Science Guide – B
Posted by Oliver Nash on October 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Bacteria – Microscopic organisms that can cause disease in animals, plants or humans. Many are parasites causing animal disease like the bubonic plague. See also DISEASE, MICROSCOPIC, ORGANISM, PARASITES & VIRUS.
Binocular Vision – This is found only on animals with forward facing eyes. This allows them to see an object with both eyes at the same time. It gives primates and predators a three-dimensional (3D) view. This helps them to judge distances e.g. when an orang-utan swings through the branches of a tree its binocular vision help it greatly. See also PREDATOR, PRIMATE, RECEPTOR, SENSE ORGAN & SENSES.
Biodiversity – The existence of a wide variety of animals and plants in their natural environment. See also ENVIRONMENT & ORGANISM.
Biologist – A person who studies the science or life and all living organisms. Biology is a mix of botany and zoology. See also BOTANIST, NATURALIST, SCIENTIST & ZOOLOGIST.
Bionic – Bionic technology or studies involve taking ideas from natural items such as plants or animals and using them in machines e.g. when building a submarine in the 1940’s designers studied animals movement through water to see which moves through the water with least resistance .
Biosphere – This refers to all the regions of the earth that are inhabited by living organisms – the land, the sea and the air e.g. humans are polluting the biosphere with greenhouse gases. See also ATMOSPHERE, EARTH, ENVIRONMENT, GREENHOUSE EFFECT, ORGANISM, POLLUTION & SEA.
Bivouac – This is temporary camp or living quarters. It can be hung from trees or even on the side of a mountain.
Blood – A fluid (usually a red liquid) present in animals which is circulated around the body by the heart muscle. It helps to carry oxygen around the body. See also CIRCULATION, HEART, MUSCLE & OXYGEN.
Body – All of your physical parts including your arms, hands, eyes, legs and head. See also FLESH, HEART, ORGAN & SKELETON.
Bone – One of the two parts (along with cartilage) which goes together to form the vertebrates skeleton. See also CARTILAGE, EXOSKELETON & SKELETON.
Botanist – A person who specialises in the study of plants. See also BIOLOGIST, NATURALIST, SCIENTIST & ZOOLOGIST.
Brain – This is the organ inside an animals’ heads that allows it to think and receive information from the sense organs. It needs protecting as it is so important to the animals survival. It is therefore encased within the cranium (skull). See also ORGAN, SENSE ORGAN, SKULL & VERTEBRATE.
Breed – To produce (offspring), give birth to. See also INSEMINATE, MATE & REPORDUCE.
Bulb – This is the onion-shaped root that grows into a plant e.g. a daffodil bulb. See also PLANT & ROOT.
