Parthenogenesis in Animals
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction where an offspring is produced by a female without the genetic contribution of a male.
Biology and Life Sciences
57 glossary terms
Biology and life sciences cover everything from the molecular machinery inside a single cell to the evolutionary forces that shape whole ecosystems. The terms in this section span genetics, anatomy, microbiology, ecology, and the frontier where biology meets chemistry and computation. Some are classroom staples like the double helix or photosynthesis. Others capture ideas you may never have encountered, from horizontal gene transfer to zygotic gene activation. Together they form the vocabulary scientists use to describe how life works, how it began, and how it continues to surprise us.
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Oxidative phosphorylation is a critical biochemical process in cellular respiration, where energy from the oxidation of nutrients is harnessed to synthesize ATP, the primary energy currency in cells.
Neanderthal Genome Sequencing
Neanderthal genome sequencing uncovers the genetic blueprint of Neanderthals, providing profound insights into human ancestry, evolutionary biology, and the genetic legacy shared with modern humans.
Natural Selection Mechanisms
Natural selection mechanisms are fundamental processes in evolutionary biology that determine how certain traits become prevalent or diminish in a population based on their impact on the survival and reproductive success of individuals.
Microbiome Transplantation
Microbiome transplantation, a burgeoning field of medical science, focuses on transferring beneficial microorganisms to restore gut health and treat various gastrointestinal disorders.
Mendelian Inheritance Laws
Mendelian Inheritance Laws encapsulate the foundational principles established by Gregor Mendel that describe how genetic traits are passed from parents to offspring, including the laws of Segregation, Independent Assortment, and Dominance.
Keystone Species: The Organisms That Hold Ecosystems Together
A keystone species is an organism whose effect on its ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its abundance, such that removing it triggers significant changes in community structure and biodiversity.