Glossary
- acidophiles
- Organisms that require conditions to be below pH 5.
- amino acids
- Organic molecules that serve as the basic units of proteins (proteins
are long chains of amino acids).
- anthropocentric
- Viewing and interpreting everything in terms of human experience;
regarding the human being as the central fact of the universe.
- carbonate
- A molecule containing the carbonate molecule (CO3
-2)
- enzyme
- A protein capable of catalyzing chemical reactions.
- eukaryotic cells
- A type of cell having a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed
organelles. Includes protists, plants, animals, and fungi.
- extremophiles
- A catch-all term for organisms living in harsh conditions. The definition
of "extreme" environments is usually a taxonomic one, meaning an environment
where only a restricted range of organisms can live. Here is a nice comprehensive list of facts and links.
- isotope
- Different versions of the same element, distinguished by the number
of neutrons.
- Anton van Leeunhoek (1632-1723)
- The first scientist to observe single-celled organisms using a homemade
300X microscope.
- Gregor Mendel (1822-1884)
- Based on his experiments with garden peas, Mendel built a model of
inheritance that became the foundation of modern genetics.
- niche
- The suitable position and function of a particular species or population
in an ecological community.
- prokaryotic cell
- A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed
organelles; found only in the kingdom Monera.
- psychrophiles
- Cold-loving organisms. The optimum temperature for psycrophiles is
~15 oC. Psycrophiles can live and reproduce below 4oC
but not above 20 oC.
- ribosome
- A sub-cellular structure responsible for making proteins.
- symbiosis
- An ecological relationship between organisms of two different species
that live together in direct contact.
- taxonomy
- Systematics; the classification and study of organisms.
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