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Mitosis: Somatic cell division in which a single cell divides to produce two identical
daughter cells.
Meiosis: Cell division that occurs in the testes and ovaries that leads to the formation
of sperm and ova (gametes).
Natural Selection: Differential reproductive success over multiple generations.
Phenotype: An observable or measurable feature of an organism. Phenotypes can
be anatomical, biochemical, or behavioral.
Population: An interbreeding group of organisms.
Proteins: Complex molecules formed from chains of amino acids or from a complex
of polypeptides. They function as structural molecules, transport molecules,
antibodies, enzymes, and hormones.
Recessive: In a diploid organism, refers to an allele that must be present in two
copies (homozygous) in order to be expressed.
Ribonucleic acid (RNA): Single-stranded nucleic acid that performs critical functions
during protein synthesis and comes in three primary forms: messenger RNA, transfer
RNA, and ribosomal RNA.
Scientific method: Standard scientific research procedure in which a hypothesis is
stated, data are collected to test it, and the hypothesis is either supported or refuted.
Taxon: A group of organisms assigned to a particular category.
Taxonomy: The science of biological classification.