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Genetic to Genus: Biology Practice

Word List with 56 words
*By Dictionary.com

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Words in This List

analogous
adjective
corresponding in function, but not evolved from corresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of a hummingbird
communication
noun
transfer of information from one cell or molecule to another, as by chemical or electrical signals
ally
noun
a plant, animal, or other organism bearing an evolutionary relationship to another, often as a member of the same family
taxonomy
noun
the science dealing with the description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms
homogenous
adjective
corresponding in structure because of a common origin
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typical
adjective
exemplifying most nearly the essential characteristics of a higher group in natural history, and forming the type
evolve
verb
to develop to a different adaptive state or condition
fit
adjective
adapting to the prevailing conditions and producing offspring that survive to reproductive age; contributing to the gene pool of the next generation
asexual
adjective
having no sexual organs; independent of sexual processes; not involving the union of male and female germ cells
genealogy
noun
a group of individuals or species having a common ancestry
androgenous
adjective
pertaining to the production of or tending to produce male offspring
atavism
noun
the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations
gamete
noun
a mature sexual reproductive cell, such as a sperm or egg, that unites with another cell to form a new organism
zygote
noun
the cell produced by the union of two gametes before it undergoes cleavage or cell division
fitness
noun
the ability of a population to maintain or increase its numbers in succeeding generations
vascular
adjective
pertaining to or provided with vessels or ducts that convey fluids, as blood, lymph, or sap
clone
noun
a cell or organism that is genetically identical to the individual from which it was derived
mimicry
noun
the close external resemblance of an organism to some different organism, such that it benefits from mistaken identity, as seeming to be unpalatable
segmentation
noun
the subdivision of an organism or of an organ into more or less equivalent parts; cell division
life cycle
noun
the continuous sequence of changes undergone by an organism from one primary form, as a gamete, to the development of the same form again
unfit
adjective
an organism that is not adapted to prevailing conditions or producing offspring that maintain its contribution of genes to the next generation
clade
noun
a taxonomic group of organisms classified together on the basis of homologous features traced to a common ancestor
nuclear membrane
noun
the double membrane surrounding the nucleus within a cell
heteronomous
adjective
subject to different laws of growth or specialization
cell body
noun
the compact area of a nerve cell that constitutes the nucleus and surrounding cytoplasm, excluding the axons and dendrites
photoautotroph
noun
any organism that derives its energy for food synthesis from light and is capable of using carbon dioxide as its principal source of carbon
cell fusion
noun
the merging of two or more cells into a single cell
fat cell
noun
a cell in loose connective tissue that is specialized for the synthesis and storage of fat
prototroph
noun
an organism or cell capable of synthesizing all its metabolites from inorganic material, requiring no organic nutrients
kin selection
noun
natural selection that favors altruistic behavior toward close relatives resulting in an increase in the individual's genetic contribution to the gene pool
transmembrane
adjective
occurring across a membrane, as an electric potential or the transport of ions or gases
continuous variation
noun
variation in traits such as body weight or height in which a series of types are distributed on a continuum, not grouped into discrete categories
blue-green algae
noun
a widely distributed group of photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms, resembling phototrophic bacteria, occurring in diverse habitats
life history
noun
the series of living phenomena exhibited by an organism in the course of its development from inception to death
primordial soup
noun
the seas and atmosphere on earth before the existence of life, primarily containing a mixture of water, hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide
homogenesis
noun
reproduction in which the offspring resemble the parents and undergo the same cycle of development
neo-Darwinism
noun
any modern theory of evolution holding that species evolve by natural selection acting on genetic variation
type species
noun
the species of a genus that is regarded as the best example of the generic characters of the genus, from which a genus was originally named
yellow-green algae
noun
single-celled colonial algae occurring in soil and on moist rocks and vegetation and also as a slime or scum on ponds and stagnant waters
adaptation
noun
any alteration in the structure of an organism resulting from natural selection, by which the organism becomes more able to survive in its environment
artificial
adjective
based on arbitrary, superficial characteristics rather than natural, organic relationships
cell
noun
a microscopic structure containing nuclear and cytoplasmic material enclosed by a semipermeable membrane, the basic structural unit of all organisms
generation
noun
one complete life cycle; one of the alternate phases that complete a life cycle having more than one phase
genetics
noun
the science of heredity, dealing with characteristics of related organisms resulting from the interaction of their genes and the environment
genus
noun
the usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species
metamorphosis
noun
profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life of an organism, as from the caterpillar to the pupa and then to the adult butterfly
mutation
noun
a sudden departure from the parent type an heritable characteristic caused by a change in a gene or a chromosome
nucleus
noun
a mass of protoplasm found in most cells, directing their growth, metabolism, reproduction, and functioning in the transmission of genic characters
organ
noun
a grouping of tissues into a distinct structure, as a heart or kidney in animals or a leaf or stamen in plants, that performs a specialized task
orthogenesis
noun
a theory that evolution of a species is due to a predetermined series of alterations intrinsic to the species, not due to natural selection
phylum
noun
the primary subdivision of a taxonomic kingdom, grouping together all classes of organisms that have the same body plan
protoplasm
noun
the colloidal and liquid substance of which cells are formed, the cytoplasm and nucleus: no longer in technical use
regression
noun
reversion to an earlier or less advanced state or form or to a common or general type
selection
noun
a process that results in differential reproduction among a population so that the inheritable traits of only certain individuals are passed on
species
noun
the basic category of biological classification, composed of individuals that resemble one another are able to breed with one another
structure
noun
mode of organization; construction and arrangement of tissues, parts, or organs

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