Define 'catalyst' in the context of chemical reactions.
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change
Define 'homologous chromosomes'.
A pair of chromosomes, one from each parent, that have the same gene sequences, size, and centromere location
Define 'glycolysis'.
The breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvic acid
Define 'allele'.
One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome
Define 'bioinformatics'.
The science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data such as genetic codes
Define 'biome'.
A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra
Define 'diploid'.
A cell or nucleus containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent
Define 'hydrophobic'.
Tending to repel or fail to mix with water
Define 'chiral molecule'.
A molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image
Define 'dihybrid cross'.
A cross between two different lines (varieties, strains) that differ in two observed traits
Define 'monohybrid cross'.
A mating between two individuals with different alleles at one genetic locus of interest
Define 'genotype'.
The genetic constitution of an individual organism
Define 'isomer'.
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas
Define 'mitosis'.
A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus
Define 'haploid'.
A cell or nucleus having a single set of unpaired chromosomes
Define 'autotroph'.
An organism that can produce its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy
Define 'allele frequency'.
The relative frequency of an allele at a particular locus in a population, expressed as a fraction or percentage
Define 'entropy'.
A measure of the disorder or randomness in a system
Define 'mutation'.
The change in the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations
Define 'diffusion'.
The net movement of molecules or atoms from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration
Define 'allosteric site' in the context of enzyme activity.
A site on an enzyme other than the active site, where a molecule can bind and affect the enzyme's activity
Define 'kinetic energy'.
The energy that an object possesses due to its motion
Define 'equilibrium' in the context of chemical reactions.
A state in which the forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate, and the concentrations of reactants and products remain constant
Define 'lysosome'.
An organelle in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells containing degradative enzymes enclosed in a membrane
Define 'electrophoresis'.
A method used in molecular biology to separate DNA, RNA, or protein molecules by their size, using an electric field applied to a gel matrix