Glossary of terms used on this site

sense organ that runs the length of a fish’s body; used to detect vibration in the water

meristematic tissue that enables a plant to increase in thickness or girth

rotation away from the midline of the body

in a heterozygote, one trait will conceal the presence of another trait for the same characteristic

genes do not influence each other with regard to sorting of alleles into gametes; every possible combination of alleles is equally likely to occur

chemical law stating that the rate of a reaction is proportional to the concentration of the reacting substances

paired unit factors (i.e., genes) segregate equally into gametes such that offspring have an equal likelihood of inheriting any combination of factors

method of propagating plants by bending a stem under the soil

strand that is synthesized continuously in the 5'-3' direction, which is synthesized in the direction of the replication fork

behavior that responds to changes in the environment

transparent, convex structure behind the cornea that helps focus light waves on the retina

opening on the surface of mature woody stems that facilitates gas exchange

modern lizards, snakes, and tuataras

hormone produced by adipose tissue that promotes feelings of satiety and reduces hunger

close association of a fungus with a photosynthetic alga or bacterium that benefits both partners