Biology glossary

seed plant; from the Greek sperm (seed) and phyte (plant)

clade of tuataras

when a polar water molecule surrounds charged or polar molecules thus keeping them dissolved and in solution

band of muscle that controls movement of materials throughout the digestive tract

structure made of silica or calcium carbonate that provides structural support for sponges

thick fiber bundle that connects the brain with peripheral nerves; transmits sensory and motor information; contains neurons that control motor reflexes

nerve projecting between skin or muscle and spinal cord

cells of one pole of the embryo are rotated or misaligned with respect to the cells of the opposite pole

method to measure lung volumes and to diagnose lung diseases

process of removing introns and reconnecting exons in a pre-mRNA

central cavity within the body of some sponges

forms the inner layer of all bones

mutation that takes place in the cells as a result of chemical reactions taking place naturally without exposure to any external agent

reproductive sac that contains spores

haploid cell that can produce a haploid multicellular organism or can fuse with another spore to form a diploid cell