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Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL - Biology

Here you will learn some English words about biology, such as "enzyme", "microbe", "fetus", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Advanced Words Needed for TOEFL
anatomy
anatomy
[noun]

the branch of science that is concerned with the physical structure of humans, animals, or plants

Ex: His research in comparative anatomy helped explain evolutionary relationships among species.
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chromosome

a very small threadlike structure in a living organism that carries the genes and genetic information

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X chromosome

a sex chromosome, two of which exist in female cells and only one in male cells

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Y chromosome

a sex chromosome, which is normally present only in male cells

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enzyme
enzyme
[noun]

a substance that all living organisms produce that brings about a chemical reaction without being altered itself

Ex: The detergent contains enzymes that break down protein stains , such as blood and grass , on clothing .
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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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microbe
microbe
[noun]

a very small living organism that cannot be seen without a microscope and can cause a disease

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to incubate

to retain something such as eggs or bacteria in a favorable condition to help them develop

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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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embryo
embryo
[noun]

an unhatched or unborn offspring in the process of development, especially a human offspring roughly from the second to the eighth week after fertilization

Ex: Ethical debates often arise around the use of human embryos in stem cell research and medical treatments .
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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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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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mutant
mutant
[noun]

a living organism that is different from its kind because of a genetic change

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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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stem cell
stem cell
[noun]

(biology) a basic type of cell in a multicellular organism, which develops into different kinds of cells with different functions

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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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lipid
lipid
[noun]

any of a class of organic substances that do not dissolve in water that include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids

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amino acid

any organic compound that creates the basic structure of proteins

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neuron
neuron
[noun]

a cell that is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body

Ex: Learning and memory depend on the ability of neurons to form new connections .
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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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mitochondrion

an organelle that is abundantly present in most cells and is responsible for energy production

Ex: Mitochondria contain their own DNA, separate from the nuclear DNA, which is essential for their function and replication.
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anaerobic
anaerobic
[Adjective]

not needing free oxygen to function

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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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testosterone

a hormone related to gender that is produced by male body to develop typical male features

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insulin
insulin
[noun]

a hormone that is responsible for controlling the level of glucose in the blood, the lack of which can cause diabetes

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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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RNA
RNA
[noun]

(biochemistry) a chemical substance that carries the information from DNA to control the cellular protein biosynthesis

Ex: Scientists edited the RNA to correct a cellular malfunction .
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receptor
receptor
[noun]

a sense organ or nerve ending that can respond to external stimuli and is able to transmit data to the central nervous system

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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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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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genetic code

the ordering of nucleotides in DNA molecules that carries the genetic information in living cells

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stimulus
stimulus
[noun]

something that triggers a reaction in various areas like psychology or physiology

Ex: Teachers often use interactive and engaging stimuli, like educational games or hands-on activities , to stimulate interest and enhance the learning experience in the classroom .
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estrogen
estrogen
[noun]

a hormone primarily responsible for female reproductive development and regulation

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hybrid
hybrid
[noun]

an animal or plant with parents that belong to different breeds or varieties

Ex: The vineyard owner introduced a new grape hybrid to his collection, which produced a unique flavor profile ideal for winemaking.
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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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