Biology glossary

change in an organism’s activities in response to a stimulus

study of the biology and evolution of behavior

type of reproductive isolation that occurs when a specific behavior or lack of one prevents reproduction from taking place

(also, benthic zone) part of the ocean that extends along the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the deepest parts of the ocean floor

endocrine cell of the pancreatic islets that produces the hormone insulin

secondary structure found in proteins in which “pleats” are formed by hydrogen bonding between atoms on the backbone of the polypeptide chain.

system in the blood that absorbs carbon dioxide and regulates pH levels

(also, mitral valve; left atrioventricular valve) one-way membranous flap between the atrium and the ventricle in the left side of the heart

type of symmetry in which there is only one plane of symmetry, so the left and right halves of an animal are mirror images

digestive juice produced by the liver; important for digestion of lipids

system of two-part scientific names for an organism, which includes genus and species names

study of the chemistry of biological organisms

variety of a biological system, typically conceived as the number of species, but also applying to genes, biochemistry, and ecosystems

concept originated by Norman Myers to describe a geographical region with a large number of endemic species and a large percentage of degraded habitat