academic: Relating to school, classes or things taught by teachers in formal institutes of learning (such as a college).
bias: The tendency to hold a particular perspective or preference that favors some thing, some group or some choice. Scientists often “blind” subjects to the details of a test (don’t tell them what it is) so that their biases will not affect the results.
biology: The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists.
cell: (in biology) The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Typically too small to see with the unaided eye, it consists of a watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Depending on their size, animals are made of anywhere from thousands to trillions of cells.
chromosome: A single threadlike piece of coiled DNA found in a cell’s nucleus. A chromosome is generally X-shaped in animals and plants. Some segments of DNA in a chromosome are genes. Other segments of DNA in a chromosome are landing pads for proteins. The function of other segments of DNA in chromosomes is still not fully understood by scientists.
develop: (n. development) To emerge or to make come into being, either naturally or through human intervention, such as by manufacturing. (in biology) To grow as an organism from conception through adulthood, often undergoing changes in chemistry, size, mental maturity or sometimes even shape.
engineering: The field of research that uses math and science to solve practical problems. Someone who works in this field is known as an engineer.
environment: The sum of all of the things that exist around some organism or the process and the condition those things create. Environment may refer to the weather and ecosystem in which some animal lives, or, perhaps, the temperature and humidity (or even the placement of things in the vicinity of an item of interest).
feminine: Of or relating to women.
field: An area of study, as in: Her field of research is biology. Also a term to describe a real-world environment in which some research is conducted, such as at sea, in a forest, on a mountaintop or on a city street. It is the opposite of an artificial setting, such as a research laboratory.
gender: The complex relationship between someone’s body, their identity and often how their culture tries to assign them roles and behaviors. Gender and biological sex are often incorrectly used to mean the same thing. Gender identity includes binary (female or male) and nonbinary (genderfluid, genderqueer) and more. People share some of their gender identity by their choice of pronouns; for example, he, she or they are common ones. Someone’s gender can be the same as or different than the sex that individual was assigned at birth.
gene: (adj. genetic) A segment of DNA that codes, or holds instructions, for a cell’s production of a protein. Offspring inherit genes from their parents. Genes influence how an organism looks and behaves.
high school: A designation for grades nine through 12 in the U.S. system of compulsory public education. High-school graduates may apply to colleges for further, advanced education.
hormone: (in zoology and medicine) A chemical produced in a gland and then carried in the bloodstream to another part of the body. Hormones control many important body activities, such as growth. Hormones act by triggering or regulating chemical reactions in the body. (in botany) A chemical that serves as a signaling compound that tells cells of a plant when and how to develop, or when to grow old and die.
intersex: Animals or humans that display characteristics other than those of a strictly male or female reproductive anatomy. They may have extra sex chromosomes or variations in genitals or reproductive organs that make hormones.
masculine: Of or relating to men.
mindset: In psychology, the belief about and attitude toward a situation that influences behavior. For instance, holding a mindset that stress may be beneficial can help improve performance under pressure.
nonbinary: Meaning “not one of two.” People who are nonbinary might feel they are both male and female, neither male nor female, or somewhere in between. Instead of he or she, nonbinary individuals may choose to go by the pronoun “they.”
norms: The attitudes, behaviors or achievements that are considered normal or conventional within a society (or segment of society — such as teens) at the present time.
organ: (in biology) Various parts of an organism that perform one or more particular functions. For instance, an ovary is an organ that makes eggs, the brain is an organ that makes sense of nerve signals and a plant’s roots are organs that take in nutrients and moisture.
prejudice: From the phrase “pre-judged,” it is a usually negative attitude towards one or more people owing to their belonging to some group (typically defined by race, religion or ethnicity). Prejudice towards some particular race is known as racism. Prejudice against one gender (usually women) is termed sexism. Prejudice against the elderly is referred to as ageism.
psychologist: A scientist or mental-health professional who studies the mind, especially in relation to actions and behaviors. Some work with people. Others may conduct experiments with animals (usually rodents) to test how their minds respond to different stimuli and conditions.
reproductive organs: The organs in a creature’s body that allows it to make and deliver eggs or sperm, and where appropriate, to nurture developing eggs and fetuses.
sex: An animal’s biological status with respect to reproductive functions, typically male or female. There are a number of indicators of biological sex, including sex chromosomes, gonads, internal reproductive organs and external genitals. Sex can also be a term for some system of mating between male and female animals such that each parent organism contributes genes to the potential offspring, usually through the fertilization of an egg cell by a sperm cell.
social: (adj.) Relating to gatherings of people; a term for animals (or people) that prefer to exist in groups.
society: An integrated group of people or animals that generally cooperate and support one another for the greater good of them all.
sociologist: A scientist who studies the behaviors of groups of people, how those behaviors developed, and the organizations that people create to support communities (societies) of people.
stereotype: A widely held view or explanation for something, which often may be wrong because it has been overly simplified.
technology: The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry — or the devices, processes and systems that result from those efforts.
trait: A characteristic feature of something. (in genetics) A quality or characteristic that can be inherited.
X-chromosome: A portion of an animal’s genetic inheritance that appears on a sex chromosome known as “X.” Most females have two X-chromosomes; most males will typically have both an X- and a Y-chromosome.
Y-chromosome: A portion of an animal’s genetic inheritance that appears on a sex chromosome known as “Y.” Most males have a Y- and an X-chromosome. Most females have no Y-chromosome.