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This glossary of biology terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts used in biology, the study of life and of living organisms.It is intended as introductory material for novices; for more specific and technical definitions from sub-disciplines and related fields, see Glossary of cell biology, Glossary of genetics, Glossary of evolutionary biology, Glossary of ecology ...
Biology is the scientific study of life. [1] [2] [3] It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. [1] [2] [3] For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary information encoded in genes , which can be transmitted to future generations.
The eukaryotes ( / juːˈkærioʊts, - əts / yoo-KARR-ee-ohts, -əts) constitute the domain of Eukarya or Eukaryota, organisms whose cells have a membrane-bound nucleus. All animals, plants, fungi, and many unicellular organisms are eukaryotes.
meiosis. produces four genetically unique cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as in the parent. mitosis. produces two genetically identical cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as in the parent. Meiosis begins with a diploid cell, which contains two copies of each chromosome, termed homologs.
A species ( pl.: species) is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. [1] It is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity.
Morphology (biology) Morphology is a branch of biology dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features. [1] This includes aspects of the outward appearance ( shape, structure, colour, pattern, size ), i.e. external morphology (or eidonomy ), as well as the form and structure of the internal ...
Synapsis or Syzygy is the pairing of two chromosomes that occurs during meiosis. It allows matching-up of homologous pairs prior to their segregation, and possible chromosomal crossover between them. Synapsis takes place during prophase I of meiosis. When homologous chromosomes synapse, their ends are first attached to the nuclear envelope.
Also called functionalism. The Darwinian view that many or most physiological and behavioral traits of organisms are adaptations that have evolved for specific functions or for specific reasons (as opposed to being byproducts of the evolution of other traits, consequences of biological constraints, or the result of random variation). adaptive radiation The simultaneous or near-simultaneous ...