Hi, my name is Rami Al Najem, I'm 20 years old. I have been studying Health Science for 1 semester at Montmorency College. This glossary describes some words that can be useful while someone studies biology
autotroph
noun
an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
fr: autotroph
cell
noun
the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic.
fr: Cellule
chromosome
noun
a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
fr: chromosome
cytoplasm
noun
the material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.
fr: Cytoplasme
DNA
noun
deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
fr: ADN
gamete
noun
a mature haploid male or female germ cell which is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote.
fr: Gamète
gene
noun
(in informal use) a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
"proteins coded directly by genes"
(in technical use) a distinct sequence of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome, the order of which determines the order of monomers in a polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule which a cell (or virus) may synthesize.
fr: Gène
glycogen
noun
a substance deposited in bodily tissues as a store of carbohydrates. It is a polysaccharide which forms glucose on hydrolysis.
fr: Glycogène
Golgi Apparatus
noun
The Golgi apparatus is an organelle in eukaryotic organisms that moves molecules from the endoplasmic reticulum to their destination. The organelle also modifies products of the endoplasmic reticulum to their final form. The Golgi apparatus is comprised of a series of flattened sacs that extend from the endoplasmic reticulum.
fr: Appareil de Golgi
homologous
noun
(of chromosomes) pairing at meiosis and having the same structural features and pattern of genes.
Chemistry
fr: Homologue
Lysosomes
noun
an organelle in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells containing degradative enzymes enclosed in a membrane.
fr: Lysosomes
meiosis
noun
a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes and plant spores.
fr: Méiose
mitochondria
noun
an organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur. It has a double membrane, the inner layer being folded inward to form layers (cristae).
fr: mitochondries
mitosis
noun
a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.
fr: Mitose
Nucleic acid
noun
a complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
fr: Acide nucléique
nucleotide
noun
a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA.
fr: nucléotide
omnivore
noun
an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.
fr: Omnivore
vacuole
noun
a space or vesicle within the cytoplasm of a cell, enclosed by a membrane and typically containing fluid.
fr: Vacuole
virus
noun
an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.
fr: Virus
zygote
noun
a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.
