GCSE Biology Key Words

Definitions and Concepts for AQA Biology GCSE

Definitions in bold are for higher tier only

Topic 1- Cell Biology

Topic 2 - Organisation
Topic 3 – Infection and Response
Topic 4 – Bioenergetics
Topic 5 - Homeostasis
Topic 6 – Inheritance and Variation
Topic 7 – Ecology

Topic 1: Cell Biology

Definitions in bold are for higher tier only

Active transport: The movement of substances from a more dilute solution to a more
concentrated solution (against a concentration gradient) with the use of energy from
respiration.

Adult stem cell: A type of stem cell that can form many types of cells.
Agar jelly: A substance placed in petri dishes which is used to culture microorganisms on.
Cell differentiation: The process where a cell becomes specialised to its function.
Cell membrane: A partially permeable barrier that surrounds the cell.
Cell wall: An outer layer made of cellulose that strengthens plant cells.
Chloroplast: An organelle which is the site of photosynthesis.
Chromosomes: DNA structures that are found in the nucleus which are made up of genes.
Concentration gradient: The difference in concentration between two areas.

Diffusion: The spreading out of the particles of any substance in solution, or particles of a
gas, resulting in a net movement from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration.✢

Embryonic stem cell: A type of stem cell that can differentiate into most types of human
cells.

Eukaryotic cell: A type of cell found in plants and animals that contains a nucleus.
Magnification: How much bigger an image appears compared to the original object.
Meristematic cells: A type of stem cell that can differentiate into any type of plant cell.
Mitochondria: An organelle which is the site of respiration.

Mitosis: A type of cell division which produces two genetically identical daughter cells from
one parent cell.

Nucleus: An organelle found in most eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material of
the cell and controls the activities of the cell.

Organelle: A specialised structure found inside a cell.

Osmosis: The diffusion of water from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution through a
partially permeable membrane.

Plasmid: Loops of DNA found in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells.

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Prokaryotic cell: A type of cell found in bacteria that does not contain a nucleus.

Resolution: The ability to distinguish two different points in a specimen.

Specialised cells: Cells that are adapted to perform a specific function.

Stem cell: An undifferentiated cell that can divide to produce many specialised cells of the
same type.

Surface area: The amount of contact an object has with its environment.
Surface area to volume ratio (SA:V): The size of the object compared with the amount of
area where it contacts its environment.
The cell cycle: A series of stages preparing the cell for division.
Therapeutic cloning: Producing an embryo that has the same genes as a patient.
Vacuole: An organelle that stores cell sap.

Topic 2: Organisation
Amylase: An enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas that breaks
carbohydrates down into simple sugars.

Aorta: The main artery that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.

Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood at high pressure away from the heart. Benign
tumour: An abnormal cell growth that is contained within one area and does not invade
other areas of the body.

Bile: A substance made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder which is used to neutralise
stomach acid in the intestine and emulsify fats.

Blood: A tissue containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Cancer:
A non-communicable disease caused by changes in the cell that lead to uncontrolled growth
and division.

Capillary: A very thin blood vessel that is used for exchange of substances.

Cell: The basic building block of all living organisms.

Communicable disease: A disease that can be spread between individuals either directly
or indirectly.

Coronary heart disease: A disease caused by the buildup of fatty deposits

inside the coronary artery, narrowing it and reducing blood flow to the heart tissue.

Enzymes: Biological catalysts that increase the rate of reactions in living organisms. Health:
The state of physical and mental wellbeing.
Heart: An organ that pumps blood around the body in a double circulatory system.

Lipase: An enzyme that is produced in the pancreas that breaks lipids down into fatty acids
and glycerol.
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Lock and key hypothesis: A theory that describes how substrates must be the correct
shape to fit the active site of an enzyme.

Malignant tumour: A cancerous cell growth that invades neighbouring tissues and can
spread to different parts of the body in the blood.

Meristem tissue: Plant tissues containing undifferentiated stem cells. Metabolism: All of
the chemical reactions occurring in an organism.

Non-communicable disease: A disease which cannot be spread between individuals.

Organs: Aggregations of tissues performing specific functions.

Organ systems: Groups of organs that work together to form organisms

Palisade mesophyll: A tissue found in plant leaves that is specialised to carry out
photosynthesis.

Phloem: A transport tissue found in plants which is specialised to transport sugars from
source to sink.

Protease: An enzyme produced in the stomach and pancreas that breaks proteins down into
amino acids.

Pulmonary artery: The main artery that takes deoxygenated blood away from the heart to
the lungs.

Pulmonary vein: The main vein that takes oxygenated blood back to the heart from the
lungs.

Rate of reaction: The speed at which reactants are converted into products. Risk factor:
Something that increases a person’s risk of developing a disease.

Spongy mesophyll: A tissue found in plant leaves that is specialised for gas exchange.

Statins: A class of drugs that are used to reduce blood cholesterol levels which slows down
the rate of fatty material deposit.

Stent: A tube that can be surgically implanted into blood vessels to keep them open.

Tissue: A group of cells with a similar structure and function.

Translocation: The movement of food molecules through the phloem tissue.

Transpiration: The process of water evaporating from a plant.

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood at a low pressure back to the heart.

Vena cava: The main vein that takes deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the body.

Xylem: A transport tissue in plants which is specialised to transport water and dissolved
minerals from the roots of the plant to the leaves.
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Topic 3: Infection and Response

Antibiotics: Medicines that help to cure bacterial disease by killing infective bacteria inside
the body.

Clinical drug testing: Drug testing done on healthy human volunteers and patients.

Communicable disease: A disease that can be spread between individuals either directly
or indirectly.

Double blind trial: A study performed where neither the researcher or patient know whether
the patient is taking the drug or a placebo.

Gonorrhoea: A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium with symptoms

of a thick yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis and pain on urinating.✢

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): An infectious virus that weakens the immune
system and can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Malaria: A disease caused by a protist that causes recurrent episodes of fever and can be
fatal.

Measles: A serious disease caused by a virus that shows symptoms of fever and a red skin
rash.

*Monoclonal antibodies: Antibodies produced from a single clone of cells that are
specific to one binding site on one protein antigen.

Non-communicable disease: A disease which cannot be spread between individuals.

Non-specific defence: General physical and chemical barriers that defend the body against
lots of different types of pathogen.

Pathogens: Microorganisms that cause infectious disease.

Placebo: A substance designed to be indistinguishable from a drug being tested but has no
actual effect on the patient.

Preclinical drug testing: Drug testing done in a laboratory using cells, tissues and live
animals.

Rose black spot: A fungal disease where purple or black spots develop on leaves, which
often turn yellow and drop early.

Salmonella: A bacterial disease that is spread by bacteria ingested in food and can cause a
fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Side effects: Other additional effects that the drug has that are different from the expected
effect of the drug.
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Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV): A widespread plant pathogen affecting many species of
plants which produces a mosaic pattern on the leaves and limits the plant growth.

Vaccination: The process of introducing small quantities of dead or inactive forms of a

pathogen into the body to stimulate the white blood cells to produce antibodies.✢

White blood cell: An important type of cell that makes up the immune system and produces
antibodies and antitoxins.

Topic 4: Bioenergetics
Aerobic respiration: A form of respiration that uses oxygen to release energy from
molecules like glucose - represented by the following word equation:

Anaerobic respiration: A form of respiration that releases energy from molecules like
glucose without using oxygen - represented by the following word equation:

Cellular respiration: An exothermic reaction which is continuously occurring in living cells.

Inverse proportion: A relationship between two values where as one value increases, the
other value decreases at the same rate.

Inverse square law: As the distance from a light source increases, the light intensity is
inversely proportional to the distance squared - given by the following equation:

Limiting factor: A factor that limits the rate of a reaction when there is not enough of it.

Metabolism: The sum of all the reactions in a cell or the body.

Oxygen debt: The amount of extra oxygen the body needs after exercise to

react with the accumulated lactic acid and remove it from the cells.✢ Photosynthesis:
An endothermic reaction in which energy is transferred from the environment to the
chloroplasts by light.

Topic 5: Homeostasis
Abstinence: Deliberately refraining from having sexual intercourse.
*Accommodation: The process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or
distant objects.

Adrenaline: A hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in response to fear or

stress which increases the heart rate and boosts the delivery of blood to the brain
and muscles as a part of the ‘fight or flight’ response.

*Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): A hormone that increases the reabsorption of water in

the kidney tubules.

Contraception: Methods used to prevent pregnancy.

Coordination centres: Areas of the body like the brain, spinal cord and pancreas that
receive and process information from receptors.
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*Deamination: A process occurring in the liver that removes the amino group from an
amino acid to produce ammonia.

*Dialysis: A method of treating kidney failure or disease where the blood is artificially filtered
to remove waste and toxins.

Effectors: Muscles or glands which bring about responses which restore optimum levels.✢

*Ethene: A type of plant hormone which controls cell division and the ripening of
fruits.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): A female reproductive hormone that causes the
maturation of an egg in the ovary.

*Geotropism/Gravitropism: A plant’s directional growth response to gravity.

Gibberellins: A type of plant hormone which initiates seed germination. Gland: A

group of cells that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Glucagon: A hormone produced by the pancreas that causes glycogen to be

converted into glucose and released into the blood.

Homeostasis: The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain

optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external changes.✢

*Hyperopia: A defect of the eye where nearby objects appear out of focus (also called long
sightedness).

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): Fertilising a woman’s egg using sperm outside of the body.

Luteinising hormone (LH): A female reproductive hormone that stimulates the release of
an egg.

*Myopia: A defect of the eye where distant objects appear out of focus (also called short
sightedness).

Negative feedback cycle: A regulatory mechanism that reverses a change. Oestrogen:

The main female reproductive hormone which causes the uterus lining to grow and repair.

*Phototropism: A plant’s directional growth response to light.

Receptors: Organs or cells that detect stimuli.

Reflex action: A rapid and automatic response to a stimulus.

Selective reabsorption: Reabsorbing certain useful molecules (like glucose, some ions and
water) back into the blood after they have been filtered out.

Stimuli: Changes in the environment.

Target organ: The organ which a hormone acts on to produce an effect.
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Testosterone: The main male reproductive hormone produced by the testes and it
stimulates sperm production.

*The brain: An organ made of billions of interconnected neurones which controls complex
behaviour and has different regions that carry out different functions.

The central nervous system (CNS): The brain and spinal cord which coordinate the
response of effectors.

*The eye: A sense organ containing receptors sensitive to light intensity and colour.
*Thermoregulatory centre: An area of the hypothalamus in the brain which contains blood
temperature receptors and regulates body temperature.

Thyroxine: A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that increases the metabolic
rate in the body.

Type 1 diabetes: A disorder in which the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin which is
characterised by uncontrolled high blood glucose levels.

Type 2 diabetes: A disorder where the body cells no longer respond to insulin produced by
the pancreas.

*Vasoconstriction: The constriction of blood vessels. *Vasodilation: The dilation of blood

vessels.

Topic 6: Inheritance, Variation and Evolution

*Adult cell cloning: A type of cloning that forms an embryo from an adult body cell. Allele:
A version of a gene.
Amino acids: Small molecules from which proteins are assembled.
Archaea: Primitive bacteria existing in extreme environments.

Asexual reproduction: A form of reproduction involving a single parent. Creates genetically

identical offspring.

Binomial system: The universal system of naming organisms using their genus and
species.

Charles Darwin: The scientist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Chromosome: A long, coiled molecule of DNA that carries genetic information in the form of
genes.

Classification: The organisation of organisms into groups based on their characteristics and
structure.

*Coding DNA: A sequence of DNA that codes for the production of a protein.

*Complementary: Describes how the chemical bases in DNA pair up with each other.
A pairs with T and C pairs with G.

*Cuttings: The simplest method of cloning plants. A branch is cut from a parent plant and
replanted in compost after removing the lower leaves.
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Cystic fibrosis: A cellular membrane disorder resulting from the presence of a recessive
allele.

DNA: A double-stranded polymer wound to form a double helix. Carries the genetic code.
Dominant: Describes an allele that is always expressed. Represented by a capital letter.

Embryo screening: A procedure used to determine the presence of faulty genes in an

embryo produced by IVF. A few embryonic cells are removed and screened for defective
alleles.

*Embryo transplants: The simplest method of animal cloning. Cells are removed from a
developing embryo, split apart and grown in culture, before being transplanted into host
mothers.

Evolution: The gradual change in the inherited traits within a population over time. Occurs
due to natural selection.

Evolutionary tree: A diagram which illustrates the evolutionary relationships between

organisms.

Extinction: The death of all members of a species.

Family tree: A chart used to show the inheritance of a condition in a family.

Fertilisation: The fusion of the nucleus of male and female gametes. Restores the full
chromosome number.

Fossil: The remains of dead organisms found in rocks which are millions of years old.
Gametes: Sex cells (sperm and egg cells) with half the usual number of chromosomes.

Gene: A section of DNA that codes for a specific sequence of amino acids which undergo
polymerisation to form a protein.

Genetic engineering: The modification of the genome of an organism by the insertion of a

desired gene from another organism, enabling the formation of organisms with beneficial
characteristics.

Genome: The complete genetic material of an organism. Genotype: An organism’s genetic

composition. Describes all alleles.

GM crops: Crops that have had their genomes modified by the insertion of a desired gene
from another organism.

Heterozygous: When someone has two different alleles of a gene e.g. Ff.

Homozygous: When someone has two identical alleles of a gene e.g. ff.

Inbreeding: The formation of offspring from the breeding of closely related individuals.

Linnaean system: The classification of organisms into kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus and species, as developed by Carl Linnaeus.

Meiosis: A form of cell division that produces gametes, non-identical cells with half the usual
number of chromosomes.
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Mitosis: A form of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells (with a
full set of chromosomes) from one parent cell.

MRSA: A type of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic, methicillin. Mutation: A random
change in DNA which may result in genetic variants.

Natural selection: The process by which the frequency of advantageous traits passed on in
genes gradually increases in a population over time.

*Non-coding DNA: DNA which does not code for a protein but instead controls gene
expression.

*Nucleotide: The monomers of DNA consisting of a common sugar, a phosphate group and
one of four chemical bases (A, T, C, G) attached to the sugar.

Phenotype: An organism’s observable characteristics. Due to interactions of the genotype

and the environment.

Polydactyly: A condition where an individual is born with extra fingers or toes due to the
presence of a dominant allele.

*Protein synthesis: The formation of a protein from a gene.

Punnett square: A grid used to predict the potential outcomes of a genetic cross.

Recessive: Describes an allele that is only expressed in the absence of a dominant allele.
Represented by a small letter.

Ribosomes: Sub-cellular structures where protein synthesis takes place.

Selective breeding: The process by which humans artificially select organisms with
desirable characteristics and breed them to produce offspring with desirable phenotypes.

Sex chromosomes: A pair of chromosomes responsible for the determination of gender.

XY in males. XX in females

Sexual reproduction: A form of reproduction involving the fusion of male and female
gametes. Creates genetic variation.

*Speciation: The formation of new species in the course of evolution, often due to the
evolution of two isolated populations.

Species: A group of similar organisms that are able to breed with one another to produce
fertile offspring.

Three-domain system: A method of classification in which organisms are categorised into

three groups; Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota. Developed by Carl Woese.

*Tissue culture: A method of growing living tissue or cells in a suitable medium to produce
clone plants.

Variation: The differences between individuals due to genes, the environment or a

combination of both.

Vector: A carrier used to transfer a gene from one organism to another.

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Topic 7: Ecology
Abiotic factors: The non-living aspects of an ecosystem e.g. temperature, light intensity,
moisture, wind direction, wind intensity, soil pH, soil mineral content, carbon dioxide levels
and oxygen levels.

Adaptation: A feature of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its

environment. Such features may be behavioural, structural or functional.

*Anaerobic decay: Decomposition in the absence of oxygen (commonly occurring in

waterlogged soils) that produces carbon dioxide and methane gas.

*Apex predator: A carnivore at the top of the food chain with no predators.

Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.

*Biogas: A type of biofuel (methane gas) produced by anaerobic decay in biogas

generators.

Biotic factors: The living components of an ecosystem e.g. food availability, pathogens,
predators and other species.

Carbon cycle: The cycle through which carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) moves
between living organisms and the environment, involving respiration, photosynthesis and
combustion.

Community: All of the populations of different species living together in a habitat.

Competition: When different organisms compete for the same resources (e.g. light, water,
mates, territory) in an ecosystem. This limits population sizes and stimulates evolutionary
change.

*Compost: Dead and decaying organic matter, commonly used as a fertiliser.

*Decomposers: Organisms that release enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of dead
plant and animal material into simpler organic matter.

*Decomposition: The breakdown of dead materials into simpler organic matter. The rate of
decomposition is affected by temperature, water and oxygen availability.

Deforestation: The removal of trees from land which is subsequently used to grow crops or
provide space for cattle.

*Distribution: The spread of living organisms in an ecosystem. It is affected by

environmental changes which may be seasonal, geographic or man-made.

Ecosystem: The community of organisms (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an

area and their interactions.

Efficiency of biomass transfer: The efficiency of biomass transfer between trophic levels
is calculated using:
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Extremophiles: Organisms that can live in extreme environments e.g. high temperatures,
high salinity.

Food chain: Describes the feeding relationships between organisms and the resultant
stages of biomass transfer. It takes the form: producer ⟶ primary consumer ⟶ secondary
consumer ⟶ tertiary consumer

*Food security: Ensuring that populations have access to adequate amounts of safe and
nutritious food.

Global warming: The gradual rise in the average temperature of the Earth due to increasing
atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and methane gas.

*GM crops: Crops that have had their genomes modified by the insertion of a desired gene
from another organism.

Interdependence: The dependence of different organisms on each other for survival e.g.
plants depend on pollinators, herbivores depend on plants.

Mean: The average of a set of numbers calculated by dividing the sum of the values by the
number of values.

Median: The middle number in a list of values ordered from lowest to highest.

Microorganisms: Very small organisms involved in the recycling of materials in an

ecosystem. They return mineral ions to the soil and convert carbon to carbon dioxide which
is released into the atmosphere.

Mode: The number that occurs most commonly in a set of data values. *Mycoprotein: A
food high in protein (suitable for vegetarians) that is produced by the microorganism,
Fusarium, in fermentation vats.
Peatlands: Areas of peat soil in wetland habitats formed by the accumulation of partially
decayed organic matter. Peat is commonly used as a garden compost.

Pollution: Contamination or destruction of the natural environment due to human

intervention.

Population: All organisms of the same species living with one another in a habitat.

Predators: Consumers that prey on and eat other animals.

Prey: Animals that are eaten by predators.

*Primary consumers: Herbivores that consume producers at trophic level 2 of a food chain.

Producers: Photosynthetic organisms (e.g. green plant or alga) at the start of the food chain
that provide biomass for all living things.
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*Pyramid of biomass: A table of the dry mass of living material at each trophic level of a
food chain. This forms the shape of a pyramid.

Quadrat: A square grid of known area used in sampling to determine the abundance and
distribution of organisms in an ecosystem.

*Secondary consumers: Carnivores that consume herbivores at trophic level 3 of a food

chain.

*Sustainable: The ability to maintain something for future generations.

*Sustainable fisheries: Methods of harvesting fish at a sustainable rate and increasing fish
stocks, for example, by controlling net size or introducing fishing quotas.

*Tertiary consumers: Carnivores that consume other carnivores at trophic levels 4 and
above of a food chain.

Transect: A line along an area used in sampling to determine the abundance and
distribution of organisms in an ecosystem.

*Trophic level: The position of an organism in a food chain.

Water cycle: The cycle through which water moves between living organisms and the
environment, involving evaporation, transpiration, condensation and precipitation.