Research Methods
An ethical concept that seeks to maximise positive outcomes when taking a particular position or course of action.
What is beneficence?
An organic molecule, typically a protein, that catalyses (speeds up) specific reactions.
What is an enzyme?
A flattened sac-like structure housed inside the chloroplast where the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis occurs.
What is a thylakoid?
A differentiated B lymphocyte that is responsible for the generation and secretion of antibodies during the humoral response.
What is a plasma cell?
A group of widespread fossils which existed for a short period and have a known age. Can be used as a reference to easily determine the age of unknown fossils in the same rock strata.
The factor that is manipulated in an experiment.
What is the independent variable?
The variable portion of an amino acid molecule. It can be one of twenty variations and determines the identity of the amino acid, and the folding of the polypeptide.
What is an R-group?
The coenzyme that is loaded to carry a proton (H+) and electron during the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis, and which becomes an input to the light-independent stage.
What is NADPH?
An infectious disease that is caused by a pathogen that has transferred from an animal to a human.
What is zoonosis?
A dating technique used to determine the precise age of a fossil by measuring the relative amounts of radioisotopes to their products. Also known as radiometric dating.
What is absolute dating?
A reading that varies drastically from other results.
What is an outlier?
The functional 3D shape of a polypeptide chain.
What is tertiary structure?
Plants that minimise photorespiration by separating the initial carbon fixation of the light-dependent stage into the mesophyl cells and the remainder of the Calvin cycle into the bundle sheath cells.
What are C4 plants?
Components of the lymphatic system that are responsible for the maintenance of mature lymphocytes and the activation of the adaptive immune response. Includes lymph nodes and the spleen.
What is secondary lymphoid tissue?
Features present in two or more species that fulfil the same function but do NOT originate from a common ancestor
What are analagous structures?
An approach to bioethics that emphasises the individual goodness of the agent, and promotes acting in accordance with the characteristics of a ‘moral’ person, such as honesty and compassion.
What is a virutes-based approach?
The process whereby a sequence of DNA is used as a template for RNA polymerase to produce a complementary sequence of pre-mRNA.
What is transcription?
A metabolic pathway that occurs in the absence of oxygen. Involves glycolysis, followed by further reactions that convert pyruvate into lactic acid in animals, or ethanol and CO2 in yeasts.
What is anaerobic fermentation?
A molecule released by mast cells when they degranulate, which plays a key role in inflammation.
What are histamines?
The rapid divergent evolution of a species (e.g. following a mass extinction event when competition is low), thereby producing a wide array of new species/forms.
What is adaptive radiation?
When there is a relationship between two variables (without investigating causation).
What is correlation?
A type of bulk transport that moves large substances (e.g. proteins such as enzymes) out of a cell.
What is exocytosis?
An enzyme in the inner mitochondrial membrane that uses the concentration gradient of H+ to synthesise ATP from ADP and Pi.
What is ATP synthase?
Expressed on all nucleated cells in the body. These mark cells as ‘self’ so that the immune system doesn’t attack them.
What are MHC Class I markers?
The superfamily that includes apes and humans.
What is a hominoid?
Errors which cause results to differ by a consistent amount each time, typically due to faulty equipment or calibration, resulting in a less accurate result. Can be reduced by calibrating and maintaining instruments.
What are systematic errors?
A loop formed in mRNA when tryptophan levels are high, which ceases transcription of the trp operon
What is a terminator hairpin?
Biofuels produced from non-edible crops such as agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste. These typically compete less with agricultural land.
What are second-generation biofuels?
An abnormal outgrowth of tissue in plants designed to limit the spread of an invading pathogen.
What is a gall?
Emblems or symbols that represent the spiritual connection (Dreaming) between Aboriginal people and Country. They can take a range of different forms, such as animals, plants, and landscapes.
What is a totem?