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Biology & Genetics

Living organisms, cellular processes, evolution, heredity, and genetic variation.

Some words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.

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A2 (4) Pro

B1 (17) Pro

cell B1
/sɛl/ The smallest basic unit that makes up all living things. M S
virus B1
/ˈvaɪ.ɹəs/ A tiny living agent that causes disease by spreading inside the cells of a living host. M S
gene B1
/d͡ʒiːn/ A part of a cell that carries information passed from parents to children and controls traits like eye colour. M S
tissue B1
/ˈtɪʃ.(j)u/ A piece of soft, thin paper used for wiping your nose or face. M S
organ B1
/ˈɔɹɡən/ A part of the body that has a particular function, such as the heart or lungs. M S
genetic B1
/d͡ʒəˈnɛt.ɪk/ Relating to genes or to the genes you inherit from your parents. M S
selection B1
/səˈlɛkʃən/ a range of things to choose from M S
biology B1
/baɪˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ The science that studies living things such as plants and animals. M S
extinction B1
/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/ The situation in which a species or group no longer exists. M S
habitat B1
/ˈhæb.ɪ.tæt/ The natural place where a plant or animal lives. M S
organism B1
/ɔʳˈɡan.ɪzəm/ A single living thing, such as an animal, plant, or microbe. M S
genetics B1
/dʒəˈnɛtɪks/ The branch of biology that studies how characteristics are passed from parents to children. M S
nucleus B1
/ˈnuː.kli.əs/ The central part of an atom, made of protons and neutrons. M S
biologist B1
/baɪˈɑː.lə.dʒɪst/ a scientist who studies living organisms and the processes of life M S
ecosystem B1
/ˈikoʊˌsɪstəm/ All the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and their environment. M S
ecological B1
/ˌiːkəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkl̩/ Relating to the relationships between living things and their environment. M S
ecology B1
/ɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ The study of the relationships between living things and their environment. M S

B2 (17) Pro

DNA B2
/ˌdiˌɛnˈeɪ/ The substance in living cells that carries genetic information and passes on characteristics. M S
species B2
/ˈspiːʃiːz/ A group of living things that are similar and can breed with one another. M S
evolution B2
/ˌɛvəˈluʃ(ə)n/ The gradual process by which something changes and develops over time. M S
biological B2
/ˌbaɪ.əˈlɑ.d͡ʒɪ.kəl/ Connected with biology or with living things. M S
bacteria B2
/bækˈtɪɹ.i.ə/ Tiny living things, too small to see, that exist almost everywhere and can cause disease or help digestion. M S
immune B2
/ɪˈmjuːn/ Protected against a disease, so you cannot catch it. M S
protein B2
/ˈpɹoʊ.tiːn/ A nutrient found in foods such as meat, eggs, and beans that the body needs to grow and stay healthy. M S
inherit B2
/ɪnˈhɛɹɪt/ To receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die. M S
cellular B2
/ˈsɛl.ju.lɚ/ characterized by or divided into or containing cells or compartments (the smallest organizational or structural unit of an organism or organization) M S
membrane B2
/ˈmɛm.bɹeɪn/ a thin pliable sheet of material M S
enzyme B2
/ˈɛn.zaɪm/ a protein or RNA molecule that catalyzes a biochemical reaction without being consumed by it M S
respiration B2
/ɹɛspɪˈɹeɪʃən/ The process of breathing in and out. M S
classification B2
/ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ The act of arranging things into groups based on shared qualities. M S
botany B2
/ˈbɑ.tə.ni/ The scientific study of plants. M S
microbe B2
/ˈmaɪkɹoʊb/ A tiny living thing too small to see without a microscope, such as a bacterium that can cause disease. M S
biotechnology B2
/ˌbaɪoʊˌtɛkˈnɑːlədʒi/ The use of living things, such as cells or bacteria, to make medicines, foods, and other useful products. M S
photosynthesis B2
/ˌfoʊ.toʊˈsɪn.θə.sɪs/ the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use light energy to make energy-rich chemical compounds M S

C1 (17) Pro

sperm C1
/spɜɹm/ a male reproductive cell that can fertilize an egg cell M S
inheritance C1
/ɪnˈhɛɹɪtəns/ Money or property received from someone who has died. M S
fossil C1
/ˈfɑsl̩/ the preserved remains or shape of a plant or animal that lived long ago M S
parasite C1
/ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/ An animal or plant that lives on or inside another and feeds off it. M S
dominant C1
/ˈdɑmənənt/ Most powerful, important, or noticeable. M S
fungus C1
/fʊŋ.ɡəs/ Any member of the kingdom Fungi; a eukaryotic organism typically having chitin cell walls but no chlorophyll or plastids. Fungi may be unicellular or multicellular. M S
hereditary C1
/həˈɹɛdɪˌtɛɹi/ Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death. M S
reproduction C1
/ˌɹiːpɹəˈdʌkʃən/ The biological process by which living things produce offspring. M S
adaptation C1
/ˌæd.æpˈteɪ.ʃən/ The process of changing to fit a new situation or environment. M S
embryo C1
/ˈɛmbɹi.oʊ/ a plant, animal, or human in the earliest stages of development M S
metabolism C1
/məˈtæb.əˌlɪz.əm/ the set of chemical processes by which a living organism converts substances into energy and materials needed for life, growth, and repair M S
genome C1
/ˈd͡ʒiː.noʊm/ The complete set of genetic information in an organism. M S
chromosome C1
/ˈkɹoʊməˌsoʊm/ a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order M S
heredity C1
/həˈɹɛdəti/ Hereditary transmission of the physical and genetic qualities of parents to their offspring; the biological law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics in their descendants. M S
recessive C1
/ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/ Describing a gene whose effect only appears when both inherited copies carry it; the opposite of dominant. M S
invertebrate C1
/ɪnˈvɝː.tə.brət/ an animal without a backbone, such as an insect, mollusk, or worm M S
genotype C1
/ˈd͡ʒɛnəˌtaɪp/ the genetic constitution of an organism, especially the combination of gene variants it has for a particular characteristic M S

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C2+ (8) Pro

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