GEMS OF WISDOM

A.

Adenine - is one of the four nitrogenous base that making up the building
blocks of DNA and RNA, then it have a crucial role in genetic code.

Alleles - is one of the different version of gene that can exist at a specific
location on a chromosome and alleles can determine the specific trait or
characteristic in an organism.

Anatomic Evidence - is a physical features and structure s in fossil that can

provide inside into the evolution of species.

Annealing - is a process of controlled heating and cooling that used in

various fields of genetics, materials science, and physics.

Australopithecus - or most known as "southern ape" is a genius of early

hominins that live more than three million years ago in Africa.

B.

Biochemical - related to the chemical processes that happen inside living

organisms.

Biogeography - the study of where different species live around the world
and why they are found in certain places.

Biology - study of living things.

biotechnology - using living things to make useful products.

breed - to intentionally mate animals or plants to produce offspring with

specific traits.

C.

Charles Darwin - a naturalist known for the theory of evolution by natural

selection, outlined in "On the Origin of Species."

Chromosomes - structures within cells that contain DNA and protein,

carrying genetic information. Humans have 23 pairs.

Codon - a sequence of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA that codes for a

specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.
Convergent - refers to convergent evolution, where unrelated species
evolve similar traits due to similar environments or pressures.

Cytosine - one of the four main bases in DNA and RNA, pairing with
guanine.

D.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - a molecule carrying genetic information

vital for growth, development, and reproduction.

Denaturation - the process where proteins or DNA lose their structure due
to heat or chemicals.

Differential Reproduction - when organisms with favorable traits

reproduce more successfully than others.

Dihybrid Cross - a genetic cross examining two traits inherited from two
parents.

Dispersive Model - a DNA replication hypothesis suggesting mixed old and

new DNA in each strand.

E.

Ecology - the study of how organisms interact with each other and their
environment.

Enzymes - are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions within

living organisms.

Equilibrium - refers to a state of balance. This can be applied to various

aspects, such as population dynamics, where birth and death rates balance,
or chemical reactions in the body, where reactants and products are in a
stable ratio.

Evidence - refers to the data and observations that support a particular

hypothesis or theory.

Evolution - the gradual process of change in the genetic makeup of a

population over time.

F.
Finches - small birds studied by Charles Darwin in the Galápagos Islands,
providing key evidence for natural selection through their diverse beak
adaptations.

Fittest - refers to organisms best adapted to their environment, increasing

their chances of survival and reproduction.

Fossils - preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms in rocks,

providing evidence of past life and evolution.

Founder Effect - a genetic phenomenon where a small isolated group from

a larger population experiences reduced genetic diversity and potential
genetic drift.

Francis Crick - British scientist who, alongside James Watson, discovered

DNA's double-helix structure, essential for understanding genetics and
heredity.

G.

Gene Flow – the transfer of genetic material between different populations

of a species, increasing genetic diversity.

Genetic – relating to genes and heredity, which determine the traits passed
from parents to offspring.

Genotype – the genetic makeup of an organism that determines its

inherited traits.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) – an organism whose DNA has

been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Gregor Mendel – the father of genetics, known for his experiments with pea
plants that established the principles of heredity.

H.

Heterozygous - refers to having two different forms of an instruction (gene)

for a particular trait. Imagine you received one "blue eye" instruction from
your mother and one "brown eye" instruction from your father.

Homohabilis - this smart monkeys the term "handy man" was coined by
Homo habilis, an ancient human who is thought to have been the first to
create basic stone tools.
Homonid - are similar to the "great ape family" in that they comprise all of
their close extinct cousins as well as humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and
orangutans. Consider it our extended family of primates.

Homosapiens - It means to "wise human" in Latin. Actually we're all over

the globe Essentially, "Homo sapiens" is basically the scientific way of saying
"you and me and everyone else on Earth".

Homozygous - this essentially means having two identical copies of a gene

for a specific feature. It's like receiving the same instructions from both of
your parents for that precise thing.

I.

Identical-- the term refers to genetically identical organisms or cells. When

a single fertilized egg divides into two, for instance, identical twins are
created, producing two people with the same genetic composition.

initiation - in biological processes, initiation refers to the beginning phase of

a specific event, such as the start of transcription in gene expression or the
first steps of DNA replication.

insulin -- is the secretes the hormone insulin, which is essential for

controlling blood sugar levels, It makes it easier for cells to absorb glucose so
they can either use it as fuel or store it

Interphase-- for the stage the cell cycle known as interphase is when the
cell to divide like. G1 growth, DNA synthesis and G2 mitosis preparation are
its three phases

Isolation-- is the used in biology to describe the separation of a specific

organism, cell, or genetic material from other entities.

J.

James Watson - is an American biologist best known for co-discovering the

double-helix structure of DNA

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck - was a French biologist known for proposing the

early theory of evolution
Joining - process of bringing together different components.

Junk DNA – non-coding DNA sequences once thought to be useless

Jurassic Period – the age of dinosaurs

K.

Keratin – A protein found in hair, nails, and skin.

Ketone Bodies - molecules made by the liver when breaking down fat for
energy

Kidney – An organ that filters waste from the blood and produces urine.

Kin Selection - evolutionary theory where organisms help relatives survive

K-Strategist - species that thrive in stable environments by having few

offspring

L.

Lagging strand - the DNA strand that is copied in small pieces because it's
made in the opposite direction.

Leading strand - the DNA strand that is copied smoothly and continuously
in the same direction.

Ligase - an enzyme that "glues" pieces of DNA together.

Lysogenic cycle - when a virus stays inside a cell without causing harm,
and later becomes active to make more viruses.

Lytic cycle - when a virus makes a cell burst open to release new viruses.

M.

Membrane - Protective layer around cells, controls entry/exit.

Mitochondria- Powerhouse of the cell, produces energy.

Mitosis - Cell division for growth and repair.

Molecule - Smallest unit of a substance, building blocks of life.

Mutation - A change in DNA, leading to genetic variation.

N.

Natural selection - a process where individual is better suited for their

environment to survive and reproduce successfuly

Neutral mutation - a DNA change that has'nt have a significant effect on

an organism's ability to reproduce or survive.

Nitrogenous bases - they are the building block of DNA and RNA. Purines
(adenine and guanine), and pyrimidines (cystosine, thymine) in DNA, and
uracil in RNA.

Nitrogenous waste - metabolic products containing nitrogen, formed from

the breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids.

Nucleotides - the building block of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA).

O.

P.

Pedigree analysis - is a chart used to track traits or diseases in a family

across generations.

Plasmid - is a small, circular piece of DNA found in bacteria that can carry
genes and be passed between cells.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - is a laboratory technique used to

amplify and replicate specific DNA sequences rapidly.

Population - is a group of living things of the same kind living in the same
place.

Protein - is a nutrient that helps build and repair body tissues and is made
of amino acids.

Q.

Q-banding - a technique that stains chromosomes with fluorescent dye to

make striped patterns.

Quantitative Trait - a characteristic controlled by many genes and the

environment, instead of one gene.
Quantum Speciation - a small group of organisms evolves into a new
species very quickly.

Quantum Yield - measure of how efficiently a plant converts light into

chemical energy.

Quinone - a molecule that shuttles electrons in processes like

photosynthesis.

R.

Recessive – a type of allele that is only expressed in the absence of a

dominant allele in an organism’s genotype.

Recombinant – an organism, cell, or DNA molecule that contains genetic

material from different sources due to genetic recombination.

Reginald Punnett – a British geneticist who developed the Punnett square,

a tool used to predict genetic inheritance.

Replication – The process of copying DNA to ensure genetic information is

passed to new cells.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) – anucleic acid that plays a crucial role in protein
synthesis and gene regulation.

S.

Semiconservative model - DNA replication is semiconservative because

each new DNA has one old strand and one new strand.

Sex chromosomes- Sex chromosomes control whether an organism will be

male or female.

Single strand binding protein - These proteins keep DNA strands from
sticking back together during replication.

Species - Species are groups of similar organisms that can reproduce

together.

Survival of the fittest - Organisms with better traits for their environment
are more likely to survive.

T.
Termination - the end of a biological process, such as transcription or
translation.

Theory - a well-supported explanation of biological phenomena.

Transcription - the process of copying a DNA sequence into an RNA

sequence

Translation - the process of converting a nucleotide sequence (mRNA) into

an amino acid sequence (protein).

Translocation - the movement of molecules or chromosomes within a cell.

U.

Umbilical Cord - a structure that connects a developing fetus to the

placenta that provides nutrients and removing waste.

Uracil - a nitrogenous base found in RNA, replacing thymine in DNA.

Urea Synthesis - a process in the liver where ammonia is converted into

urea for safe excretion in urine.

Urethra - a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the
body, playing a key role in the excretory system.

Uric Acid - a waste product formed from the breakdown of purines that
excreted by the body via urine.

V.

Vaccine - helps protect you to a harmless image of a harmful germ so that it

can learn how to fight the actual thing later without making you sick.

Vacuole - are like tiny storage bubbles inside cells. Plant cells usually have
one big one that helps keep them firm and stores water, food and other stuff.

Vector - a tool that scientists employ to transfer a particular gene into a new
cell, usually a virus or a modified fragment of DNA (like a plasmid).

Vestigial Structure - are like leftover body parts from our ancestors that
don't do much for us now.

Virus - the living cell is like a factory. Once the virus gets inside, it hijacks
the factory's machinery to this mfs start making lots and lots of new virus.
W.

X.

Y.

Yellow Bone Marrow – The fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of
long bones.

Yersinia – A genus of bacteria, including Yersinia pestis, the causative agent

of the plague.

Y-linked Traits – Genetic traits inherited through genes located on the Y-

chromosome.

Yolk – The nutrient-rich part of an egg that provides nourishment to the

developing embryo.
Young Organism – A developing stage in the life cycle of an organism.

Z.

Zona Pellucida - a protective glycoprotein layer surrounding the

mammalian egg cell that is important in processes like fertilization.

Zoogeography - the study of the geographical distribution of animal

species and populations over time.

Zoonosis - adisease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, such

as rabies or Lyme diseases.

Zooplankton - a tiny, floating organisms in aquatic environments that feed

on phytoplankton.

Zygote - is the single cell organism formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg.