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Glossary of terms used on this site

Glossary of biology.

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Glossaries

Term Main definition
K-selected species
Glossaries - Biology glossary

species suited to stable environments that produce a few, relatively large offspring and provide parental care

karyogamy
Glossaries - Biology glossary

fusion of nuclei

karyogram
Glossaries - Biology glossary

a karyotype's photographic image

kidney
Glossaries - Biology glossary

organ that performs excretory and osmoregulatory functions

kin selection
Glossaries - Biology glossary

sacrificing one’s own life so that one’s genes will be passed on to future generations by relatives

kinase
Glossaries - Biology glossary

enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to another molecule

kinesis
Glossaries - Biology glossary

undirected movement of an organism in response to a stimulus

kinesthesia
Glossaries - Biology glossary

sense of body movement

kinetic energy
Glossaries - Biology glossary

energy type that takes place with objects or particles in motion

kinetoplast
Glossaries - Biology glossary

mass of DNA carried within the single, oversized mitochondrion, characteristic of kinetoplastids (phylum: Euglenozoa)

kingdom
Glossaries - Biology glossary

domain division in the taxonomic classification system

Kozak’s rules
Glossaries - Biology glossary

determines the correct initiation AUG in a eukaryotic mRNA; the following consensus sequence must appear around the AUG: 5’-GCC(purine)CCAUGG-3’; the bolded bases are most important

Krebs cycle
Glossaries - Biology glossary

(also citric acid cycle) alternate name for the citric acid cycle, named after Hans Krebs, who first identified the steps in the pathway in the 1930s in pigeon flight muscles; see citric acid cycle