Growth, Development and Reproduction of Organisms - Introductory

If learning biology is in your DNA, you'll want to review these words related to the growth, development, and reproduction of organisms. This list covers genes and cell division, life cycles of organisms, and developmental stages of different species. Practice this list and watch your fledgling vocabulary grow!
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. adult
    any mature animal
  2. behavior
    the aggregate of the responses made by an organism
  3. cell division
    the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells
  4. cloning
    a general term for the research activity that creates a copy of some biological entity (a gene or organism or cell)
  5. dependent
    relying on or requiring a person or thing for support
  6. development
    a process in which something passes to a different stage
  7. DNA
    material that carries genetic information in a cell
  8. egg
    animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
  9. embryo
    an animal organism in the early stages of growth
  10. fledgling
    young bird that has just become capable of flying
  11. flower
    reproductive organ of plants especially if showy or colorful
  12. gene
    part of DNA controlling physical characteristics and growth
  13. genetic
    relating to the study of heredity and variation in organisms
  14. growth
    changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
  15. independent
    free from external control and constraint
  16. larva
    immature form of an animal between the egg and adult stages
  17. life cycle
    a series of stages through which an organism passes
  18. metamorphosis
    the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult
  19. mutation
    any event that changes genetic structure
  20. nestling
    a young bird not yet fledged
  21. nymph
    a larva of an insect with incomplete metamorphosis
  22. offspring
    any immature animal
  23. organism
    a living thing that can act or function independently
  24. pollen
    fine spores produced by flowers to fertilize other flowers
  25. pollination
    transfer of the fine spores that contain male gametes
  26. pupa
    an insect in an intermediate, inactive stage of development
  27. reproduction
    the process of generating offspring
  28. seed
    small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow
  29. seedling
    young plant or tree grown from a seed
  30. shoot
    a new branch
  31. specialization
    the structural adaptation of some body part for a function
  32. species
    taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
  33. survival
    the state of remaining alive
Created on Fri Jan 27 20:53:18 EST 2017 (updated Thu Apr 06 09:47:15 EDT 2017)

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