Glossary of Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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- A -

adaptive radiation  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the relatively rapid expansion and diversification of an evolving group of organisms as they adapt to new ecological niches.  Adaptive radiation is the process by which one species evolves into two or more species.  This occurs as a result of different populations becoming reproductively isolated from each other, usually by adapting to different environments. 
amino acids   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
organic molecules that are building blocks of proteins.  There are at least 20 different kinds of amino acids in living things.  Proteins are composed of different combinations of amino acids assembled in chain-like molecules.  Amino acids are primarily composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
  photo of a broken chicken egg--an example of an amniote egg
amniote   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
referring to an egg with a calcium carbonate rich, leather hard shell and protective membranes that prevent the embryo from rapidly drying out.  Reptiles, birds, and prototherian mammals lay amniote eggs.
Amphibia   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the class of vertebrates that includes frogs, toads, and salamanders.  Amphibians spend part of their lives under water and part on land.  They must return to damp areas to reproduce since their eggs would otherwise dry out.  They start life with gills, like fish, and later develop lungs to breath air.
anaerobic   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
without oxygen
analogies   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
anatomical features that have the same form or function in different species that have no known common ancestor.  Analogies are also referred to as analogous structures or features.
analogous structures   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see analogies.
Animalia   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the kingdom of living things that includes all animals. They are multicellular organisms that ingest food rather than absorb or photosynthesize it.  They also have their own means of locomotion in at least one phase of their life cycles.
anterior   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see dorsal.
Arthropoda   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the animal phylum consisting of creatures that have external skeletons, and jointed bodies and limbs.  Insects, spiders, lobsters, and crabs are arthropods.
Aves   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the class of vertebrates that includes all of the birds.  Like reptiles, they lay amniote eggs.
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- B -

bilaterally symmetrical   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the chordate characteristic of the left and right sides of the body being mirror images of each other.  If there are two functionally similar body parts, they are usually found roughly equidistant from the center line, parallel to each other on bilaterally symmetrical animals.
binomen   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the Linnaean classification system use of two Latin name categories, genus and species, to designate each type of organism.  A genus is a higher level category that includes one or more species under it.  For example, humans are Homo sapiens, or "man who is wise"--Homo is our genus and sapiens is our species.  Binomen literally means "two names" in Latin.  Binomial nomenclature is another term for binomen. 
binomial nomenclature   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see binomen.
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- C -

Chondrichthyes   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the class of vertebrates that includes the fish that have skeletons consisting of cartilage rather than bone.   These are the sharks and rays.
Chordata   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the phylum of animals that is characterized by elongated bilaterally symmetrical bodies.  In some phase of their life cycle, they have a notochord and gill slits or pouches. Chordates also often have a head, a tail, and a digestive system with an opening at both ends of the body. The Chordata include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and 2 invertebrate subphyla (tunicates and lancelets).
chordate  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
a member of the phylum Chordata.
chromosomes  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
thread-like, gene-carrying bodies in the cell nucleus.  Chromosomes are composed primarily of DNA and protein.  They are visible only under magnification during certain stages of cell division.
cladistics  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
an approach to discovering evolutionary relationships between organisms based on shared derived traits.  Cladistics has largely replaced the older approach known as evolutionary or phylogenetic sytematics which grouped organisms together based on homologies in general without distinguishing between primitive and derived ones.
class
the level of classification below subphylum and above subclass in the Linnaean classification system.  Humans are members of the class Mammalia.
convergence  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the development of a similar anatomical feature in distinct species lines after divergence from a common ancestor that did not have the initial trait that led to it.  The common ancestor is usually more distant in time than is the case with parallelism.  Convergence is thought to be due primarily to the independent species lines experiencing the same kinds of natural selection pressures.  Convergence is also referred to as convergent evolution.  Convergence results in homoplasies.
convergent evolution
see convergence.
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- D -

derived trait    (in regards to classifying organs)
a biological trait that has changed over time from the ancestral form and/or function that was present in the species from which it came.  See cladistics.
DNA   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced   (deoxyribonucleic acid click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced)
a large organic molecule that stores the genetic code for the synthesis of proteins.  Each chromosome consists mostly of a DNA molecule.  DNA is composed of sugars, phosphates and bases arranged in a double helix shaped molecular structure.  Segments of DNA correspond to specific genes.
 
photo of a dog illustrating dorsal, ventral, anterior, and posterior
dorsal  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the biological sciences use the terms dorsal, ventral, anterior, and posterior to refer to direction within the body of a bilaterally symmetrical organism.  These terms are illustrated in the photo on the right.  Body parts on the sides of a body are referred to as being lateral.  If something is along the longitudinal midline of a body, it is medial.
double helix   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the twisted ladder shape that is characteristic of DNA molecules.
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- E -

ecological niches   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
specific micro-habitats in nature to which populations or organisms adapt.   They are usually seen in terms of being food getting opportunities in the environment.
ectothermic   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the ability to maintain core body temperature in a normal range mainly by avoiding exposure to environmental temperature extremes.  Reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects are ectothermic animals.  Ectothermy is also referred to as being cold blooded.  See endothermic.
embryo  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the earliest stage of development of an unborn child.  In humans, the embryonic stage lasts up till about the 8th week of pregnancy.   Following the embryonic stage, is the fetal stage.
embryonic  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see embryo.
endothermic   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the ability to maintain a relatively constant core body temperature regardless of external conditions by using internal physiological means.  That is to say, they are homeothermic, or stable in core body temperature, as a result of endothermy.  Birds and mammals are endothermic.   Endothermy is also referred to as being warm blooded.  See ectothermic.
enzymes  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
proteins that cause or regulate specific chemical reactions within cells.
  drawing of a human fetus in utero with the placenta and the umbilical cord highlighted
Eutheria  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the infraclass of therian mammal species in which females produce a placenta to connect the fetus to the uterus.  This enables nutrients and oxygen to get to the fetus and provides a means of eliminating waste products.  As a result, eutherian mammals can carry their young within the uterus until late in fetal development.  This has a selective advantage because it results in decreased infant mortality.  Eutherian mammals are also called placental mammals.  Included in this infraclass are dogs, cats, bears, whales, monkeys, humans, etc.
evolution  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
genetic change in a population of organisms that occurs over time.  The term is also frequently used to refer to the appearance of a new species.  More specifically, it is change in the frequencies of alleles in a population's gene pool from one generation to the next.
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- G -

genes  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
units of inheritance usually occurring at specific locations, or loci, on a chromosome.  Physically, a gene is a sequence of DNA bases that specify the order of amino acids in a protein or, in some cases, a small RNA molecule referred to as a microRNA.  A gene may be made up of hundreds to thousands of DNA bases.  Genes are responsible for hereditary characteristics.
genus   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced    (plural genera click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced)
a group of closely related species.  In the Linnaean classification system, genus is the category immediately above species.
gestation  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the period between conception and birth during which an unborn young is within its mother's uterus.  Pregnancy is another word for gestation.
gills   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
breathing organs used to extract oxygen from water.
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- H -

heterodonts   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
animals that have a variety of specialized teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars).  Mammals are heterodonts.
hierarchical   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
an arrangement in terms of rank or importance.  The Linnaean classification system of living things is hierarchical--it is a system of classification with the highest category consisting of all living things.   Lower down are levels of less inclusive sub-categories.  The lowest sub-category is a species. 
homologies   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
anatomical structures in different species that are similar due to descent from a common ancestor that had them.  Homologies are also referred to as homologous structures or features.  see cladistics.
homologous structures   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see homologies.
homoplasies   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
similar anatomical structures in different species that were not present in their common ancestor.  Homoplasies are also referred to as homoplastic structures or features.  Homoplasies can be due to parallelism, convergence, or even chance.
homoplastic structures   pronounce word
see homoplasies.
Homo sapiens   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the genus (Homo) and species (sapiens) categories to which modern humans belong.
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- I -

invertebrate   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
an animal that lacks an internal skeleton.  All animals other than fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are invertebrates.  Approximately 95% of all animals are invertebrates. 
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- J -

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- K -

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- L -

lancelets  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
 
drawing of a lancelet
small, translucent fish-like marine animals without skeletons.   They are classified as species in the phylum Chordata.  The lancelet is also known as amphioxus.
 
lateral  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see dorsal.
Linnaean   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
referring to the classification system in use by the biological sciences today to classify all living things.  It was invented by Carolus Linnaeus pronounce name in the 18th century.
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- M -

macroscopic   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
referring to objects that are large enough to be seen easily with the naked eye.
mammal   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
an animal in the class Mammalia.
Mammalia   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
a class of warm blooded, usually hairy animals, that feed their young with milk secreted by the mammary glands of females.  Mammalia include monotremes, marsupials, primates, cats, dogs, bears, hoofed animals, rodents, bats, seals, dolphins, and whales.
 
cross section drawing of a human mammary gland showing milk producing glands, nipple, and fatty tissues
 

mammary glands   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
milk secreting glands of mammals.   They are usually located on the chest or abdomen in one or more bilaterally symmetrical pairs.  Mammary glands are also referred to as breasts.
marsupials  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see Metatheria.
medial   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see dorsal.
Metatheria   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the infraclass of therian mammal species in which females bear their young in an immature condition (while still in the early fetal stage) and then permit their further infant development in an abdominal pouch covering their mammary glands.  Compared to the delayed births of placental mammals, this is inefficient in keeping young infants alive.  Metatherian mammals are also called marsupials.  Included in this infraclass are kangaroos, koalas, opossums, etc.
Mollusca   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the animal phylum consisting of creatures that have soft unsegmented bodies that are usually, but not always, enclosed in a hard shell.  They also usually have at least one strong foot that helps them move.  Octopi, squids, clams, snails, and slugs are mollusks.
monotremes   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see Prototheria.
morphology   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the form and structure of an organism.
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- N -

natural selection
an evolutionary mechanism that occurs when some individuals of a population are better able to adapt to their environment and, subsequently, produce more offspring.  Nature, in effect, selects which members of a population are fit to survive long enough to reproduce.  Differential productive success between individuals is the key.  Those who produce more offspring have a greater influence on the gene frequencies of the next generation.  This mechanism of evolutionary change was first articulated by Charles Darwin.
niches
see ecological niches.
notochord   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
a rudimentary internal skeleton made of stiff cartilage that runs lengthwise under the dorsal surface of the body of chordates.  Generally, there is a single hollow nerve chord on top of the notochord.  Among humans and the other vertebrates, the notochord is replaced by a more complex skeleton following the embryonic stage of development.
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- O -

order
a Linnaean classification category above the level of species and genus and below class.  Each order can consist of many species and genera.
Osteichthyes   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the class of vertebrates that include the bony fish (e.g., trout, bass, tuna, etc.).
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- P -

parallel evolution
see parallelism.
parallelism   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
a similar evolutionary development in different species lines after divergence from a common ancestor that had the initial anatomical feature that led to it.  Parallelism is thought to be due primarily to the independent species lines experiencing the same kinds of natural selection pressures.    Parallelism is also referred to as parallel evolution.  Parallelism results in homoplasies.  See convergence.
pelvis   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the bones of the hip region.   Also known as the pelvic girdle.
photosynthesis   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria use energy from sun light to create new organic molecules (carbohydrates) and oxygen out of carbon dioxide, water, and elemental nutrients.
phylum  click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the level of classification just below kingdom in the Linnaean Classification system.  At this level, animals are grouped together based on similarities in basic body plan or organization.
placental   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see Eutheria.
Plantae   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the kingdom of plants in the Linnaean Classification system.  Members of this kingdom produce new cells out of inorganic material by photosynthesis.   They do not have the ability to move around their environment except by growing or being transported by wind, water, or other external forces.  The plant kingdom is also referred to as Planti.
posterior   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see dorsal.
primitive trait    (in regards to classifying organs)
a biological trait that has not changed over time from the ancestral form and/or function that was present in the species from which it came.  See cladistics.
prion   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
a protein that has the ability to cause the cells that it invades to repeatedly duplicate it.  Prions are responsible for causing Mad Cow Disease.  Apparently, prions are not effectively attacked by their host's immune system nor can they be killed with existing antibiotics, extreme heat, cold, or other normally lethal conditions.  The word prion comes from "proteinaceous infectious particle."
proteins   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
any of a large number of complex organic molecules that are composed of one or more chains of amino acids.  Proteins can serve a wide variety of functions through their ability to bind to other molecules.  Proteins may be enzymes, hormones, antibodies, structural components, or gas-transporting molecules.
Prototheria   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the subclass of mammal species in which females lay eggs like birds and reptiles.  However, they feed their newborn with mammary gland secretions like all other mammals.  The Prototheria are also referred to as monotremes, which literally means that they have only one opening for excretion and reproduction.  Included in this subclass are the platypus and echidna.
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- Q -

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- R -

Reptilia   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the class of vertebrates that includes turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, and other large reptiles.  Like birds, they produce an amniote egg.
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- S -

species   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the largest natural population of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring.  It is commonly assumed that members of one species are reproductively isolated from members of all other species (i.e., they cannot mate with them to produce fertile offspring).  However, we must be cautious in defining species with this criterion because members of very closely related species can sometimes produce offspring together, and a small fraction of those may be fertile to some degree.  This is the case with mules, which are the product of mating between horses and donkeys.  About one out of 10,000 mules is fertile.  This suggests that some species differences are a matter of degree.
subphyla   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the plural of subphylum (the level of classification immediately below phylum and above class in the Linnaean classification system).
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- T -

taxonomy   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
naming, describing, and classifying organisms into different categories on the basis of their appearance and other diagnostic characteristics as well as their evolutionary relationships.  The biological sciences primarily use the Linnaean classification system for this purpose.
Theria   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
    drawing of a yellow tunicate
the subclass of mammal species that include the marsupials and placental mammals.
tunicates   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
small, tube-like filter feeding marine animals without skeletons.  They are classified as being members of the animal phylum Chordata.  The example shown on the right is a yellow tunicate.
  
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- U -

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- V -

ventral   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
see dorsal.
Vertebrata   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
the subphylum of chordates that includes the animals that possess a spinal chord protected by a segmented vertebral column of cartilage and/or bone.
vertebrates   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
members of the animal subphylum Vertebrata.
virus   click this icon to hear the preceding term pronounced
a category of extremely small microscopic parasites of plants, animals, and bacteria. Viruses are not cells but rather RNA or DNA molecules surrounded by a protein coating.  Since viruses cannot reproduce without a host cell, they are not strictly speaking living organisms.
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This page was last updated on Monday, October 14, 2013.
Copyright © 1998-2013 by Dennis O'Neil. All rights reserved.
 illustration credits