Cell: The cell is the smallest and
simplest unit of living beings. It is formed by the plasma membrane, the
cytoplasm and the genetic material, and is capable of performing the vital
functions of nutrition, interaction and reproduction. Therefore, it is said to
be the structural and functional unit of living beings.
Prokaryotic cell: A prokaryotic cell is small (1-10
µm), having the genetic material dispersed in the cytoplasm and having no
cellular organelles.
Eukaryotic cell: A eukaryotic cell is of
relatively large (10-100 µm), having the genetic material protected by the cell
nucleus and having numerous cellular organelles.
Plant cell: Eukaryotic cell that is
characterized by having a thick cell wall, chloroplasts in which photosynthesis
is performed and large vacuoles in which different substances are stored.
Animal cell: Eukaryotic cell that is
characterized by not having a thick cell wall, presenting cilia or flagella
that allow it to move and having small vacuoles in which different substances
are stored.
Unicellular organism: Organism formed by a single cell.
Most unicellular beings are prokaryotes, such as bacteria, but there are some
unicellular eukaryotic beings, such as protozoa and unicellular algae.
Multicellular organism: Organism formed by two or more
cells. All multicellular beings are eukaryotes, like animals, plants and most
fungi.
Autotrophic organism: An organism capable of
synthesizing all the nutrients it needs to live from inorganic substances. For
this they perform a process called photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Heterotrophic
organism: An
organism that obtains all the nutrients it needs to live from organic
substances. For this it feeds on other living beings.
Asexual reproduction: Reproductive process for which
only one parent is needed and all their offspring are genetically identical. It
occurs in bacteria, protists, fungi and, in some cases, invertebrate plants and
animals.
Sexual reproduction: Reproductive process for which
two parents are needed and the offspring have characteristics of both due to
the union of the gametes of the parents. It occurs in protists, fungi, plants
and animals.
Vital functions: The set of processes that all
living beings carry out to stay alive. They are nutrition, interaction and
reproduction.
Nutrition: The set of processes by which
living beings obtain the matter and energy they need to live. Depending on
their nutrition, living things can be autotrophic or heterotrophic.
Interaction: The set of processes by which
living beings are able to detect stimuli or changes in the environment and
respond to them.
Reproduction: The set of processes through
which animals can have offspring. Reproduction can be asexual or sexual.
Biodiversity: The set of all living beings that inhabit a certain environment, such as an ecosystem, a region or the Earth.
Taxonomy: It is the branch of Science that classifies living beings according to their degree of kinship.
Taxon (plural, taxa): It is each of the categories used to classify living beings. Those who are part of the same taxon are related to each other. There are seven taxa: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
Species: The set of similar living beings that can reproduce among themselves and produce fertile offspring.
Binomial nomenclature: A set of rules created by Linnaeus that assign a scientific name to each living being. This avoids the variety of common names that can be assigned to each living being according to each language or region.
Scientific name: Name made up of two words that allows each living being to be identified as if it had name and surname. The first word indicates the name of the genus and the second indicates the name of the species.
You can read the Spanish version of this glossary here.
