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15 common GCSE biology terms that you need to know!


Group of students looking through a microscope in biology class

The GCSE Biology curriculum covers a range of topics related to living organisms, including cell biology, bioenergetics, genetics, ecology, and human physiology. Students are taught the fundamental principles of biology and how they apply to the world around us.


Here are some common GCSE Biology terms:


1. Cell

The basic unit of life.


2. Tissue

A group of cells with a similar structure and function.


3. Organ

A group of tissues that perform a specific function.


4. System

A group of organs working together to perform a specific function.


5. Enzyme

A protein that speeds up a chemical reaction.


6. DNA

The genetic material that carries the instructions for the development and function of all living organisms.


7. Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.


8. Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.


9. Mitosis

The process by which cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells.


10. Meiosis

The process by which cells divide to produce four genetically different daughter cells.


11. Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.


12. Adaptation

A characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.


13. Evolution

The gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time.


14. Ecology

The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.


15. Ecosystem

A community of living and non-living things interacting with each other in a particular environment.


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