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 Secondary Students : Glossary A
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Abdomen (Abdominal) |
The lower part of your body cavity |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment |  | |
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Abortion (Termination) |
Deliberate ending of a pregnancy |  | |
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Also see: Miscarriage |  |
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See film: Human Genetics, Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Achondroplasia
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One kind of dwarfism
An inherited dominant condition |  | |
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Addict (Addicted,Addiction) |
Can’t do without a drug |  | |
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ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) |
Poor concentration and behaviour |  | |
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Aerobic fitness (Stamina) |
A measure of the ability to keep exercising |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Alcohol
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A chemical that can be used as a drug |  | |
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Also see: Alcoholic |  |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Alcoholic
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A person who is addicted to alcohol |  | |
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Allele
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A form of a gene, e.g. the alleles for blue and for brown eyes are forms of one gene for eye colour |  | |
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Also see: Genes |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
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Amniocentesis
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Medical procedure of taking a sample of fetal cells for genetic testing from the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus
(Test carried out later in pregnancy than CVS – but safer for the fetus) |  | |
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Also see: CVS |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
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Amniotic fluid
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The fluid surrounding a fetus |  | |
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Antibiotic
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Chemicals that kill bacteria in your body |  | |
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Also see: Penicillin |  |
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See film: Outbreak!, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Antibody
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A chemical made by white blood cells to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms |  | |
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Anti-social behaviour
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Behaviour that causes harm or upset to other members of society; it is often unlawful |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Antioxidant
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A nutrient such as vitamin C that help to protect cells from damage |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Antitoxin
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A chemical made by white blood cells to neutralize toxins (poisons) |  | |
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Anxiety
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Mental state of worry about future events |  | |
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Artery
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A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Atria (Atrium) |
The two upper chambers of the heart; one is called an atrium |  | |
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Autosomal
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Describes a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome |  | |
back to the topB
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Bacteria
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Microorganism with a chromosome that is not in a nucleus; one is called a bacterium |  | |
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See film: Outbreak! , Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Balanced diet
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A diet containing all the nutrients in the correct proportions; one that meets the needs for energy and materials |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Blood
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Liquid in the circulatory system |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Heart Disease, Human Genetics, Outbreak!, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Blood pressure
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The pressure that blood exerts on artery walls, normally below 140/90; usually treated with drugs at 160/100 |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy, Outbreak! |  | |
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Body mass index (BMI) |
An estimate of body composition based on height to weight ratio |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and treatment, Heart Disease |  | |
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Brain
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An organ in the nervous system |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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BRCA1 and BRCA2
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Two of the genes that increase your risk of developing breast cancer |  | |
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Breathing
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Taking air in and out of the lungs |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Outbreak!, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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British Heart Foundation
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Charity. See bhf.org.uk |  | |
back to the topC
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Calcium
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Mineral needed for making bones, and in blood |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Cancer
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A disorder in which cells grow out of control |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Human Genetics, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Capillary
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Narrow blood vessel with walls only one cell thick |  | |
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Carbohydrate
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A nutrient such as starch and sugars that provides your body with energy |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Carbon dioxide
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A gas in the air made in respiration |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Carbon monoxide
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A poisonous gas |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Cardiac muscle
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Heart muscle |  | |
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Cardiovascular disease
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A disease of the heart and blood vessels |  | |
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Cardiovascular exercise
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Exercise that increases your pulse and breathing rates |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Carrier
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A person who has a recessive allele of a gene for a disorder and can pass it on to their children but who does not have the disorder themselves |  | |
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Also see: Allele |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
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Cause
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When there is evidence to link a factor and an outcome, and we can explain how it happens, we can say that the factor causes the outcome, e.g. smoking causes cancer |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Outbreak! |  | |
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Cell
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The building block of plants and animals |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Central nervous system
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Comprising the brain and spinal cord, it is the part of the nervous system that coordinates activities |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Characteristic
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A special features of an organism |  | |
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Chemotherapy
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Using toxic chemicals to treat a patient |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment |  | |
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Cholesterol
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Fat or lipid that your body needs – but too much causes problems |  | |
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Chorionic villus sampling/biopsy (CVS) |
A biopsy of the folds of the outer membrane of a fetus taken for genetic testing
(Earlier result than amniocentesis, however, less safe) |  | |
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Chromosome
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A structure made of genes found in the nucleus of a cell |  | |
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Cilia
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Beating hairs on some cells that help to keep your airway clear; damaged by smoking |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Circulation
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The flow of blood around the body through the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy, Outbreak! |  | |
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Clone
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Group of genetically identical living things |  | |
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Contraceptive
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A device or a drug to prevent pregnancy |  | |
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See film: Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Contract
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In the case of a muscle, to become shorter and fatter |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Core temperature (Core body temperature) |
Inner body temperature; in humans it is about 37 degrees Celsius |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Outbreak! |  | |
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Coronary
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To do with the arteries that surround and supply the heart |  | |
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Coronary artery
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Artery that takes blood to the heart muscle |  | |
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Coronary heart disease
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When one or more arteries to the heart muscle is blocked preventing proper working of the heart |  | |
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Coronary vein
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Vein that takes blood away from the heart muscle |  | |
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Correlation
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A link between a factor and an outcome, such as smoking and cancer |  | |
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CVS (Chorionic villus sampling/biopsy) |
A biopsy of the folds of the outer membrane of a fetus taken for genetic testing
(Earlier result than amniocentesis, however, less safe) |  | |
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Cystic fibrosis
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An inherited disorder of cell membranes caused by a recessive allele |  | |
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Also see: Allele |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
back to the topD
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Deoxygenated blood
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Blood that has given up oxygen in the tissues |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Depressant
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Drug that slows down the way your mind and body work |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Depression
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A mental state of feeling hopeless and worthless |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Designer baby
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Baby with chosen characteristics grown from a genetically modified fertilised egg cell |  | |
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Diabetic
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Person with diabetes, a disorder caused by shortage of the hormone, insulin |  | |
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Diagnosis
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Finding out what is wrong, e.g. with a patient |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Diagnosis and Treatment, Outbreak! |  | |
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Digest
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Break down food into small, soluble molecules that can be absorbed |  | |
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Disease (Disorder) |
When some part of a plant or animal isn’t working properly |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Heart Disease, Human Genetics, Outbreak!, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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DNA
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The chemical that genes and chromosomes are made of |  | |
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Dominant allele
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An allele that can hide the effect of another (recessive) allele |  | |
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Donor
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Someone who gives blood or a body part for the benefit of someone else |  | |
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Down’s syndrome
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A disorder caused by an extra chromosome |  | |
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Drug
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A substance that can change the way your body works, or be used to treat a disease |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Heart Disease, Outbreak!, Fit and Healthy |  | |
back to the topE
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Egg cell (Ova (plural)) |
Female sex cell or ovum |  | |
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Embryo
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A young plant or animal before all its organs have started to grow; up to 6-8 weeks in humans |  | |
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Embryo selection (PGD, Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) |
Embryos are fertilised outside the body and only those with certain genes are selected and implanted in the womb |  | |
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Enzyme
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A protein substance made in cells that speeds up chemical reactions such as digestion |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Outbreak! |  | |
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Ethics
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A set of principles that may help us to know how to behave and inform our decision-making |  | |
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Explosive exercise
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Exercise for increasing speed of different movements such as running, jumping and throwing |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
back to the topF
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Family tree
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A diagram showing the pattern of inheritance of a feature through several generations of a family |  | |
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Fats
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Nutrients that provide your body with energy
Also used to make cell membranes |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Fertilisation
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When a male sex cell joins with a female sex cell to start a new plant or animal |  | |
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Fetus
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A baby in the uterus whose organs are all growing; after the age of 6–8 weeks |  | |
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Fit
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Able to exercise without getting tired |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Flexibility training
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Stretching exercises to improve flexibility or suppleness |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
back to the topG
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Gametes (Sex cells) |
Cells that join in sexual reproduction
They have half the normal number of chromosomes |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Gene cloning
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Making copies of genes |  | |
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General practitioner (GP) |
A qualified doctor; usually the first point of contact in the NHS |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Heart Disease |  | |
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Genes
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These control the characteristics of plants and animals
They are passed on by parents in chromosomes
They are made of DNA |  | |
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Also see: DNA |  |
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See film: Heart Disease, Human Genetics |  | |
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Gene screening (Genetic screening) |
Testing a group of people or embryos for a particular gene |  | |
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Gene therapy
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A way of treating inherited disorders by putting normal alleles into cells |  | |
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Also see: Allele |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
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Also see: Genes |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
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Genetic disorder
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Disorder caused by variant or mutant alleles that prevent your body working properly |  | |
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Geneticist
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Specialist in inheritance patterns and inherited disorders |  | |
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Genetic modification (Genetic engineering) |
Transferring genes from the cells of one living organism into the cells of a different organism |  | |
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Genetic predisposition
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Inherited tendency to be at increased risk of a disorder such as cancer or heart disease |  | |
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Genetic testing
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Testing an individual or a fetus for a particular gene |  | |
back to the topH
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Haemoglobin
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Chemical in red blood cells that carries oxygen |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Human Genetics |  | |
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Haemophilia
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A sex-linked inherited disorder in which blood doesn’t clot properly |  | |
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Hallucinogen
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Drug that makes you sense (see, hear) things that aren’t there |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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HDL cholesterol
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A fat in the body, sometimes called good cholesterol |  | |
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Health Protection Agency (HPA) |
National agency to protect us from disease |  | |
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Healthy
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Free from disease and pain |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Heart
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An organ which pumps blood |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Heart attack
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Sudden failure of the oxygen supply to part of the heart, which damages heart muscle; painful and can be fatal |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Hormone
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Chemical secreted in small amounts, which coordinates growth and activities |  | |
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See film: Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) |
Interprets the law on reproductive technology, e.g. PGD |  | |
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Human Genetics Commission (HGC) |
Advises the UK Government on ethical, legal, social and economic aspects of developments in genetics |  | |
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Human genome project
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Project to map the human genome |  | |
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Huntington’s disease
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An inherited disorder of the nervous system caused by a dominant allele |  | |
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Also see: Allele |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
back to the topI
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Immunity
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When your body stops you catching a particular infection |  | |
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Implantation
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The settling of an embryo in the lining of the uterus (womb) |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Infection
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When microorganisms get into your body and cause a disease |  | |
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See film: Diagnosis and Treatment, Outbreak! |  | |
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Inherit (Inheritance) |
Passing on of genes from parents |  | |
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Also see: Genes |  |
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See film: Human Genetics |  | |
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Inherited characteristic
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Feature that is inherited, or passed on, from parents |  | |
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In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) |
Fertilisation of eggs outside the body (to produce so-called test tube babies) |  | |
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Iron
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Mineral needed for making the haemoglobin in red blood cells |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
back to the topL
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Lactic acid
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A chemical produced in anaerobic respiration in muscles |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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LDL cholesterol
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A fat in the body, sometimes called bad cholesterol because too much in the blood increases the risk of heart disease |  | |
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Lifestyle
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Way of life in terms of diet, exercise, smoking etc. |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Human Genetics, Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Lungs
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Organs for gas exchange between the air and the blood |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Human Genetics, Fit and Healthy, Outbreak! |  | |
back to the topM
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Malaria
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A disease caused by a parasite spread by Anopheles mosquitoes; it kills many people |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Outbreak! |  | |
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Meningitis
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Inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
Can be cause by bacteria or viruses |  | |
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Meningococcal meningitis
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Meningitis caused by bacteria called meningococci {meningococcal bacteria) |  | |
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Meningococcal septicaemia
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Life-threatening infection in which meningococcal bacteria release toxins that poison the blood |  | |
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Menstrual cycle
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Monthly cycle controlled by hormones in the human female reproductive system |  | |
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See film: Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Menstruation (Period) |
Loss of lining of the uterus (womb) about once a month if an egg cell is not fertilised |  | |
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See film: Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Microbes (Microorganisms) |
Microscopic living things |  | |
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Microbiologist
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Person who does work or research on microorganisms |  | |
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Mineral
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In the diet it is an essential nutrient such as iron or calcium |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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Miscarriage
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Loss of an unborn baby - a natural abortion |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Puberty and Relationships |  | |
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Mucus
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Sticky fluid made by some cells, e.g. in the bronchi to trap microbes and dirt |  | |
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See film: Human Genetics, Outbreak! |  | |
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Multi-factorial disorder
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Disorder caused by a combination of factors, genetic and environmental/lifestyle, e.g. heart disease |  | |
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See film: Heart disease, Human Genetics |  | |
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Muscle
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Tissue or organ made of muscle cells, which contract to do work |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Human Genetics, Fit and healthy |  | |
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Mutant (Mutate, Mutation) |
An organism with a change in a chromosome or a gene |  | |
back to the topN
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Nerve fibre
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Part of a nerve cell that carries nerve impulses |  | |
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Nerve impulse
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How information passes along a nerve fibre; like a tiny electrical charge |  | |
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Nicotine
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The addictive drug in tobacco |  | |
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See film: Heart Disease, Fit and healthy |  | |
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Nucleus
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The part of a cell that controls what happens in the cell; it contains the chromosomes |  | |
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Nutrition
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Obtaining the materials needed for energy and making new cells |  | |
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See film: Fit and Healthy |  | |
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