Biological species concept Distinction of species on the basis of breeding
incompatibility.
Bioluminescence Production of light by living organisms. It is caused by an
enzyme catalysed biochemical reaction in which an inactive precursor is
converted into a light-emitting chemical.
Biomass Total weight, volume or energy equivalent of organisms in a given area;
plant materials and animal wastes used as a source of fuel or other industrial
products; (3) in biotechnology, the microbial matter in the system.
Bioreactor Device designed to produce substances by taking advantage of
enzymes’ ability to efficiently regulate highly specific reactions at constant
temperature and pressure.
Bioremediation Biotechnology-based (i.e., microorganism-based) purification of
contaminants in the environment.
Biphasic alternation of generations A sexual reproductive cycle thot involves
two body forms that can be distinguished by chromosome level and type of
reproductive cell produced.
Bipolar A type of centric diatom having elongate shape (i.e., having two poles).
Blades A type of algal body in which cells are arranged in flat sheets
Blastomere Any one of the cells formed by the first divisions of a fertilized egg.
Blunt end End of a double-stranded DNA molecule that lacks a single strand.
Blunt-end ligation Technique used in the construction of recombinant DNAs in
which any two DNA molecules may be joined.
Bootstrap value An estimate of the validity of a branch in a phylogenetic tree that
is determined by the number of times the branch appears after the data are
repeatedly resampled.
Bottleneck effect This occurs in populations where the number of organs
experiences a dramatic decline. An example is the increase in mutations of
homozygotes due to inbreeding. A decrease in the size of the population results
in a large genetic drift effect, lowering the amount of genetic polymorphism
observed in that population.
Brackish water Water with a moderate saline concentration between those of
seawater and freshwater.
Branched filaments A type of algal body in which branches emerge from a main
filamentous axis.
Branches In algae, rows of cells that extend from a main filamentous axis.
Glossary
425
incompatibility.
Bioluminescence Production of light by living organisms. It is caused by an
enzyme catalysed biochemical reaction in which an inactive precursor is
converted into a light-emitting chemical.
Biomass Total weight, volume or energy equivalent of organisms in a given area;
plant materials and animal wastes used as a source of fuel or other industrial
products; (3) in biotechnology, the microbial matter in the system.
Bioreactor Device designed to produce substances by taking advantage of
enzymes’ ability to efficiently regulate highly specific reactions at constant
temperature and pressure.
Bioremediation Biotechnology-based (i.e., microorganism-based) purification of
contaminants in the environment.
Biphasic alternation of generations A sexual reproductive cycle thot involves
two body forms that can be distinguished by chromosome level and type of
reproductive cell produced.
Bipolar A type of centric diatom having elongate shape (i.e., having two poles).
Blades A type of algal body in which cells are arranged in flat sheets
Blastomere Any one of the cells formed by the first divisions of a fertilized egg.
Blunt end End of a double-stranded DNA molecule that lacks a single strand.
Blunt-end ligation Technique used in the construction of recombinant DNAs in
which any two DNA molecules may be joined.
Bootstrap value An estimate of the validity of a branch in a phylogenetic tree that
is determined by the number of times the branch appears after the data are
repeatedly resampled.
Bottleneck effect This occurs in populations where the number of organs
experiences a dramatic decline. An example is the increase in mutations of
homozygotes due to inbreeding. A decrease in the size of the population results
in a large genetic drift effect, lowering the amount of genetic polymorphism
observed in that population.
Brackish water Water with a moderate saline concentration between those of
seawater and freshwater.
Branched filaments A type of algal body in which branches emerge from a main
filamentous axis.
Branches In algae, rows of cells that extend from a main filamentous axis.
Glossary
425