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Biology Dictionary for GCSE Biology and A Level Biology
Vaccine: A preventative treatment of prepared microorganisms by means of either killed (dead) microorganisms, living (i.e. weakened / attenuated) microorganisms. or inactivated bacterial toxins. Vaccines are administered to induce the immune response and provide protection against a pathogen or a toxin.
Vein: Blood vessel which returns blood to the heart. Adapted to minimise the resistance to blood flow despite low pressure. Has; thin walls, large lumen & valves. Relies heavily on action of surrounding skeletal muscles.
Ventricle: Lower chamber of heart, contracts to force blood into aorta or pulmonary artery.
Ventricular Systole: Contraction of the ventricle.
Vessel element: one of the different types of cell that makes up xylem tissue.
Virion: Complete virus particle, the simplest consists of just a protein capsid surrounding a single nucleic acid molecule (either DNA or RNA).
Virology: The branch of microbiology that is concerned with the study (structure, function, classification, epidemiology etc.) of viruses and viral diseases.
Virulence: The level of pathogenicity as indicated by fatality rates (cases) and/or the ability to invade host tissues and cause disease. So, in simple terms: Virulence is how pathogenic an organism is.
Virus: A simple acellular infectious agent. An obligate intracellular parasite”. A complete virus particle is called a virion consisting of a protein coat and a nucleic acid genome. Viruses lack independent metabolism and replication only takes place within living host cells.
As I write the biology dictionary and make the videos to help you learn the definitions by listening in addition to reading them, you'll get the added benefit of hearing and learning the correct pronunciation of biological terminology - but there's more! I'm also making some interactive revision flashcards too! So you can revisit the key words when revising and really embed those a level biology definitions in your head! - The flashcards will be like this (See image below and click to download).
A-Level Biology is a whole lot easier when you know the definitions of commonly used words. This biology dictionary is here to help you learn those A level biology definitions. Remember, a good command of biological terminology (at GCSE but especially at A level) can mean the difference between a poor grade and an excellent one! Since of course you get marks awarded for using the correct biological definitions in the right context when answering exam questions and writing up lab work, coursework and assignments.
The biology dictionary is mainly aimed at a level biology students since at a level, the amount of new technical language expect is quite a lot!
Make learning biology definitions a regular part of your studies and keep checking in as more keywords and gcse biology definitions and a level biology definitions are added.
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*Note this A-Level biology Dictionary / Glossary of key terms is not comprehensive and will be updated and added to regularly, so keep checking in and make learning and revising a level biology definitions a consistent part of your biology studies
