Valdemir, the scribe
A
Ablate
The amount of ice that
a glacier loses through erosive or evaporative processes.
Accretion
The collection of gas
and dust to form larger bodies like stars, planets, and moons.
Adaptation
The act or process of
modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence
under the conditions of its environment.
Aerobe
An organism that lives
in an oxygenated environment.Aerobic
An environment that
contains oxygen.
Anaerobe
An organism that lives
in an environment with no oxygen.
Anaerobic
An environment that
contains no oxygen.
Archaea
A phylogenetic domain
containing cells that lack a membrane-enclosed nucleus and organelles, whose
characteristics include the ability to produce methane and often tolerance to
extreme environments of high salt, heat, and temperature.
ATP (energy for life)
The abbreviation for
adenosine triphosphate (C10H16N5O13P3), which is the
universal energy for cellular metabolism.
B
Bacteria
A phylogenetic domain
containing cells that lack a membrane-enclosed nucleus and organelles, whose
characteristics include a wide variety of physiological and morphological
attributes, including a distinct cell wall structure and nearly ubiquitous
distribution in the environment.
Banded Iron Formations
(BIFs)
Finely layered
sedimentary rocks formed by the precipitation
of metals in relation to microbial activity.
Barcode
A way to identify and
measure the differences or similarities between organisms. Commonly the genome
is used for this.
The Big Bang Theory
The Universe began
about 10-20 billion years ago with a cosmic “explosion” allowing the universe’s
known matter and energy to spring forth following the expansion of the universe
(which is still happening today).
C
Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)
A mineral composed of
calcite and carbon atoms linked to 3 oxygen atoms. It can be precipitated from
water solutions and secreted by organisms to form a skeleton or shell.
Carbon (C)
A key element on
Earth, carbon is used in many life processes that organisms store in their
bodies (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids) and when the
organism dies, most volatile organic materials disperse and all that is left is
carbon (i.e. coal is the result from plants dying and the accumulation of
carbonized films).
Cell wall
A tough, flexible, or
rigid layer that surrounds the cell membrane and provides cells with structural
support and protection.
Common Ancestor
The common descent of
a group of organisms.
Cosmic Rays
Product of energy from
the sun in the form of Nitrogen and other elements.
Critical Free Thought
Process of actively
and skillfully applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating ideas.
Striving to build ideas on the basis of facts and scientific inquiry.
Cyanobacteria
Photosynthesizing
bacteria that produce oxygen, use water as an electron donor, and often form
microbial mats.
D
Darwinian Transition
Marks the time when
cell walls formed and captured molecular components key to the genesis of the 3
domains of life.
Deflate
The removal of debris
(dust to boulders) from glaciers by erosion of wind and water.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic
acid
A macromolecule that
is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic
characteristics in all life forms.
Dysoxic
An environment that
contains little oxygen.
E
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Lines of magnetic
force extending from the South Pole to the North pole that has equal and
opposite charges at either end.
E.coli (Escherichia coli)
A common bacteria
(found in your lower intestine) that has been studied intensely because of its
small genome size and ease of growth.
Element
Chemical material
containing an atom (the smallest unit of an element composed of a nucleus
containing protons and neutrons and electrons surrounding the nucleus).
Ellipsoid
Planets that are
flatter at the poles than the equator.
Embryonic
Characteristics
The shape, size,
color, and other characteristics of an organism at its earliest stages of
development and maturation.
Eukarya
A phylogenetic domain
containing eukaryotic cells or multicellular organisms, which have a
membrane-enclosed nucleus and usually other organelles.
F
Fossil
The remains, traces,
or imprints of once-living organisms preserved in the Earth’s crust.
G
Gene
Molecular unit of
heredity (the passing of traits to offspring) among organisms.
Gene sequences
Are used for
phylogenetic studies (the study of evolutionary relationships among groups of
organisms), and are highly preserved between Bacteria and Archaea.
Genetic Code
The instructions in a
gene that tell the cell how to make a specific protein. It is universal and
optimal.
Genome
The entire genetic
code of an organism (contains information and instructions on how to build
every single part of a living organism).
Glaciers (continental
ice sheets)
A large mass of ice on
land that is extremely slow moving.
H
Helium (He)
One of the most
abundant elements and second lightest in the Universe. Very rare on Earth, it
is very common in the Sun and gas planets, believed to be one of the first
elements produced from the Big Bang.
Horizontal (lateral)
gene transfer
A non-reproductive
method (no cell division) that is the movement of genetic material between
organisms that do not necessarily need to be related.
Human Genome Project
An international
project that mapped and sequenced the entire human genome, completed April
2003.
Hydrogen (H)
One of the most
abundant elements and lightest in the Universe and one of the most abundant
elements on the Earth’s surface (not in the atmosphere) and in the sun,
believed to be one of the first elements produced from the Big Bang.
Hypothesis
A question based on
knowledge obtained while formulating the question that may help explain
observed patterns, behaviors, outcomes.
I
Icebergs (oceanic ice
sheets)
A large piece of ice
that has broken off a glacier (or ice shelf) and is floating freely in open
water.
Igneous
A rock formed by the
solidification of a magma (a mass of melted rock that originates deep in the
crust or upper mantle), before or after it reaches the surface.
Ion
An atom that has
gained or lost electrons and has a net positive or negative electrical charge.
Iron (Fe)
A metal that is one of
the most common elements on Earth especially in the outer and inner core.
J
K
L
Litmus Test
A simple test using
filter paper to determine pH (acidity) by changes in color; red = acidic and
blue = basic (alkaline).
M
Metazoans
Multicellular animals
Meteorite
A piece of rock or
metal (a meteor) that comes from outer space, survives its passage through the
atmosphere, and impacts the surface of the Earth.
Microbe
A small microscopic
organism that can be either Bacteria, Archaea, or Eukarya.
Micron (µm) or Micrometer
10-6 of a meter or 1 millionth of a meter.
Milky Way
A barred spiral galaxy
that contains our Solar System (the sun and 8 planets).
Mineral precipitation
When dissolved
minerals drop out of saturated solution to form crystals (solid form).
Molecular Phylogeny
The relatedness of
organisms through time using their genetic components (DNA and RNA).
Molecular Sequence
The process of
determining the order of DNA molecule terminations.
Monera
A previous biological
classification called a kingdom that contains unicellular microorganisms, which
are now called the Bacteria and Archaea.
Mutation
A change in a DNA
sequence that can be the result of DNA copying mistakes during cell division,
exposure to radiation or chemicals, or infection by viruses.
N
Naked RNA planet
A time in Early Earth
when RNA was not contained within a cell; RNA was free-flowing.
Nebula
Rotating cloud of gas
(hydrogen and helium: main components of our sun) and fine dust (chemically
similar to materials on Earth.
Nomenclature
The act or process of
naming.
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