TAXONOMY: A branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their shared characteristics.
TELOPHASE: The fourth (and last) phase of mitosis, where two nuclei form inside the cells.
THEORY: A scientific explanation that has been supported by consistent data from many experiments.
THEORY OF EVOLUTION: An explanation for how living things have changed over time through natural selection. There are four key components to this theory:
1. Variation
2. Overproduction
3. Selection
4. Time
1. Variation
2. Overproduction
3. Selection
4. Time
TISSUE: Groups of cells that have the same function. Tissues make up larger structures called organs.
TOXIN: Poison produced by a bacterium
TRAIT: Physical features of an organism.
TRANSCRIPTION: The process of coping DNA into mRNA. This allows DNA's instructions to be moved out of the nucleus.
TRANSFER RNA (tRNA): A special form of RNA that transfers (carries) the building blocks of proteins (amino acids) to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
TRANSGENIC ORGANISM: An organism that contains recombinant DNA from a different organism.
TRANSITION METALS: Located in the center of the periodic table. Medium / low reactivity. Excellent conductors.
TRANSLATION: The process of turning the message on mRNA into a protein with the help of tRNA.
TRANSMISSION: Refers to the method by which an infectious disease is passed from person to person. Examples include through the air, through bodily fluids, fecal-oral, etc.
TRANSPIRATION: Water evaporation through plants
TRANSPORT PROTEIN: A protein that spans the width of the cell membrane that selectively allows certain substances that are not permeable to the membrane to pass.
TRISOMY 21 (DOWN'S SYNDROME): A genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair.
tRNA: See transfer RNA.
TROPHIC LEVEL: Organisms that represent a feeding step in the movement of energy and materials through an ecosystem.
TURBIDITY: A measure of the relative clarity (transparency; clearness) of a liquid.