| absorption spectrum/əbˈsɔːpʃn ˈspektrəm/ |
The pattern of wavelengths absorbed by a substance, often seen as missing bands or lines in transmitted light. |
| action spectrum/ˈækʃn ˈspektrəm/ |
A graph showing how the effectiveness of a process varies with the wavelength of light. |
| active/ˈæktɪv/ |
Describing immunity produced by a person's own immune response, as after infection or vaccination. |
| allele frequency/əˈliːl ˈfriːkwənsi/ |
How common a particular allele is among all copies of that gene in a population. |
| allopatric/ˌæləˈpætrɪk/ |
Describing speciation in populations separated geographically, which reduces or prevents gene flow. |
| antibodies/ˈæntɪbɒdiz/ |
Proteins made by immune cells that bind to specific antigens. |
| antigens/ˈæntɪdʒenz/ |
A molecule or molecular feature recognised by the immune system that can trigger a specific immune response. |
| B memory cells |
Long-lived B lymphocytes formed after an immune response that enable a faster response to the same antigen. |
| bactericidal |
Able to kill bacteria. |
| Bacteriostatic |
Able to inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction without necessarily killing the cells. |
| capsid/ˈkæpsɪd/ |
The protein coat surrounding a virus's genetic material. |
| Cellular |
T helper cells coordinate, T killer cells T destroy infected cells, T memory cells persist. |
| climax community/ˈklaɪmæks kəˈmjuːnɪti/ |
In a classical succession model, a relatively stable mature community expected under the prevailing conditions; disturbance can alter or replace it. |
| community/kəˈmjuːnɪti/ |
All the populations of different species living and interacting in an area. |
| death |
The phase of a microbial culture in which cells die faster than new cells are produced, so the viable population declines. |
| dendrochronology |
The study of tree-ring patterns to date wood and infer past environmental conditions. |
| dilution plating |
Diluting a microbial sample and culturing measured volumes on agar to estimate viable cell concentration from colony counts. |
| directional selection/daɪˈrekʃənl sɪˈlekʃn/ |
Selection favouring one extreme of a trait, shifting the population in that direction. |
| ecosystem/ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ |
A community of organisms interacting with each other and with their physical environment. |
| enhanced greenhouse effect |
Additional warming caused by increased greenhouse-gas concentrations strengthening the atmosphere's retention of outgoing infrared radiation. |
| Gel electrophoresis/dʒel ɪˌlektrəʊfɔːˈriːsɪs/ |
A technique that separates charged molecules through a gel using an electric field. |
| global warming potential |
A measure comparing the warming effect of an emitted greenhouse gas with that of carbon dioxide over a specified time horizon. |
| Gross primary productivity |
The total rate at which producers capture energy or fix carbon before their respiratory losses are subtracted. |
| habitat/ˈhæbɪtæt/ |
The place where an organism lives. |
| herd immunity/hɜːd ɪˈmjuːnɪti/ |
Indirect protection arising when population immunity reduces transmission and makes infection of susceptible individuals less likely. |
| HIV/ˌeɪtʃ aɪ ˈviː/ |
Human immunodeficiency virus: a virus that attacks immune cells, particularly helper T cells, and can cause AIDS. |
| Humoral |
B effector cells → plasma cells → antibodies. |
| lag |
The phase after microorganisms enter a new culture medium when they adapt before rapid population growth. |
| light-dependent reactions |
Photosynthetic reactions that use light energy to form ATP and reduced NADP, with oxygen released from water. |
| light-independent reactions |
Carbon-fixation reactions of photosynthesis that use ATP and reduced NADP to produce organic molecules; they do not directly absorb light. |
| Limiting factors/ˈlɪmɪtɪŋ ˈfæktəz/ |
A factor whose availability restricts the rate or extent of a process. |
| log |
The exponential phase of microbial growth, when cells divide at an approximately constant rate under suitable conditions. |
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis |
The bacterium that causes tuberculosis. |
| net primary productivity |
The rate of energy storage or biomass production by producers after subtracting their respiratory losses from gross primary productivity. |