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HSC Biology Key Terms

Key terms and ideas for heredity, genetic change, infectious and non-infectious disease and cell function in HSC Biology. Written for study, not the official exam.

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Meiosis
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1
Meiosis
Two divisions of a diploid cell that give four genetically different haploid cells.
2
Crossing over
Exchange of DNA segments between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes in prophase I.
3
Independent assortment
Random orientation of homologous pairs in metaphase I, which gives many chromosome combinations in gametes.
4
Allele
One of the different forms of a gene at the same position on a chromosome.
5
Homozygous versus heterozygous
Homozygous: two identical alleles. Heterozygous: two different alleles for a gene.
6
Test cross
A cross of an individual with a dominant phenotype with a homozygous recessive, to find out its genotype.
7
Carrier
A heterozygous individual who has a recessive allele but does not show the recessive trait.
8
X-linked recessive trait
A trait whose gene is on the X chromosome. It is seen more often in males, who have only one X.
9
Transcription
Making an mRNA copy of a gene from the template strand of DNA, by RNA polymerase.
10
Translation
Ribosomes read mRNA codons and tRNA brings amino acids, which build a polypeptide.
11
Point mutation
A change to a single nucleotide, such as a base substitution.
12
Epigenetic change
A chemical mark, such as DNA methylation, that changes gene expression without changing the base sequence.
13
Natural selection
Individuals with heritable traits that help survival and reproduction leave more offspring, so those alleles become more common.
14
Genetic drift
A chance change in allele frequencies, strongest in small populations.
15
Founder effect
A new population started by a few individuals carries only part of the original gene pool.
16
Transgenic organism
An organism that contains a gene from another species, put in by recombinant DNA technology.
17
Pathogen
An organism or agent that causes infectious disease, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protist, prion or parasite.
18
Vector
An organism, such as a mosquito, that carries a pathogen from one host to another.
19
Innate immune response
Immediate and non-specific defences, such as barriers, inflammation and phagocytes.
20
Plasma cell
A differentiated B cell that secretes large amounts of one specific antibody.
21
Herd immunity
Protection of non-immune people when enough of the population is immune to stop a pathogen spreading.
22
Incidence versus prevalence
Incidence: new cases in a period. Prevalence: all existing cases at a point in time.
23
Negative feedback
A response that reduces the original change, such as insulin lowering blood glucose.
24
Correlation versus causation
Two variables can change together without one causing the other, for example because of a confounding factor.
25
Surface area to volume ratio
For a cube of side L it is 6/L, so smaller cells have a larger ratio, which suits exchange of materials.

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