Category: Biology Dictionary F

Fungi Definition Fungi (singular: fungus) are a kingdom of usually multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs (cannot make their own food) and have important roles in nutrient cycling in an ecosystem. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually, and they also have symbiotic associations with plants and bacteria. However, they are also responsible for some diseases […]

Fundamental Niche Definition The niche of any organism is the role that it fills within an ecosystem as a response to the amount and distribution of resources, the competition present, and the way that the organism influences those same factors. A fundamental niche is the full range of environmental conditions that a viable population of species can occupy and […]

Frenulum Definition A frenulum is a small ridge or fold of skin that helps to anchor a semi-mobile body part. In the human body, frenulums are found on the penis, under the tongue, inside the lips, as part of the female genitalia, and internally in the brain and digestive tract. An oral frenulum, the , […]

Frameshift Mutation Definition Frameshift mutations are insertions or deletions in the genome that are not in multiples of three nucleotides. They are a subset of insertion-deletion (indel) mutations that are specifically found in the coding sequence of polypeptides. Here the number of nucleotides that are added or removed from the coding sequence are not multiples of three. […]

Founder Effect Definition The founder effect is a phenomena that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes isolated from a larger population. Regardless of what the original population looked like, the new population will resemble only the individuals that founded the smaller, distinct population. The founder effect is due to the randomness that accompanies […]

Definition A fossil is the mineralized partial or complete form of an organism, or of an organism’s activity, that has been preserved as a cast, impression or mold. A fossil gives tangible, physical evidence of ancient life and has provided the basis of the theory of evolution in the absence of preserved soft tissues. Overview The root […]

Fossil Record Definition A fossil record is a group of fossils which has been analyzed and arranged chronologically and in taxonomic order. Fossils are created when organisms die, are incased in dirt and rock, and are slowly replaced by minerals over time. What is left is a mineral impression of an animal which once existed. Many fields […]

Formaldehyde Definition Formaldehyde is a simple organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is of interest to doctors and scientists, as well as to many other industries, because of its unique chemical properties. Formaldehyde is produced naturally by living things and some inorganic chemical reactions. It has been found via spectroscopy in interstellar space, and […]

Foot Definition The foot is a part of vertebrate anatomy which serves the purpose of supporting the animal’s weight and allowing for locomotion on land. In humans, the foot is one of the most complex structures in the body. It is made up of over 100 moving parts – bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments designed […]

Food Vacuole Definition “Food vacuole” is one of the more complicated terms to research – because there are two different definitions of this term in common use! Some scientists refer to a “food vacuole” as any large sac inside a cell that contains food for the cell; vacuoles are used to store cellular fuel by […]