Group 1: The Science of Life (Science, Genetics & Ecology)#

Theme: Understanding how plants function and fit into the world.

botany /ˈbɒtəni/ noun

1. Botany is the scientific study of plants.

organism /ˈɔːɡənɪzəm/ noun

1. An organism is an animal, plant, or other living thing.

photosynthesis /ˌfəʊtəʊˈsɪnθəsɪs/ noun

1. Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight to make their own food.

respire /rɪˈspaɪə(r)/ verb

1. When a person or animal respires, they breathe.
2. When a plant or cell respires, it takes in oxygen and produces carbon dioxide.

dioxide /daɪˈɒksaɪd/ noun

1. Dioxide is an oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in its molecule.

sunlight /ˈsʌnlaɪt/ noun

1. Sunlight is the light that comes from the sun during the day.

absorb /əbˈzɔːb/ verb

1. If something absorbs a liquid, gas, or other substance, it takes it in or soaks it up.
2. If something absorbs light, heat, or energy, it takes it in.

release /rɪˈliːs/ verb

1. If you release a person or animal, you set them free.
2. If you release a feeling or substance, you allow it to leave or escape.

energy /ˈenədʒi/ noun

1. Energy is the ability and strength to do active physical things.
2. Energy is power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources.

nutrient /ˈnjuːtriənt/ noun

1. A nutrient is a substance that provides nourishment essential for the maintenance of life and for growth.

uptake /ˈʌpteɪk/ noun

1. The uptake of something is the rate or act of accepting or taking it.
2. Uptake is the absorption of a substance by a living organism.

circulation /ˌsɜːkjəˈleɪʃn/ noun

1. Circulation is the movement of blood around the body.
2. Circulation is the passing or spreading of something from one person or place to another.

mechanism /ˈmekənɪzəm/ noun

1. A mechanism is a part of a machine or a set of parts that does a particular job.
2. A mechanism is a process or system that is used to produce a particular result.

enzyme /ˈenzaɪm/ noun

1. An enzyme is a chemical substance that is produced in a living thing and causes a chemical reaction to happen.

catalyst /ˈkætəlɪst/ noun

1. A catalyst is a substance that causes a chemical reaction to happen more quickly.
2. A catalyst is a person or thing that causes a change or event to happen.

genetics /dʒəˈnetɪks/ noun

1. Genetics is the study of how characteristics are passed from parents to children.

gene /dʒiːn/ noun

1. A gene is the part of a cell in a living thing which controls its physical characteristics, growth, and development.

mutation /mjuːˈteɪʃn/ noun

1. A mutation is a change in the genetic structure of an animal or plant that makes it different from others of the same kind.

variation /ˌveəriˈeɪʃn/ noun

1. A variation is a change or slight difference in something.
2. Variation is a difference between individuals of the same species.

diversity /daɪˈvɜːsəti/ noun

1. Diversity is the state of being diverse; variety.
2. Diversity is the range of different things.

evolve /iˈvɒlv/ verb

1. If something evolves, it develops gradually.
2. If an animal or plant evolves, it changes gradually over a long period of time.

reproduce /ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/ verb

1. If you reproduce something, you make a copy of it.
2. When animals or plants reproduce, they produce young.

classify /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ verb

1. To classify things means to divide them into groups or types.

hybridisation /ˌhaɪbrɪdaɪˈzeɪʃn/ noun

1. Hybridisation is the process of producing a plant or animal from two different types of plant or animal.

ecology /iˈkɒlədʒi/ noun

1. Ecology is the study of the relationships between plants, animals, people, and their environment.

ecosystem /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ noun

1. An ecosystem is all the plants and animals that live in a particular area together with the complex relationship that exists between them and their environment.

environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ noun

1. The environment is the natural world, including the land, water, air, plants, and animals.
2. Your environment consists of the surroundings or conditions in which you live or work.

surroundings /səˈraʊndɪŋz/ noun

1. Your surroundings are the place where you are and the things that are in it.

eco-friendly /ˌiːkəʊ ˈfrendli/ adjective

1. Eco-friendly products or activities are not harmful to the environment.

vegetation /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃn/ noun

1. Vegetation is plants in general, or plants that are found in a particular area.

herb /hɜːb/ noun

1. A herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds, or flowers are used for flavouring food, in medicine, or in perfumes.

perennial /pəˈreniəl/ adjective noun

1. A perennial plant lives for more than two years.
2. You use perennial to describe situations or problems that last for a long time.