Biology Glossary
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astrobiologist. A person who studies life on Earth and the possibilities for life in the universe.
astrobiology. The study of life in the universe.
atmosphere. The air. The blanket of gases that surrounds some planets and moons.
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bacterium (pl. bacteria). A form of life that is usually one cell and can be seen only with a microscope. There are many different kinds of bacteria and they are the oldest type of life on Earth.
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carbon dioxide. A colorless gas that can absorb heat in the atmosphere. Plants use carbon dioxide to make their food and animals exhale it when they breathe.
cell membrane. A thin layer that surrounds a cell.
centrifuge. A machine that spins things around in circles.
chemosynthetic microbes. Organisms that use chemicals for an energy source
crust. The outermost layer of a planet with a solid surface.
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energy. What living things use to live, grow, and do work.
extreme environments. Places that have very hot or very cold temperatures, are very salty, or have a high acid concentration. Extreme environments are places such as a volcanoes, deep-sea mid-ocean volcanic vents, or cold arctic areas.
erupt. To release something that is confined.
extremophile. An organism that lives in an extreme environment.
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fieldwork. Observations and work done in an actual work environment to gain real-life experience and knowledge.
fungus (pl fungi). A group of living things that absorb food from their environment and aid in the decomposition of dead things. Examples of fungi are mushrooms, yeast, and molds.
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gas. A state of matter that has no definite shape or volume. In a gas, the molecules are so loose, they can spread apart or can squeeze together, depending on the container they are in.
gravity. A force of attraction that exists between objects. The greater the mass and diameter of an object, the greater its gravitational pull.
greenhouse effect. Some gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, absorb heat energy and hold it in the atmosphere raising the surface temperature of a planet.
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hydrothermal vent. A volcano on the bottom of the ocean where hot gases and/or magma erupt.
hyperthermophile. Organisms that live in very hot places.
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ice core. A cylinder-shaped piece of ice, usually cut by a drill.
ice sheet. A thick, permanent layer of ice that covers a very large area, like Antarctica.
insulate. To protect something from heat, sound, or electricity.
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magma. Molten rock found in the upper part of the mantle and crust.
mantle. The part of a planet between the crust and the core.
microbe. A living thing that is so small, it can be seen only with a microscope. Bacteria, viruses, and algae are examples of microbes.
microorganism. A life-form that can only be seen with a microscope.
microscope. An instrument that uses lenses to make small objects appear large.
mineral. A naturally-occurring solid that has a well-organized structure. Gold, quartz, and table salt are all minerals.
mucus. A slippery liquid that is produced by organisms to lubricate or protect.
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nematode. A worm that has an unsegmented, rounded body.
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organism. A living thing.
oxygen. A colorless, odorless gas that is released by plants into the air, is essential to animals for breathing, and is highly flammable when it reacts with other substances.
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Petri dish. A shallow, circular container with a removable cover, used to grow bacteria or other microorganisms.
planet. A body that orbits a star and does not give off its own light. A planet is generally much smaller than a star and can be made of solid, liquid, and/or gas.
plate. A large, rigid segment of Earth’s lithosphere that moves in relation to other plates over the mantle.
plate tectonics. A scientific theory that states the Earth’s surface is broken into sections, called plates, that move and interact with one another.
pore spaces. A very small opening where liquids and/or gases can collect.
pressure. The amount of force pushing on an object caused by the molecules surrounding it.
producer. Living things that can make their own food from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
psycrophillic microbes. Organisms that live in extremely cold temperatures.
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radiation. The transfer of energy by waves. Humans and other life forms can become very ill or even die from exposure to too much of certain types of radiation.
reproduce. To produce children or offspring.
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secrete. To create and release a substance.
spreading ridge. Underwater mountain chains caused by volcanoes.
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temperature. The measurement of how hot or cold something is.
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