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Vital Leaving Cert Guidebook Biology: Definitions Róisín Doyle Introduction and explainer… 2 # 3 A 3 B 4 C 4
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ISBN: 978 1 897922 29 3 Copyright 2024 1
Introduction and Explainer…
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A comprehensive collection of definitions for Leaving Cert Biology including all key terms required to ensure answers are technically correct.
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Anaerobic respiration: the release of energy from food in the absence of oxygen.
1st trophic level: first feeding stage in a food chain. Organism is known as producer.
Antagonistic muscle pairs: two muscles that work together but in opposite direction as muscles can only contract.
2nd trophic level: second feeding stage in a food chain. Organism is known as primary consumer. 3rd trophic level: third feeding stage in a food chain. Organism is known as secondary consumer.
Antibiotics: artificial antibodies produced by microorganisms used to treat infections by killing other microorganisms. Antibody: a protein produced by B cells in response to an antigen being detected by helper T cells. Antibody is specific to antigen.
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Antibiotic resistance: bacteria do not die in the presence of an antibiotic due to misuse or overuse of antibiotics.
Abiotic factors: non-living factors that affect population size of a plant or animal in an ecosystem e.g. soil pH. Active site: the location/part of the enzyme that reacts with the substrate.
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Active transport: molecules move from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration through a selectively permeable membrane, requiring energy or movement of molecules against a concentration gradient.
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Active immunity: when the living organism produces the antibodies itself. Active: a process that requires energy.
Adhesion: attraction of water molecules to the walls of the xylem vessels. Aerobic respiration: the release of energy from food in the presence of oxygen. Alleles: alternative forms of a gene e.g. Bb. Amino acid: single protein subunit. Anabolic reaction (anabolism): small molecules are converted into large molecules and energy is required e.g.; photosynthesis.
Antigen: a foreign particle that should not be found in a living organism e.g. dust, pollen, micro organisms. Will stimulate the production of antibodies. Aquatic factors: water factors that affect population size of a plant or animal in an ecosystem. Asexual reproduction: production of offspring where one parent (cell) involved. Asepsis: free from all harmful microorganisms. Assimilation: transfer of food from one location to another e.g.; blood to cells, transfer of protein from plants to animals in the nitrogen cycle. ATP: adenosine (adenine (nitrogen) and ribose (sugar)) triphosphate. High energy molecule. Made from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and phosphate (p). energy stored in 3rd phosphate bond. Autoimmune disorder: human defence system attacks its own self (healthy tissue in human body). Autotroph: a living organism that can make its own food. 3
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Carnivore: flesh eating animal.
Balanced diet: correct amount from each level in the food pyramid. Binary fission: asexual reproduction in bacteria. Bi-nuclear cell: cell containing two nuclei e.g. pollen grain has a generative nuclei and a tube nuclei. Biochemical reaction: chemical reactions that takes place in a living organism.
Cell continuity: living cells arise from other pre-existing living cells of the same type due to cell division. Chemical digestion: use of chemicals such as enzymes and acid to break down food. Chemosynthetic: a living organism ability to make its own food in the presence of chemicals e.g.; rhizobium. Climate: long term weather.
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Biodiversity: Variety of life in an ecosystem.
Catabolic reaction (catabolism): large molecules are converted into small molecules and energy is released e.g.; respiration.
Bioprocessing: an industry that is involved in making products using living micro organisms and/or enzymes. Bioreactor: a vessel/container in which a biochemical reaction involving microorganisms occurs.
Biosphere: part of planet where life is found.
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Biotic factors: living factors that affect population size of a plant or animal in an ecosystem.
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Blood pressure: force require to stop blood flowing in an artery; average = 120/80 mmHg Measured in the upper left arm. Breathing: physical act of taking in oxygen from the air and releasing carbon dioxide. Known as external respiration. Budding: asexual reproduction in yeast (fungi).
C Cancer: a cell loses control of the rate of mitosis. Cardiac muscle: involuntary muscle that never fatigues. 4
Cohesion: attraction of water molecules to each other. Combustion: burning of fossil fuels in the presence of oxygen. Community: group of animals or plants sharing resources in an ecosystem. Competition: struggle between organisms for a resource in limited supply. Conservation: wise management and effective use of our current resources so that they are available for future generations. Contest competition: struggle between organism for a resource in limited supply and only one wins the resource e.g. a fox and a badger fighting over a rabbit and only one will get the rabbit. Continuity of life: organisms arise from other organisms of the same type due to cell division.
Contraception: prevention of pregnancy by preventing fertilisation or implantation. Contractile muscle: muscle/tissue that has the ability to shorten.
Cotyledon: seed leaf that has the role of food storage.
Digestion: breaking down of food into smaller parts primarily its subunits so that it can be transferred into the blood and cells faster and easier; achieved by physical and chemical means.
Cross pollination: transfer of pollen from the male part of one plant (stamen) to the female part of another plant (carpel) of the same species.
Dihybrid linked cross: a cross that involves the analysis of two traits being passed from one generation to the next that are located on the same set of chromosome.
Cytosol: cytoplasm without cell organelles.
Dihybrid non-linked cross: a cross the involves the analysis of passing down two traits that are located on different chromosomes.
Control: for comparison with the experimental results.
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Diploid: 2 sets of chromosomes or chromosomes that appear in pairs.
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Deamination: excess amino acids are converted to urea in the liver.
Decomposition: break down of dead organic matter. Performed by decomposers; (aka decomposing micro-organisms). Different decomposers break down different types of organic matter. Some micro-organisms break down protein while others break down carbohydrates.
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Denaturation: an enzyme that has lost its 3D, folded, globular shape at the active site location and no longer is able to carry out its function; caused due to heating to a temperature above 60oC or exposure to extreme of pH away from optimum. Denitrification: conversion of nitrates to atmospheric nitrogen (nitrogen gas). Performed by denitrifying bacteria.
Dermal tissue: type of tissue that provides protection. Diastole: relaxation of the muscle walls of the heart. Dicotyledon: two seed leaves. Diffusion: movement of molecules from an area of high molecule concentration to an area of low molecule concentration across a selectively permeable membrane e.g.; gaseous exchange at the alveoli.
Disaccharide: two sugar units joined together e.g. maltose. Dispersal: scattering/moving a seed from one location to another to avoid competition with parent plant or other plants. DNA Profiling: breaking DNA up into bands or fragments based on size for comparison purposes. DNA replication: making an exact copy of DNA. DNA: Deoxyribo (deoxyribose- 6C sugar) Nucleic Acid. Dormancy: period of low metabolism in a seed when conditions for growth are unfavorable which allows an embryo in the seed to mature and survive unfavourable conditions. Double fertilisation: one haploid generative nuclei joins with haploid egg to form a diploid zygote. One haploid generative nuclei joins with 2 haploid polar nuclei to form a triploid endosperm (food storage vacuole providing food for an embryo while it is developing) . 1. Generative Nuclei (n) + 2 Polar Nuclei (n+n) → Triploid Endosperm (3n) 2. Generative Nuclei (n) + Egg (n) → Zygote 5
Róisín Doyle is a fully qualified Biology teacher since 2009, achieving a 1st in her degree. She has been teaching Biology in the Institute of Education, Dublin since 2013, has worked with the State Examinations Commission for several years, and authored mock papers for Examcraft from 2017- 2021. Róisín has also taught International Baccalaureate Biology in the United Arab Emirates.
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In 2023 Leaving Cert, 40% of Róisín’s students achieved a H1 in Biology. “Struggling to get full marks for definitions associated with Leaving Cert Biology? Well, then, this is the book for you! Written in line with the Leaving Cert Biology syllabus and guidelines, this book is an alphabetical guide containing detailed descriptions of key terms necessary for success in the exam.
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This book contains a comprehensive collection of definitions for Leaving Cert Biology including all key terms required to ensure answers are technically correct.”
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