. lateral meristem (cambium)23. auxin24. phototropism

Transport in angiospermophytes

25. root system

26. mineral ion27. water uptake28. branching 29. root hairs30. diffusion31. fungal hyphae32. mass flow of water33. active transport34. cellulose35. cell turgor36. lignified xylem37. transpiration38. xylem vessels39. transpiration pull40. cohesion41. adhesion 42. evaporation43. guard cells44. stomata45. abscisic acid46. abiotic factors47. humidity48. transpiration49. xerophytes50. reduced leaves51. rolled leaves52. spines53. deep roots54. cuticle55. water storage tissue56. low growth form57. CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism)58. C4 physiology59. phloem60. active translocation61. source62. sink

9.3 Reproduction in angiospermophytes

63. flower64. sepal 65. petal 66. anther67. filament 68. stigma

69. style70. ovary71. pollination72. fertilization 73. seed dispersal74. dicotyledonous seed75. non-endospermic76. testa77. micropyle78. embryo root79. embryo shoot80. cotyledons81. germination82. gibberellin83. amylase84. long-day plant85. short-day plant86. phytochrome

a. Pr

b. Pfr

Topic 10: Genetics

10.1 Meiosis

1. chromosome2. phases of meiosis

a. Prophase Ib. Metaphase Ic. Anaphase Id. Telophase Ie. Prophase IIf. Metaphase IIg. Anaphase IIh. Telophase II

3. cytokinesis4. chiasmata5. crossing over6. genetic variety7. random orientation8. independent assortment

10.2 Dihybrid crosses and gene linkage

9. genotypic ratio10. phenotypic ration

11. dihybrid cross12. unlinked autosomal genes13. autosomes 14. sex chromosomes15. non-sister chromatids16. homologous chromosomes17. alleles18. linkage group19. recombinant20. linked genes21. test cross

10.3 Polygenic inheritance

22. polygenic inheritance23. continuous variation

Topic 11: Human health and physiology

11.1 Defence against infectious disease

1. blood clotting2. clotting factors3. platelets4. thrombin5. fibrinogen6. fibrin7. immunity8. clonal selection9. memory cells10. active immunity 11. passive immunity 12. antibodies13. antigens14. placenta15. colostrums16. antigen presentation17. macrophages18. helper T-cells19. activation20. B-cells21. plasma cells22. memory cells23. cytotoxic T-cells24. monoclonal antibodies25. vaccination

26. primary response27. secondary response28. pandemic 29. epidemic

11.2 Muscles and movement30. bones31. ligaments32. muscles33. tendons34. nerves35. cartilage36. synovial fluid37. joint capsule38. antagonistic muscles39. biceps40. triceps41. joint42. striated muscle fibres43. myofibrils44. light bands45. dark bands46. mitochondria47. sarcoplasmic reticulum48. nuclei49. sarcolemma50. sarcomere51. Z lines52. actin53. myosin54. skeletal muscle55. calcium ions56. cross-bridges57. ATP58. contraction

11.3 The kidney

59. excretion60. cortex 61. medulla62. pelvis 63. ureter64. renal 65. nephron66. glomerulus

67. ultrafiltration68. blood pressure69. fenestrated blood capillaries70. basement membrane71. osmoregulation72. reabsorption73. proximal convoluted tubule74. microvilli75. osmosis76. active transport77. loop of Henle78. medulla79. collecting duct80. ADH (vasopressin)81. glomerular filtrate82. urine83. diabetes

11. 4 Reproduction

84. testis85. interstitial cells (Leydig cells)86. germinal epithelium cells87. spermatozoa88. Sertoli cells89. spermatogenesis90. mitosis91. cell growth92. meiosis93. cell differentiation94. LH95. testosterone96. FSH97. ovary98. germinal epithelium 99. primary follicles100. mature follicle101. secondary oocyte102. oogenesis103. polar body104. epididymis105. seminal vesicle106. prostate gland107. semen108. gametes109. fertilization

110. acrosome reaction111. cortical reaction112. HCG113. blastocyst114. implantation115. placenta116. amniotic sac117. amniotic fluid118. oxytocin119. positive feedback