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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Scientifically Speaking

Here you will learn some English words about science, such as "antigen", "clone", "lymph", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE
zoology
zoology
[noun]

a branch of science that deals with animals

Ex: Zoology is a multidisciplinary field that intersects with ecology , genetics , and evolutionary biology .
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botany
botany
[noun]

the scientific study of plants, their structure, genetics, classification, etc.

Ex: The university offers a degree in botany with specializations in various plant sciences .
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synthesis
synthesis
[noun]

the act of producing a substance that exists in living beings

Ex: The synthesis of DNA during cell replication ensures that genetic information is accurately passed on to new cells .
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antigen
antigen
[noun]

any foreign substance in the body that can trigger a response from the immune system

Ex: A positive test result indicates that the antigen is present in the sample .
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cortisol
cortisol
[noun]

a steroid hormone that the body produces and is used in medicine to help cure skin diseases

Ex: The medication contains cortisol to reduce inflammation and swelling .
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clone
clone
[noun]

a cell or a group of cells created through a natural or artificial process from a source that they are genetically identical to

Ex: By using a clone of the immune cells , the researchers aimed to develop a more effective treatment for the disease .
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dominant
dominant
[Adjective]

(of genes) causing a person to inherit a particular physical feature, even if it is only present in one parent's genome

Ex: The dominant gene responsible for dimples appears in many family members.
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fetus
fetus
[noun]

an offspring of a human or animal that is not born yet, particularly a human aged more than eight weeks after conception

Ex: Genetic testing was conducted to check for any abnormalities in the fetus.
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gene pool
gene pool
[noun]

all of the genes that are available within breeding populations of a particular species of animal or plant

Ex: The introduction of new individuals can enrich the gene pool of the population .
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genome
genome
[noun]

the complete set of genetic material of any living thing

Ex: Advances in genome editing technologies , like CRISPR , allow scientists to precisely modify the genetic material of organisms for research and therapeutic purposes .
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incubation

the controlled maintenance of a specific temperature; fostering optimal conditions for the development of organisms, processes, or materials

Ex: The incubation period for the virus was carefully monitored in the study.
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lymph
lymph
[noun]

a colorless liquid consisting of white blood cells that helps to prevent infections from spreading

Ex: The colorless lymph helps to transport immune cells to areas needing defense .
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membrane
membrane
[noun]

a thin sheet of tissue that separates or covers the inner parts of an organism

Ex: The blood-brain barrier is a specialized membrane that protects the brain .
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to mutate
to mutate
[Verb]

to experience genetic changes

Ex: The influenza virus tends to mutate regularly , making it a challenge to predict and prevent .
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neurotransmitter

a chemical substance that transmits messages from a neuron to another one or to a muscle

Ex: Neurotransmitters transmit signals from one neuron to another across synapses .
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symbiosis
symbiosis
[noun]

a close and often long-term interaction between two different species living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both

Ex: The coral reefs showcase a remarkable example of symbiosis, where corals and algae live together , with corals providing shelter and nutrients while algae provide food through photosynthesis .
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specimen
specimen
[noun]

a representative or characteristic sample that is examined or analyzed to gain insights or understanding of a particular group or category

Ex: The specimen showed distinct characteristics that were crucial for the study .
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to secrete

(of a cell, gland, or organ) to produce and release a liquid substance in the body

Ex: Sweat glands secrete perspiration, helping to regulate body temperature.
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propagation

the process of natural multiplication; representing the expansion of a population over time

Ex: The propagation of the virus was tracked through the population over several months .
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pigmentation

the natural coloring of tissues, surfaces, or structures; contributing to the characteristic hues or tones observed in animals, plants, or human beings

Ex: Pigmentation in the coral reef plays a role in attracting fish and other marine life .
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physiology

the field of science that studies the function or interactions among organisms

Ex: Advances in physiology can lead to new medical treatments and therapies .
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to ovulate

(of a female animal or human) to produce an ovum from the ovary

Ex: The female dog ovulates twice a year during her heat cycle .
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nucleus
nucleus
[noun]

(biology) the part of a cell that contains most of the genetic information

Ex: Mutations in genes within the nucleus can lead to genetic disorders and diseases , affecting the normal function of cells and tissues .
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metabolism

the chemical processes through which food is changed into energy for the body to use

Ex: Metabolism slows down with age, leading to changes in energy levels and body composition.
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carbon dating

a method used for measuring how old an organic material is by calculating the amount of carbon they contain

Ex: The team applied carbon dating to the wooden structure to verify its period of construction .
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cybernetics

the study of how communication and control work in living organisms and machines, focusing on information flow, feedback, and system regulation

Ex: Cybernetic principles are employed in artificial intelligence systems to enhance learning and problem-solving capabilities.
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pathology
pathology
[noun]

a branch of medical science primarily focusing on the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury

Ex: The pathologist specializes in forensic pathology, examining evidence from crime scenes to determine the cause of death.
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vivisection

the scientific and experimental operations performed on live animals

Ex: Vivisection was conducted to study the effects of the new drug on living organisms .
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aerodynamics

the study of the behavior of air as it interacts with solid objects, particularly the flow of air around and through objects, and the effects of this interaction on the objects

Ex: The shaping of golf balls considers aerodynamics to optimize their trajectory and distance during a golf swing .
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volatile
volatile
[Adjective]

having a tendency to change rapidly and unpredictably, often characterized by fluctuations or instability

Ex: The experiment showed that the substance had a volatile behavior under heat .
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vacuum
vacuum
[noun]

a space that is utterly empty of all matter

Ex: The vacuum of space is characterized by extremely low pressure and the absence of atmosphere .
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thermal
thermal
[Adjective]

related to heat or temperature, including how heat moves, how materials expand with temperature changes, and the energy stored in heat

Ex: Thermal imaging cameras detect infrared radiation emitted by objects to visualize temperature variations .
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refraction

the bending of the wave's path as it passes from one medium to another; caused by a change in its speed or direction

Ex: The physicist measured the angle of refraction to study material properties.
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particle
particle
[noun]

(physics) any of the smallest units that energy or matter consists of, such as electrons, atoms, molecules, etc.

Ex: Scientists study the movement and interactions of particles to understand the fundamental forces of nature .
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to oscillate

to move back and forth repeatedly between two points or positions

Ex: The stock market is currently oscillating between gains and losses .
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nuclear fission

the process or action of splitting a nucleus into two or more parts resulting in the release of a significant amount of energy

Ex: Nuclear fission is also used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment through techniques such as radiotherapy .
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nuclear fusion

(physics) the reaction in which two nuclei join together and produce energy

Ex: The most promising approach to achieving nuclear fusion on Earth involves heating hydrogen isotopes to extremely high temperatures and confining them in a magnetic field in devices called tokamaks .
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momentum
momentum
[noun]

the strength of a moving object determined by multiplying how heavy it is by how fast it is going

Ex: A heavier object has more momentum if it 's moving at the same speed as a lighter one .
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isotope
isotope
[noun]

each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, leading to variation in atomic mass

Ex: Isotopes play a crucial role in understanding nuclear reactions , radiometric dating , and various applications in science and technology .
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kinetic
kinetic
[Adjective]

relating to the energy associated with motion or movement, emphasizing the dynamic state of objects in action

Ex: Kinetic theory describes the behavior of gases as collections of particles in constant, random motion.
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