accrete to grow or enlarge by gradual buildup

acid substance that in water solution tastes sour; reacts with base to form a salt

aerobic living in the presence of oxygen

algae nonvascular aquatic ancestors of plants, often resembling plant forms

amino acids organic compound constituents of proteins, composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen and sometimes sulfur

amphibian vertebrates able to exploit both aquatic and terrestrial environments (from the Greek amphibios "living a double life")

anaerobic living in the absence oxygen

anastomose to connect or join together (as do streams, or leaf veins, etc.)

animal multicellular eukaryote organism that develops from an embryonic blastula

anti-particle a fundamental particle having negative mass and opposite charge to the particle

apoptosis a mechanism that allows cells to self-destruct when stimulated by the appropriate trigger; "programmed cell death"

archaea an early prokaryotic microbe, distinct from bacteria, that first appeared nearly 4 billion years ago

Archean the first three billion years plus of life's history up to the Paleozoic

arthropod animals, including lobsters, crabs, spiders, and insects, with exoskeleton and segmented body to which internal muscles are attached

ATP adenosine triphosphate, the metabolic "energy currency" of all cells

asteroid any of the small celestial bodies found generally between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

autopoiesis self-perpetuation through metabolization, involving consumption of energy and discard of waste (from Greek self [auto] and making [poiein, as in "poetry"]), active maintenance against natural degradation

autotroph any organism that obtains carbon directly from carbon dioxide (C02)

bacterium (plural: bacteria) unicellular microscopic prokaryote, also called moneran

banded iron formation (BIF) old sedimentary rock comprising alternating layers of more or less oxidized iron oxides

base substance that in water solution tastes bitter, and is slippery to the touch; reacts with acid to form a salt

benthic occurring in the depths of the ocean

BIF see banded iron formation

Big Bang inferred event of explosive emergence of the known universe from a state of extremely high energy and temperature

billion one thousand million

biology science of living organisms

biomineralization the concentration by an organism of a mineral compound

biosphere living beings and their environment

biota the flora and fauna of a region

biped two-footed animal

blastula hollow sphere of cells produced during the development of an embryo by repeated cleavage of a fertilized egg

bluegreen popular name given, due to their color, to photosynthesizing cyanobacteria

boson a particle (as a photon or meson) whose spin is either zero or an integral number

breathers fermentors that live by partially breaking down ready-made food molecules and emitting product gases

bubbler popular name given to fermenting bacteria because of their gas emission

Burgess Shale Western Canadian site of Cambrian fossils

cartilage translucent, plastic like component of the skeletons of certain primitive vertebrates and mammalian embryos

centromere cell organelle that holds pairs of chromosomes together during reproductive phase

cetacean collective name for several species of aquatic mammals including whales, porpoises, and dolphins

chemistry a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and with their transformation

chemoautotroph life-form living off chemical oxidation reactions and carbon dioxide

chemoheterotreph life-form living off chemical oxidation reactions and complex compounds

chert smooth form of black quartz

chimera an illusion or fabrication of the mind

chlorophyll green chemical compound participating in photosynthesis

chloroplast cell organelles descended from cyanobacteria, active in photosynthesis

chordate a member of the phylum Chordata

Chordata phylum (of which vertebrates are a subphylum) of animals containing, at some time in their life cycles, a notochord stiffening rod

chromosome eukroytic chromosomes are "packaged" versions of gene-carrying DNA intricately folded around proteins, along with some RNA; prokaroyotic chromosomes consist entirely of DNA

cilia eyelash-like; waving or rotating "hairs" that move protists and plant sperm and perform diverse other functions

clone genetically identical replica

codon a unique sequence of three of the four bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine in a nucleic acid chain that encodes for specific amino acid

combustion burning

comet small celestial object orbiting the Sun that develops diffuse gaseous envelopes and often long luminous tales when near the Sun

coprolite fossilized dung

cosmos in astronomy, the entire physical universe, consisting of all objects and phenomena observed or postulated

Cro-Magnon anatomically modern Home Sapiens living during the period 35, 000 to 10,000 years ago

crust the outermost solid part of Earth

cryptocrust the invisible crust of bacteria blanketing Earth

cyanobacterium a prokaryotic photosynthesizing life-form

cyst a vesting stage formed by some bacteria and protozoa wherein entire cell is surrounded by a protective layer

deep sea vent ocean floor fissure through which magma and/or chemically rich hot water pours

deep-time time in the biological and geological distant past(analogous to astronomical "deep-space")

diatom any of about 16,000 species of eukaryotic protist forming elaborate shells

diploid in eukaryotes, an organism with two chromosome complements, one derived from each haploid gamete

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid; double helix molecule arranged in genetic code

Ediacaran biota Precambrian fossils found in the Ediacara Hills, north of Adelaide, South Australia

electromagnetic radiation intimately coupled waves of electric and magnetic fields that propagate with the speed of light; examples are visible light and radio waves

electron lightest known stable subatomic particle, "clouds" of which surround the nuclei of an atom

elementary particle subatomic particle

endosymbiosis symbiosis with symbiont dwelling within the body of its symbiotic partner

enzyme highly active protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions within cells

eon (geological) the largest unit of geological time

epoch (geological) subdivision of a geological period of time

era (geological) subdivision of a geological eon of time

eubacteria one of two major groups of prokaryotes; the other: archaebacteria

eukaryote (pronouncced you-CARRY-ote) cell containing a clearly defined nucleus

evolution (biology) modification in successive generations of organisms

exoskeleton rigid or articulated envelope that supports and protects the soft tissues of certain animals, such as lobsters, crabs, spiders, and insects

expressed genes the relatively small fraction of genes that "significantly influence the gene product

family (taxanomic) taxonomic group in the hierarchy: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

fauna animal life

feedback control of a biological reaction by the end products of that reaction

fermentation metabolic process involving anaerobic breakdown of sugars into lactic acid or into carbon dioxide and alcohol

flagellum (plural: nagella or flagellums) spinning corkscrew-shaped locomotive appendage of some cells(see proton motor)

flora plant life

foram (abbreviation; see foraminifer)

foraminifer (plural foraminifera) type of protist having calcareous shell

fossil remnant, impression, or trace of an organism of past geologic age preserved in Earth's crust

v fungi (singular: fungus) eukaryotes such as yeasts, rusts, smuts, molds, mushrooms, and mildews

future in the context of this book, the potentid2 2,000-3,000 million years that the Sun can continue to support life

Gaia James Lovelock's designation for active biological control of planetary environments by life, or for the coupling of biotic (life) and abiotic (nonlife) activity

galaxy one of nearly a million million large collections of stars each typically containing nearly a million million stars

gamete reproductive cell, such as egg, sperm, pollen

gene unit of hereditary information on a chromosome, usally defined as the code for a single protein

genome the complete genetic material of an organism

geodesics Buckminster Fuller's term for his architecturally geometrical tensegrity structures, mainly domes

geology a science that deals with the history of Earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks

greenhouse effect warming of Earth caused by increased concentrations of radiant-heat-trapping atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide

Hadean eon period of Earth history from about 4,600 to 3,900 million years ago

haploid half complement of chromosomes in a sex cell before union with another

heterotroph life-forming living of complex chemical compounds

homeostasis balanced fluctuations around a single reference point

hominid one of a family (Hominidae) of erect bipedal primate mammals including recent humans

Homo erectus speculated to be direct ancestor to human, living from 1,600,000 to 250,000 years ago

Home sapiens human ancestors appearing some 400,000 years ago

Home sapiens sapiens modern humans

hydrosphere the aggregate of planetary waters, both sweet and saline

hypersea the movement of seawater onto land inside organisms

inorganic any compound composed of two or more chemical elements other than carbon

intranet internal network

kingdom one of five life groups: Protictista, Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Monera

legumes dry fruits such as peas, beans, and vetch

life there is no generally accepted definition of life; conventionally viewed as the qua2itll that distinguishes a vital functional being from a dead body (see also autopoiesis)

liposome tiny, fatty, bubble like capsule

lithospbere the outer rocky crust of Earth

macrocosmos realm of the very large

macroscopic relatively large (not requiring microscope to see)

mammal animal giving birth to live young and nurturing them on milk

medusae offspring of polyps, budding from them and swimming as fringed jellyfish

meiosis cell division without chromosome duplication, resulting in offspring with haploid chromosomes

metabolism the biochemical processes of living entities; sum of anabolic buildup and catabolic breakdown of compounds and cycles

metamorphose to change into a different physical form

meteor a streak of light in the sky that forms when a small chunk of rock or metallic matter enters Earth's atmosphere and vaporizes; also, the particle itself

meteorite a chunk of stony or metallic matter that survives flight from outer space through Earth's atmosphere and lands on the ground

microbe microscopic life-form

microbiology branch of biology dealing with microscopic life-forms

microcosmos microscopic or submicroscopic world

micrometer one millionth of a meter; sometimes abbreviated "micron"

microscopic tiny (generally requiring microscope to see)

million one thousand thousand

mineral naturally solid material with distinctive internal crystal structure

mitochondria cell organelles (descended from respiring bacteria) that use oxygen to break up food molecules and create energy

mitosis cell division by fission or budding

motile able to move about

mutant a member of a population carrying one or more new genes

MYA million years ago (also, MYA)

mycorrhizal type of fungus usually living among plant roots

Neanderthal form of Homo sapiens living from 100,000 to 30,000 years ago who were not direct ancestors to humans

nebula (plural: nebulae) tenuous cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space

nematocyst cellular organelle common in polyps; may be adopted by their predators; a sac containing a long coiled tube with Poison "harpoon" tip ejected by water pressure to trap prey

neoteny retention of some juvenile characteristics in adulthood

neutron chargeless heavy subatomic particle that appears along with protons in all nuclei other than hydrogen

nitrogen fixation a process that causes free nitrogen to combine chemically with other elements to form reactive compounds

notochord flexible rodlike longitudinal structural element in primitive chordates

nucleic acid compounds that direct the course of protein synthesis, thereby regulating cell activity

nucleotides building blocks of nucleic acids, composed of nitrogen, sugar, and phosphate group

nucleus (of atom) small, heavy central portion of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons

nucleus (of cell) central cell organelle of eukaryote, containing DNA and protein within a membrane

organelle any of a number of organlike structures in eukaryotic cells

organic compound substance that contains carbon

oxidize to combine with oxygen

ozone molecule of three oxygen atoms; blocks UV light in upper atmosphere

Pangaea hypothesized protocontinent that, several million years ago, broke up into precursors of present continents

paramecium protist commonly found in pond water; slipper-shaped with coordinated parallel lines of rowing cilia

parthenogenesis development of a new individual from an unfertilized sex cell, occurring among lower plants and invertebrate animals

photoautotroph life-form living of light and carbon dioxide

photoheterotroph life-form living of light and complex compounds

photon particle of light

photosynthesis synthesis of chemical compounds with the use of light

phylum taxonomic group; see family

physics a science that deals with the structure of matter and the interactions between fundamental constituents

physiology metabolic process of an organism

planetesimal small solid celestial bodies at an early stages of solar system

plankton minute animal, plant, and protist life of a body of water especially on its surface

plant multicellular eukaryotes containing plastids, developing from nonblastular embryos

planula offspring of medusae, the second free-swimming stage of a polyp's life cycle

plasma (electrical) a collection of charge particles containing equal numbers of positive ions and electrons

plastid photosynthetic organelles in eukaryotes; descended from photosynthesizing bacteria

plate tectonics movement of the crustal plates comprising Earth's surface, with continents "riding" them

polyp simple animal classed as a cephalopod and attached to a seafloor substrate; e.g. anemones, corals

predacious living by preying on other animals

primary producer an organism that converts energy from the Sun or from inorganic substances to produce organic compounds

primates mammals including lemurs, monkeys, apes, and man that have features including grasping hands, flattened nails, relatively large brain, etc.

Prokaryota superkingdom comprising single kingdom: Monera

prokaryote (pronounced pro-CARRY-oat) bacterium, also called moneran, without nucleus

propagule a sexual or asexual reproductive particle, such as a gamete or spore

proteins large molecules made of chains of amino acids; basic building blocks of 1Sfe-foruns

protist small protoctist

protoctist eukaryotic unicellular organisms; all living things other than plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria (lit: "first being")

proton a stable, positively charged subatomic particle that is a constituent of the nucleus of every atom

proton motor micromotor, powered by proton motive force, that spins locomoting flagella of some cells

protozoan eukaryotic heterotroph microbe, usually motile at some stage

quantum mechanics physics of atomic and subatomic systems and their interaction with radiation

quantum chromodynamics the theory that describes the action of strong nuclear forces, stronger than electrical forces

quantum electrodynamics the theory of the interaction of charged particles with the electromagnetic field

quark fundamental constituent of protons and neutrons, in much the same manner that the latter are constituents of nuclei

radiation, adaptive divergence of multiple species from single ancestral lineage

radicals free highly reactive molecules containing at least one unpaired electron

reptiles class of air-breathing, generally scaly, vertebrates that includes snakes, lizards, alligators, and dinosaurs

respire to inhale and exhale air taking up oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide through oxidation

RNA ribonucleic acid; related to DNA but single-stranded; several varieties play roles in copying DNA and synthesizing proteins

sex any process recombining genes from more than a single source to form a single being

species (singular and plural) group of organisms capable of interbreeding

spirochete slender, spirally undulating bacterium

spore unicellular environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants and some microorganisms

Stone Age period dating from first use by humans of stone tools 2,500,000 years ago

stromatolite layered sedimentary rock formations bound by colonial bacteria

subduction zone region where one tectonic plate pushes downward beneath the edge of another into Earth's upper mantle

symbiogenesis evolution of new being from mergers of independent organisms

symbiont any organism involved in an intimate and protracted association with another organism of a different species

symbiosis intimate association over time of two dissimilar organisms

synergy working together

tectonics see plate tectonics

tensegrity Buckminster Fuller term for rigid systems of combined compressive and tensional integrity, exhibited in biology by internal certain cellular architectures and bone muscle-tendon systems

test loose-fitting shell secreted by some protists, such as diatoms

tropopause upper boundary of troposphere, below stratosphere

troposphere five- to ten-mile blanket of air closest to Earth's surface wherein temperature decreases with distance from surcace

ultraviolet light electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths slightly shorter than those of visible light

unicellular single-celled

universe all matter and space containing some million million galaxies

UV (see ultraviolet) abbreviation for ultraviolet

vacuole small cavity-shaped cell organelle performing functions such as storage, ingestion, digestion, excretion, and the like

visible light electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths ranging around half a thousandth of a millimeter

x-radiation electromagnetic radiation characterized by wavelength 10 to 100,000 times shorter than that of visible light