F


facilitated diffusion fah-SIL-eh-tay-tid dif-FU-shun Movement of a substance down its concentration gradient with the aid of a carrier protein. 92

fallopian tubes fah-LO-pee-an TUBES In the human female, paired tubes leading from near the ovaries to the uterus. 197

fascicles FAS-i-kulls Groups of pine needles. 499

fatty acid A hydrocarbon chain that is a part of a triglyceride. 45

feather follicle feth-er foll-i-kull Extensions of the epidermis from which a feather extends. 602

fecundity fee-KUN-dit-ee The number of offspring an individual produces. 842

fermentation fur-men-TAY-shun An energy pathway in the cytoplasm that extracts limited energy from the bonds of glucose. 137

fetal period FEE-tal PEER-e-od The final stage of prenatal development, when structures grow and elaborate. 216

fiber An elongated plant cell that forms strands. 536

fibrin fi-brin A threadlike protein that forms blood clots. 717

fibrinogen fi-BRIN-o-jen A protein that is the precursor of fibrin. 714

fibroblast FI-bro-blast A connective tissue cell that secretes collagen and elastin. 594

fibrous root system FI-bres ROOT sis-tum A plant with short-lived first roots. 546

fiddlehead FID-ul-hed A leaf formation in a true fern. 498

filter feeder Animal that eats small organisms in an aquatic environment. 751

first filial generation FURST FILL-e-al gen-er-A-shun (F1) The second generation in a genetics problem. 265

fixed action pattern An innate, stereotyped behavior. 813

flagellum fla-GEL-um A tail-like appendage on a prokaryotic cell that rotates, providing locomotion. 66, 99, 446

flame cell system A simple nephridia excretory system in flatworms. 778

flavin adenine dinucleotide FLAY-vin AD-e-neen di-NUKE-lee-o-tide (FAD) An electron carrier molecule that functions in certain metabolic pathways. 120

floridean starch flor-ID-ee-in starch A carbohydrate in red seaweeds. 469

follicle cell FOL-ik-kel SEL Nourishing cell surrounding an oocyte. 197

follicle-stimulating hormone FOL-eh-kel STIM-u-la-ting HOR-moan (FSH) A hormone made in the anterior pituitary that controls oocyte maturation, development of ovarian follicles, and their release of estrogen. 666

food chain The linear relationship of species that eat each other. 859

food vacuole FOOD VAK-you-ole A membrane-bounded sac that simple animals use for digestion. 752

food web Connections between species that eat each other. 862

foot An organ that mollusks use to locomote. 519

forebrain FOR-brane The front part of the vertebrate brain. 620

formed elements Blood cells and platelets. 711

founder effect Genetic drift when small groups found new settlements, partitioning a subset of the original population's genes. 408

fountain effect Splitting and regrouping of a school of fish, which confuses a predator. 822

fovea centralis FO-ve-ah cenTRAL-is An indentation in the retina opposite the lens that has only cones and provides visual acuity. 648

frameshift mutation FRAME-shift mew-TAY-shun A mutation that adds or deletes one or two DNA bases, altering the reading frame. 341

free energy The usable energy in the bonds of a molecule. 116

free radical Highly reactive by-product of metabolism that can damage tissue. 233

fronds FRONDZ Leaves of true ferns. 498

frustules FRUS-tools Two-part silica walls of diatoms that provide complex shapes. 467

fucoxanthin foo-ko-ZAN-thin A pigment that gives golden-brown algae their distinctive color. 467

fundamental niche fun-da-MEN-tal neesh All the resources that a species could possibly use in its environment. 838

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